Re: Government Noses

["David Hansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]

On 8 Sep 2003 at 8:30, Brian Beesley wrote:

> ISTR the Daily Torygraph running articles about tagged licence plates about a 
> year ago, try the Motoring section.

And a few other places.
 
> Why should use of public transport, cycles 
> or Shank's Pony be allowed if the idea is to monitor people's movement 
> (whether of everyone or of specific targetted individuals)?

If the idea is to monitor people's movement, or rather the movement of 
cars as there is not a one to one relationship. Alternatively 
government might be telling the truth and motoring correspondents may 
just be putting out scare stories because they realise that a better 
motoring taxation system would reflect the distance travelled by 
people.
 
> It's quite clear that the _primary_ motive is, in fact, road pricing

That is correct. All part of an EU project.
 
> tapping yet more money from the private motorist.

That would be the case were they adding to existing taxes. In reality 
the plan is to replace VED by different sorts of taxes (ones which 
reflect distance travelled). They will be starting with lorries 
shortly.

>Those who think this is a Good Idea should try living in a rural 
>area.

I know people who live in rural areas. Most of those that do have cars 
don't drive long distances. The ones that do drive long distances are 
rich people who want to live in the countryside (pushing house prices 
beyond the means of locals) and drive to jobs in the city (causing 
problems for those that live in the city in the process). You may 
detect that I have little sympathy for the special pleading of such 
people.

> It's also an environmentally 
> disastrous policy as it does nothing to encourage use of small vehicles, 

That is easily solved with a capacity/distance tax. The smaller the 
capacity (be it of the lorry or the car) the smaller the tax. The less 
it is driven the smaller the That is what Transport 2000 has urged for 
decades.



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  David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
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