Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Petrol Crisis in the UK

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Posted by nx001a (Member # 291) on :

I was wondering what people on this forum though about the petrol protests in the UK and in Europe? Is it wrong especilly with a litre of unleaded petrol at 80 pence with 60 pence going to the government. It is predicted that by christmas it will be about 90 pence. At the moment it is impossible to get any petrol at all and the country will likely grind to a halt.

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"We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy

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Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

The protestors have the right idea, but the need to do something to hit the politicians. Blockading refineries would just raise the price due to low supply, and turn the rest of the country against them. Heck, how did taxes reach 300%, anyway? How many bureaucracies are they funding on that side of the pond? NO taxes should be that high. I'm surprised someone in England hasn't come up with some new power source, just to get around the opressive government taxes. 'Course, when was the last time a Brit invented anything?

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

[This message has been edited by Omega (edited September 12, 2000).]

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

Not the best way to win the people over is it?

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Where's the bathroom on this ship?

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

I think you should know that I started my thread up 3 hours before you, so I have all rights to it. Bow to me.

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

I'm all for it. It keeps 'em downtrodden and envious of us.

Besides, how do you think they pay for all that glorious socialized medicine and socialized everything?

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

We even have socialised butter now. We spread it evenly on both sides of the toast.

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

"Blockading refineries would just raise the price due to low supply, and turn the rest of the country against them."

I should point out that this hasn't actually happened yet. Most places have simply sold out. A few raised prices, but it doesn't help when you have't got any to sell. (Although a few people are guessing that a few places ar holding back until thing's get REALLY desperate, and will thne sell their petrol at hugely infalted prices).

At the moment, emergency fuel is being let through. Of course, this is now raising the question of what counts as "emergency". Ambulances? Buses? Cabs? Social workers? Doctors and Nurses? Hospital Staff? Meals on Wheels for the elderly?

Still gotta work tomorrow though. *tsk*.

Fortuantly (well, at the moment it is), my car hasn't actually got a catalytic convertor, so I can use leaded petrol (or lead replacement petrol as it's now called), without my car clogging up. Noew cars are buggered, as Unleaded and Diesel are the hardest to find.

Plus, some protestors today started blocking roads. A fleet of lorries were driving round Park Lane (which is the second last purple square on the UK monopoly board if you're interested) at miles an hour, and people were still supporting them.

Tony's really buggered over this one...

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :

That's fine, but what alternative have we got? William (lets jump on any populist bandwagon) Hague and Charles (I hope they're not asleep yet) Kennedy are hardly suitable candidates for the premiership.

We're stuck with New Labour for the time being. And besides, petrol prices are ridiculously high, but if the prices fell, the fall in government revenue would be way too high for them to absorb. Taxes elsewhere would have to be raised, so the amount of taxes paid overall would remain the same, if not more.

Some people have mentioned earlier that public support would be lost by this, but the evidence is to the contrary. The public have gone out and queued for hours to get petrol, but they still support the blockaders. Blair is buggered at the moment, but the election will now be left until the last moment to give his spin doctors time to improve his image. They'll still win.

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They're all just a bunch of wankers aren't they?

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

"...petrol prices are ridiculously high, but if the prices fell, the fall in government revenue would be way too high for them to absorb. Taxes elsewhere would have to be raised..."

Unless, of course, you cut spending, but we can't do that, can we?

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

No. We need to spend a fortune on our military in case France attacks us with those apple pies Tony sent them to distract the press, before they found out that he was actually having sex with his own wife. The bastard.

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

You know, Liam, there's a phrase you might want to look up. It starts, "'Tis better to say nothing and have people think you a fool..."

You might also want to look up "strawman attack", while you're at it.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

The US is, however, building up its presence on Guam, in response to the Chinese military buildup as they try to sieze nominal control over trhe Spratly Islands, and thus air superiority over the South China Sea.

What, nobody else keeps up on these things? http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/1,11597,SL15september,00.html?cat=NEWSEDI TOR3

And US Intelligence opinions on China seem to be changing, too... http://208.246.212.80/national/default-20009152381.htm

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

[This message has been edited by First of Two (edited September 16, 2000).]

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

You know, Omega, there's a phrase you might want to look up. It goes something like "paranoid arrogant fuckwit who has more chance of ejaculating to the moon than he has of ever convincing a girl that he's a viable prospect for marriage."

You might also want to look up "stubborn refusal to listen to evidence which conflicts with own personal belief system", while you're at it.

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

*ROTFL*

HAhahahahahahahahaha..

*wipes tear from eye*

Oh, that was the funniest irrational rant I've ever heard. I can see why Brittish humor is so highly rated now.

But seriously, now, do you have a point?

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :

I believe Liam's point is on the top of your head.

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"Incest! A game the whole family can play!"
-Jonah Rapp

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Oh, that's... creative...

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

I told you so, I told you so!

