[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

The other 25% are just clearly mad

I can't believe a higher percentage didn't oppose it to be honest.

The other 25% are part of the government machine I expect

Tony's reply will go something like this :

"We cannot afford not to take action"

Which means the Government need the money badly

"I think its a way of solving congestion and global warming"

Which means The government need your money really badly

The problem is simply too many cars on our roads its affecting the economy

Which means The government are up the creek without a paddle on this and have no idea what to do , but making a shed load of cash on the back of bunch of motorists will make the statistics look good and the government coffers a lot more healthy.

PS

Wow, result

I posted this before 8pm last night and everything I said came true at Midnight

Call me Cinderalla from now on

[KillerByte]

Well, I, like many have you, received the reply from Tony Blair this morning and it seems no decision has been made.

BBC News: No decision on road tolls - Blair

To be fair, I certainly think something does need to be done to resolve the congestion problem. However, this wasn't the correct way to go about it. I don't have a more favourable solution in mind and I think this is part of the problem - a solution has been suggested which 1.8 million people do not agree with but which would have an impact on the problem by means of brute force. What I mean by this is, many people would be forced off the roads by additional costs. Unless a more favourable solution is found, road charging may become inevitable.

[Fin]

I read my emailed reply from Tony Blair just a few minutes ago. I must say I am rather disappointed he did not address me by name.

The problem I had was that while I was reading it I had an image in my head of him speaking those words, and I just can't bring myself to believe a word he says. He had no choice but to reply; the sheer volume of e-signatures on the petition and the recent news coverage meant that he at least had to be seen to have noticed it. But I do not believe it will influence government policy at all.

This Labour administration seems to think it can solve all our problems by tax. Sometimes I despair that our country allows these idiots into power. I agree something needs to be done to curb congestion, but installing a device that watches where you go, when and how fast you are getting there to me smacks of a controlling state. Not only that, but surely the cost of implementing such a system will be huge. As usual we will be given an estimate, it will get through Parliament and by the time it is law the cost will have at least tripled.

Here are my ideas for reducing pollution/congestion:

1. Tax breaks for companies who help bring Hydrogen fuel to the market. Both to energy companies to research and develop economically viable means of obtaining Hydrogen, and car companies to bring more Hydrogen powered engines to the market. Then offer people who buy these cars cheap car tax to encourage others to follow. Of course we will need to oust the Labour government at the next election for this, as the party's partially fossilised back benchers could never allow a tax break to big corporation. Heaven forbid.
2. Road systems that actually work. I see so many useless traffic light systems that seem to hold people up. Recently I had to go through one that I always had to queue at. However it had been severely damaged by wind and consequently had broken. The traffic flow was much smoother as people went when they could. I realise this may not work at all junctions, but many such systems could be revised. Also we should be allowed to turn left at a red light if traffic is clear.
3. Improve the efficiency, cleanliness and cost of public transport. Rather than try and price people out of cars, encourage them to use public transport by making it much less of a hellish experience.
4. Widen existing roads/motorways.

I think these may work, I may be wrong and I'm sure some may point that out to me. There is the question of funding for it all. Perhaps if the money from road tax/fuel tax was spent more efficiently we would have enough. Sack any incompetent 'project leader' to set a precedent that no longer will we tolerate government initiatives that go over budget and end up years late. Award contracts for road maintenance/construction to the most efficient companies instead of to the lowest bidder after a year long 'consultation period'. Or maybe every MP should take a pay/expenses/pension cut. That could save the country a few pennies.

Right, I'm going to go and sit in a quiet room and calm down

[Gelo Tan]

Count me in guys!!!!

Sick and tired of them!






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