Looks like he is going ahead no matter what!

[Kathyan]

In the Mirror today

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=blair %2D-we-can%2Dt-go-on-without-toll-tax%26method =full%26objectid=18586574%26siteid=94762-name_ page.html

How arrogant is this man?

[sp1814]

Don't you agree with road pricing schemes?

Why should people who don't drive fund people who do?

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here...I'm one of the ones who will be hit by this tax.

Just want to hear your opinion on the for/against argument.

[Kathyan]

No I don't agree with road pricing. We pay enough in road tax and fuel tax supposedly to maintain the roads, but I fear the money is going to fund other things instead. If the road pricing does go ahead, everything transported by road will increase in price to cover the extra cost.

[beryllium]

Are there any other countries with this scheme?
Looks like mr B will be walking to the station more often lol... nowt like a brisk walk at 5am for 45 mins is there?

[beryllium]

I'm wondering how the foreign truck drivers will be billed?
Pay as you enter?

The M20 is shocking, and we get operation stack here too because of traffic.

It (the government) says there will be no more road tax. and by the looks of things some will be paying 10x more... and it will be spent on improving public transport?
So, Railtrack? private. SE Trains. Private. Does the government fund them? because I thought our monthly bill of �400 to commute paid towards upkeep. And those trains are packed at rush hour!!!

I think this country is in a massive deficit, war chest and all?
Does the tax we pay go towards that too?

How do you get hold of the real figures?

[Loosehead]

The basic problem is that if the masses can afford something as wasteful as private personal transport then it must be too cheap!

[Whickerman]

Ah, Loosehead, but can the masses afford not to have personal transport? Or do you advocate forced relocation to major cities wher public transport is available, thus leaving rural areas free for the tally-ho bunch?

[sp1814]

Devil's Advocate Time Again:

If you use a resource more than the next person, shouldn't you pay more for it?

Why should someone who only uses the roads once a fortnight to get the shopping in pay as much as the commuter who drives 15,000 per year?

Sure, some people will pay considerably more, but if road tax is indeed abolished, there are some people who will pay substantially less.

(By the way, I see horrible implications in terms of inflation - road haulage companies will have to pass on increased costs to the consumer which will lead to inflation - putting it simplistically...that's how I see it working).

[beryllium]

oh yes!!! the cost of living will rise.

The Tescos et al will be paying a lot more to use the roads..
put like that sp I'm not sure I'm bothered really......

Will we be the first country in Europe to do this scheme?

[Kathyan]

What about the disabled who don't pay road tax then? They will not feel the benefit of abolishing the road tax, but they will also have to pay to use the roads. The argument that 'I don't drive, why should I fund people who do' is silly. We all use the roads whether driving, cycling or using public transport.

[ludwig]

We already have a method by which people who use the road alot pay more than those who use it less.
It's called petrol duty.
People who don't use the road at all pay nothing, and what's more, people who drive 'greener' cars pay less.

There's no need for this. It's just a way of getting more money out of us, whilst handing a lucrative IT contract to some 'Lord' Crony of Cronyshire or other.

[Whickerman]

To anyone who thinks they don't use roads - How do you think your cornflakes got to Tesco?

Seems petrol tax is the fairest way to tax road use. But take it from me - if the proposed tax starts, it'll be the thin end of a wedge, and you'll soon be paying a quid a mile at peak times.

[horsestache1]

Wickerman, Your cornflakes are delivered to Tesco by the Tally Ho bunch, using an old cob and a cart!!!!!!!

We dont do any other work of course, or contribute in any way to society, and we are all filthy rich, so we could afford any tax the lovely Mr Blair throws at us!!!!!!

Nice view from your high rise though.

[ludwig]

It's a brilliant plan isn't it? - there are too many cars on the road so we'll make it so non-rich people can't afford to drive.

Why not apply the same technique to solving hospital wating lists and overcrowded classrooms? �500 quid to see the doctor and �50 for each lesson your kid wants to attend. That should do the trick.

[jake-the-peg]

Of course there's a massive saving potential here.

With such devices in your cars they can simply abolish speed cameras.

The moment you go above the speed limit you can be ticketed automatically!

[Whickerman]

horsetache 1 - I wouldn't know about the highrise, I live in my detached house in a (very) rural area, hence my insight into the trouble of taxing people onto non-existent public transport.

Of course, if you'd read my posts properly, you'd see I was making the point that ordinary working people in rural areas will also be hit hard with such a tax, as they will have no alternative but to use their cars.

[anotheoldgit]

Passage from the report; Mr Blair said: "In the future, I don't believe you will get consent for general taxpayer-funded massive investment in transport.

Excuse me Mr Blair, whenever have we been asked to give our consent over anything?

[sp1814]

Whickerman makes a really good point...I live in London and have multiple choices when it comes to public transport.

However, there are huge swathes of the country where that is just not an option.

Unless there is a massive investment in the transport infrastructure in this places, this idea will fail.

...and there will be a lot of annoyed people (I'm thinking of those rural areas such as Norfolk, Hertfordshire and that place where the wheat comes from...can't remember it's name).

[anotheoldgit]

Kathyan, How long have the Disabled not been paying Road Tax then? There's the Blue Badge Scheme, but they still pay Vehicle Tax (as it is now called).

[Kathyan]

If you are in recept of Disablility Living Allowance (higher rate mobility component) then you are exempt from paying road tax.

[Ctrak]

The government are failing to see that loyalty to one's car is surprisingly high- I reckon (although I haven't tested this, admittedly) that vast swathes of society would rather go bankrupt. And should that happen they'll feel very stupid indeed. I'm referring to society and the government.