Now remember, this is the time of year when I reach deep into the blackened coal that is my heart and dredge up feelings of discontent, so we should probably endeavor to keep things civil here. M'kay?

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love's function is to fabricate unknownnness
--
E. E. Cummings
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Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! And party everyday.

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Agreed, Sol.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Omega: You complain about his lack of creativity, and the best you can come up w/ is "Oh, that's... creative..."? *L*

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"It's like the Star of David or something. But without the whole Judaism thing."
-Frank Gerratana, 17-Aug-2000

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Why be funny when you can be an self-rightous smart-arse?

Shouldn't you be making a sucky-up comment to First of Two right around now anyway Omega old boy?

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

[This message has been edited by PsyLiam (edited September 17, 2000).]

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Liam:

And why have a legitimate debate when you can hurl insults without a shred of reasoning behind them?

"Shouldn't you be making a sucky-up comment to First of Two right around now anyway Omega old boy?"

And why, praytell, would I do that? What could I gain? Besides, he hasn't come up with any witty insults. Yet.

TSN:

Exactly the irony I was going for.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Ahh, so you were trying not to be funny. Congratulations then, you've succeeded.

"why have a legitimate debate when you can hurl insults without a shred of reasoning behind them?"

I dunno. Hurling insults can be a whole lotta fun. And you ever think that maybe the reason behind the insult is that you, sir, actually are a paranoid, arrogant, self-rightious little tosser?

"And why, praytell, would I do that? What could I gain?"

It's a good question. I've been tempted to ask you that, but I was waiting to see how far you'd take it, and whether you'd start sucking up to anyone else that has a chance of beating you in arguments. Which, by my calculations, means you've got another 6 billion arses to lick...

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

[This message has been edited by PsyLiam (edited September 17, 2000).]

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

One is forced to wonder whether they recognize the difference between legitimate praise and sucking up on your side of the Atlantic...

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

"Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say"-Elvis Costello.

Of course, thanks to those wacky UBB creators and the farseeing munificence of our Capps Beyond the Veil, I can. Therefore, Liam, although your metaphors for the loving application of tounge to arse thrill me personally, perhaps they would be better suited for warmer climates.

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love's function is to fabricate unknownnness
--
E. E. Cummings
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! And party everyday.

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Translation, if I may: this thread can easily get sent to the flameboard, so don't push it.

Now why we'd CARE where the thread went, I'm not completely sure...

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Because thy Sol is a vengeful Sol. Because I love all the people, and want them to get along. And mostly because I don't think every thread about real world issues is destined for the Flameboard. Perhaps I should just shuffle off every thread with a trace of controversy. But I don't like doing that, and I don't think it's necessary.

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love's function is to fabricate unknownnness
--
E. E. Cummings
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! And party everyday.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Fair enough. I apologise.

I love you Omega, and I want to have your babies.

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"Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

But where is the fetus going to gestate?

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love's function is to fabricate unknownnness
--
E. E. Cummings
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! And party everyday.

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

You going to keep it in a box?

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"It's like the Star of David or something. But without the whole Judaism thing."
-Frank Gerratana, 17-Aug-2000

Posted by Curry Monster (Member # 12) on :

Wolves tongues! Camels ears!

Hey, are you the Judean Peoples Front?

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"More beer, more beer, more beer, more beer! ARSE!"
- Ode to God.

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

Ever seen Junior?

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Where's the bathroom on this ship?

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Fortunately, no.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

To get you silly, silly people back on something approaching the original topic:

Time Magazine, 9-25-00 "Over a Barrel"

Average Gasoline prices in US dollars per gallon, followed by percentage of price which is tax:

USA 1.74 22%
Spain 2.86 58%
Ireland 3.01 58%
Germany 3.42 67%
Belgium 3.58 63%
France 3.66 69%
Britain 4.29 75%

Given that the gasoline prices BEFORE taxation hits are pretty much the same, I think the real problem is your taxes. If you paid taxes at the same rate we do, citizens of most of these European countries would be paying LESS for gas than US citizens.

But like I said before, then you couldn't pay for all those wonderful socialized programs (and the huge bureaucracies they support) that make your countries SO much better to live in than the US.

And nobody ever DID react to my posts on the changing perception of China, so I'm just going to count that up as a victory for my 'don't disarm JUST yet' side.

Oh, here's another scoop: be ready for more problems in Serbia-Montenegro-Kosovo. There's an election with a strong opposition candidate to Milosevich, and a growing independence movement in Montenegro. Expect Milo to begin clamping down and claiming (and committing) election fraud shortly. This will be your only bulletin.

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

"But like I said before, [if you cut taxes,] then you couldn't pay for all those wonderful socialized programs (and the huge bureaucracies they support) that make your countries SO much better to live in than the US."

Thus cut spending, as I said. Thanks.

And no, that's not sucking up.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw