2p rise in fuel duty today

What can we do to change the minds of decision makers and people in general to actually do something about preparing for the forthcoming economic/energy crises (the ones after this one!)?

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PS_RalphW
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2p rise in fuel duty today

Post by PS_RalphW »

This is probably already on another thread, but I can't find it.

If you really want to be depressed, read these BBC feedback pages.

I scanned 14 pages and found one reference to 'limited resource'.

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread. ... 1001164057
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

I can't drive, so no (direct) skin off my nose.

But it would be really great if they could have published an 'action plan' for what to do with all that extra lolly: big wide pavements near schools so walking the kids there isn't so bloody scary, that'd take a few of the much-derided 'scrummies' out of everybody else's way for a start.

/rant
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Bedrock Barney
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Post by Bedrock Barney »

Take a look at your typical angry driver here: :evil:

http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/we-can ... ow-82.html

You'd think that the window tax had been reintroduced!
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emordnilap
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Re: 2p rise in fuel duty today

Post by emordnilap »

RalphW wrote:This is probably already on another thread, but I can't find it.

If you really want to be depressed, read these BBC feedback pages.

I scanned 14 pages and found one reference to 'limited resource'.

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread. ... 1001164057
It's depressing alright. The guy travelling 64 miles to work. What?!!!?

60 miles nearer to work + one bike = money in pocket + better health
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Adam1
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Post by Adam1 »

The energy entitlements culture is alive and well. I'm glad I don't work as at a petrol station!
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clv101
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Post by clv101 »

Bedrock Barney wrote:Take a look at your typical angry driver here: :evil:

http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/we-can ... ow-82.html

You'd think that the window tax had been reintroduced!
My contribution:
And about time too! The key point is ?in line with inflation?, over the last few years several such inflation based increases in duty have been aborted resulting in falling duty in real terms. I'm pleased the government actually had the balls to go through with it this time.

Even with this new duty and the oil price, petrol is still cheaper in real terms than it was a few years back. I don't see people have ANY reason to complain.

Sure our fuel duty is relatively high (but not the highest in Europe) but lots of our other taxes are lower resulting in a low overall tax take.

Just look at the overall tax burden (taxes as a percentage of GDP):

Lithuania (28.4 percent)
Latvia (28.6 percent)
Slovakia (30.3 percent)
Ireland (30.2 percent)
Poland (32.9 percent)

United Kingdom (36.0 percent)

Italy (40.6 percent)
France (43.4 percent)
Finland (44.3 percent)
Belgium (45.2 percent)
Denmark (48.8 percent)
Sweden (50.5 percent)

The UK is a low tax country.
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Bedrock Barney
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Post by Bedrock Barney »

clv101 wrote:
Bedrock Barney wrote:Take a look at your typical angry driver here: :evil:

http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/we-can ... ow-82.html

You'd think that the window tax had been reintroduced!
My contribution:
And about time too! The key point is ?in line with inflation?, over the last few years several such inflation based increases in duty have been aborted resulting in falling duty in real terms. I'm pleased the government actually had the balls to go through with it this time.

Even with this new duty and the oil price, petrol is still cheaper in real terms than it was a few years back. I don't see people have ANY reason to complain.

Sure our fuel duty is relatively high (but not the highest in Europe) but lots of our other taxes are lower resulting in a low overall tax take.

Just look at the overall tax burden (taxes as a percentage of GDP):

Lithuania (28.4 percent)
Latvia (28.6 percent)
Slovakia (30.3 percent)
Ireland (30.2 percent)
Poland (32.9 percent)

United Kingdom (36.0 percent)

Italy (40.6 percent)
France (43.4 percent)
Finland (44.3 percent)
Belgium (45.2 percent)
Denmark (48.8 percent)
Sweden (50.5 percent)

The UK is a low tax country.
And mine:
The average motorist covers 9,600 miles per year

The average car achieves 37.8 mpg and uses up 254 gallons per annum

The fuel tax increase equates to 10.8p per gallon

The average motorist will therefore pay an extra ?27.50 per year or 7.5p per day.

I'm struggling to see why these modest numbers are getting you all to vent so much spleen.
I think we are in a very small minority on that site!
Vortex
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Post by Vortex »

My effort:
I have just skimmed through 7800 posts mostly from very annoyed motorists.

