I'm not sure why there are two threads running about fuel prices and taxation, but my points relate to both of them.

1. I disagree that road and fuel tax should only be spent on roads. If that was the case then alcohol tax should be spent on breweries and tobacco tax on cigarette factories. Some people might like that, but it's just as illogical.

2. If the government hadn't spent 2 billion pounds (so far) on the unnecessary Iraq war, all our taxes could have been lower.

3. If we hadn't fallen for the same lies being spread about Iran that were previously spread about Iraq, the global uncertainty wouldn't have pushed oil prices up to present levels.

No doubt that will bring a chorus of abuse, but I've said what I think.

Sal

1. Fair enough. But it would be nice if a reasonable proportion was spent on roads !

2. Probably

3. Probably.

See ! No abuse.

Although on the downside now we have 3 threads

1. Disagree here - by rights alcohol "duty" should be spent on health and police related matters and tobacco "duty" should go toward the health service just like petrol "duty" should go toward transport and the environment. I realise this is impratical but any increase in transparency of where specific taxes actually go would be a start. It would help us as taxpayers to adjust our expectations of where public spending goes.

e.g. I think internet forums are completely anti-social and should be taxed at a punitive rate. All proceeds going toward the Internet Widow's Pension. Ditto golf.

2. Agreed. Is that all its cost so far? Seems cheap to me... Although

I'm not sure why there are two threads running about fuel prices and taxation

Sal

Good idea, start another one

I'm not sure why there are two threads running about fuel prices and taxation' date=' but my points relate to both of them.

1. I disagree that road and fuel tax should only be spent on roads. If that was the case then alcohol tax should be spent on breweries and tobacco tax on cigarette factories. Some people might like that, but it's just as illogical.

2. If the government hadn't spent 2 billion pounds (so far) on the unnecessary Iraq war, all our taxes could have been lower.

3. If we hadn't fallen for the same lies being spread about Iran that were previously spread about Iraq, the global uncertainty wouldn't have pushed oil prices up to present levels.

No doubt that will bring a chorus of abuse, but I've said what I think.

Sal[/quote']

I'm ambivalent about multiple threads since the software does not allow "strands" of thought, so no bad thing for diversity of thought to be expressed, though the Mods will generally combine threads if clearly running along the same line.

I would take issue with some things you say, but that is more politics than petrol pricing so I'll keep quiet.

Regards

Mo

I'm not sure why there are two threads running about fuel prices and taxation' date=' but my points relate to both of them.

1. I disagree that road and fuel tax should only be spent on roads. If that was the case then alcohol tax should be spent on breweries and tobacco tax on cigarette factories. Some people might like that, but it's just as illogical.

2. If the government hadn't spent 2 billion pounds (so far) on the unnecessary Iraq war, all our taxes could have been lower.

3. If we hadn't fallen for the same lies being spread about Iran that were previously spread about Iraq, the global uncertainty wouldn't have pushed oil prices up to present levels.

No doubt that will bring a chorus of abuse, but I've said what I think.

Sal[/quote']

1) Agreed....a lot more should be spent on public transport...and research into alternative fuels/methods of transport

2) Not sure about anyone else but I am more than happy that Saddam is no longer in power......and the reason for going in ...weapons of mass destruction...even I could hide one in a country the size of France.......but if it was me I would hide all the stuff just over one the borders of the next country

3) Not sure what lies you are on about......the ones about them being an unstable country and having nuclear capability? I would be very surprised if they didn't

The point of road tax being spent on roads, possibly transport is about fairness. Tax should be air, like Income tax is and NI is. If you work you pay and pay so much. With road transport you make a choice to use a car (although sometimes using the word choice is a joke), but then get to pay more tax than someone who dosen't. If the tax covered the cost of motoring fine, but in reality it dose't so you pay more tax.

I just can not agree with a plociy where by me driving effectivley pays for people to be on the dole. That is what NI is for, and if it is not enough it should be put up to cover the costs. That way every one pays fairly.

Good idea, start another one

And lets have a poll too for good measure

1. Disagree here - by rights alcohol "duty" should be spent on health and police related matters and tobacco "duty" should go toward the health service just like petrol "duty" should go toward transport and the environment.

Not exactly. If alcohol and tobacco taxes are used solely to repair the damage done by those products then similarly the vehicle and fuel taxes should be used to correct the environmental damage caused by vehicles and roads - not to build more roads.

2. Agreed. Is that all its cost so far? Seems cheap to me... Although £2bn wouldn't knock much of any sort of tax

That was the last figure I remember for the Iraq war - no doubt it is continuing to rise. And we haven't started paying for the Iran war yet because Mr Blair is still waiting for his instructions to start from the White House.

3. Agreed again but even the Chair/Chief Exec of BP has recently been quoted as saying he doesn't understand why prices are quite so high.

That's because he's a businessman working with supply and demand. It's the political uncertainties created by Bush and his cronies that are pushing up the prices beyond what BP can explain.

Sorry if this has got too political - I will understand if my comments are moderated.

Sal

And lets have a poll too for good measure

:slap: The poll is "to settle the matter once and for all "

When I was in America recently I had to drive along the 101. The road was in a horrible state, about 6 lanes of pot holes and cracks. I asked my american aunt why the roads were so crappy, and she said that it was decided that people would rather pay less tax and have **** roads.

When I was in America recently I had to drive along the 101. The road was in a horrible state, about 6 lanes of pot holes and cracks. I asked my american aunt why the roads were so crappy, and she said that it was decided that people would rather pay less tax and have **** roads.

sounds like leeds

I have only recently noticed how variable the state of roads is. Here in Leicestershire, they are actually quite good on the whole. I was in Cheshire over Easter and theirs are AWFUL; I was in Warwickshire on a course last week and they are pretty ropy too.

It's a bit unreasonable that the quality is so inconsistent - and the reality is that it's cheaper to maintain roads properly than to let them fall apart and then have to completely rebuild them.