Juicy Steve

A pittance in comparison to this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/20...eist-of-century

sound_wave

No, what I'm saying is that the Govt's answer when fuel prices are put up is simply "Well use public transport". My example was more to show that using public transport isn't always the best option...

lovegroova

I was only messing about, but to moan about fuel prices when PT is less convenient and more expensive doesn't seem quite right to me.

The current government doesn't suggest using PT as an option, it's excuse is that "the deficit caused by Labour needs to be reduced".

punchdrunk

There is an alternative: you can live closer to work. But then you probably like where you live - the peace, the tranquility etc. So you pay for it in other ways.

I've given up owning a car. I can't say I miss it living in London - My S was a money pit waste of space in the end

Now I ride my bike or use PT. If I need a car I hire one

Too many cars on the road - it's a cash cow for the govt - people are addicted to their cars. The choice really is simple: if you don't like it sell up and find alternatives - there are many.

richmc

About time too, the banks don't need a slap on the wrists but a smack in the gob, if it wasn't for them we all wouldn't be in such a mess.

richmc

Have a look at.

http://www.petrolprices.com/price-of-petrol.html

Base fuel cost 41.8p

Retailer gets 5p (poor sods hardly worth bothering)

Tax and duty 80.1p

So we get taxed 200% the value of the product. puts 20% vat in perspective and don't say duty isn't tax, duty is more tax.

gbduo

But alas the UK economy needs the banks more than the banks need the UK.

So a tricky balance has to be sought, this levy could make the Far East, Dubai and other tax haven countries much more attractive for the non state owned, successful banks, Barclays, HSBC and the Investment Banks which pay an awful lot in tax.

If they leave (as in move to new premises abroad), then we are left with a load of banks, owned by the public and gov't who have a much smaller market share and suddenly the City collapses.

We need the banks and finance, our economy is driven by finance and services, we have nothing else.



As for fuel, meh, it will go up, people will get hybrids or diesels and carry on as per normal.

The danger is inflation.

corgi_watkins

As I said... the base price of petrol, or if you like the cost of crude...

I'm not saying that the tax does not make up a ridiculous proportion of it. What I am saying is that given current taxation (which is unlikely to reduce), the price of the product ex-tax is set externally... this is then exacerbated by the taxation...

richmc

The base price quoted by the web site is not the cost of crude but the cost of the processed fuel at the pumps.
I wouldn't mind paying the product price plus a decent profit for the retailer (not the mighty shell BP etc) and a resonable amount of tax say 20-30%, but how 200% can ever be justified is beyond me, that may sound simplistic but we are being taxed on a necesity especialy in rural areas where public transport is apauling at best.
There is no environmental gain in upping tax and duty revenue, if you need to get to work no amount of tax is going to make your journey any shorter, or you fuel need any less.

Ste_Nova

maybe not but you might drive smoother or slower, meaning less fuel use and less tax so they increase tax to make up for the shortfall