Fair enough, this tax rise is probably a nasty revenue raising exercise, disguised as a "green initiative".

However just take a look at the world's oil fields: many are spluttering to a halt ... and we aren't finding any replacements ...

Oil supply & demand are now for the first time very closely matched - which might explain the current record $80+ oil prices.

What will we all say when the global oil production rate plateaus at around 95 million barrels a day within the next 5 years and then after a while drops at around 2% per year, compound?

In the meantime China and India plus our increased Western usage will increase demand about 2% year on year.

This means that the gap between global oil production and supply will start widening in a year or two ... RAPIDLY ... which means of course hugely increasing prices.

So ... in 2 to 5 years time fuel costs will start increasing significantly, worsening year after year ... FOR EVER.

(Biofuels, hydrogen, solar power are VERY unlikely to make a jot of difference to the overall situation)

I think that in a very few years we will look back on our anger over this 2p tax increase with disbelief.

If you work in any energy intensive industry, or rely heavily on petrol fuelled transport, then maybe you should be urgently thinking about a career or location change ... simply because of the global oil depletion situation and not because of Global Warming or greedy Chancellors...
eatyourveg
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Location: uk

Post by eatyourveg »

Yeah go Vortex, mine was the one above yours.
Anyone else out there to bait?
Vortex
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Joined: 16 May 2006, 19:14

Post by Vortex »

http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/we-can ... html&p=105
Three in a row there! Do we get a prize?
Vortex
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Joined: 16 May 2006, 19:14

Post by Vortex »

My BBC effort - 250 chars max:
Take a look at the world's oil fields: many are spluttering to a halt ... and we aren't finding any replacements ...

Global oil production will plateau within 5 years and then will drop at around 2% per year - whilst demand is INCREASING 2% annually.

The gap between global oil production and supply will start widening in a year or two ... RAPIDLY and FOR EVER .. leading to HUGE price increases.

We will look back on our anger over this 2p tax increase with disbelief.
eatyourveg
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Joined: 15 Jul 2007, 17:02
Location: uk

Post by eatyourveg »

Well, I am going to sign up for this site, haven't had so much fun since I hunted chavs.
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Bedrock Barney
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Location: Midlands

Post by Bedrock Barney »

Greg

I'm enjoying your posts on the fuel price blog!

I'm very tempted to pop in a 'stop it, you're frightening the children' post and see what reaction I/we get.

On a serious side, the 'RIP OFF BRITAIN', 'VOTE OUT THE GOVERNMENT' posts (ie nearly all of them) are pretty depressing. No one seems able to think outside of their little boxes. It all comes down to pound notes and a person's right to drive whatever they like, whenever they like and as far as they like. Is it the media's fault? Is the average person only able to cope with reality TV?
Neily at the peak
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Location: Devon

Post by Neily at the peak »

I sometimes think the time has come for us to stop posting on powerswitch and get out there on other forums in an organised manner. Well done gang!!!

Neil

P.S. I just read the front page, my word they are an educated lot :o :o
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Adam1
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Post by Adam1 »

My contribution...
Prices are going to get a lot, lot higher and there will very likely be fuel rationing and shortages within the next five to ten years. The reason? Global oil production (the total, which includes biofuels, tar sands etc) is maxing out, even though demand has never been greater, oil production technology has never been more advanced and oil prices have never been higher. In a few years production will start to decline, relentlessly, FOR EVER. And there is nothing you, me, the government or anyone can do to reverse this decline. All we can do is learn to live with less energy. So, if you currently travel long distances to work and buy your food, it may be time to relocate, change job or do whatever it takes to reduce your need for fuel. As fuel prices reach ?2, ?3 ?5, ?10 a litre; when you just can't get fuel at any price, your current living arrangement will be impossible. Time to start planning for a very different future. A future where we will all have much bigger worries than 2p a litre tax increases.

Before you label this green or environmental, find out who is talking about this:

Matt Simmons - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Simmons
Jim Puplava - http://www.financialsense.com/energy/main.html

Both are free-market, low tax conservatives. Neither are 'environmentalists'.

Got you thinking yet?
...a bit emotional but I feel better now :)

(I had to redo this without the weblinks - it seems they don't want you posting any)
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