posted
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.
------------------ "We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy
posted
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?
------------------ "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
"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...
------------------ "Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy
Orion Syndicate
He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
Member # 25
posted
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.
------------------ They're all just a bunch of wankers aren't they?
posted
"...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?
------------------ "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
posted
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.
------------------ "Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy
posted
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.
posted
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.
------------------ "Why do you want to spend time with a deer? They're so stupid, they get hypnotized by headlights!" - Guido Anchovy
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