I've just read the following article from the BBC:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7277580.stm
For those who are always complaining that green issues are used as an excuse for extra taxes, you may be surprised to hear that green taxes have in fact declined.
"The committee of 16 MPs said green taxes, as a proportion of all taxes, has declined from its peak of 9.7% in 1999 to 7.6% in 2006."
Motoring is an easy and ligit target for additional taxes, I expect we will see the cost of motoring rise by a considerable amount over the next few years due to extra taxes and the cost of oil.
I would also expect the prices of second hand 4x4s and SUVs to plummet over the next few years and for new ones to be priced off the roads.
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Green is the new gold. It saddens me that people are so dimwitted.
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"The committee of 16 MPs said green taxes as a proportion of all taxes has declined from its peak of 9.7% in 1999 to 7.6% in 2006."
A group of 16 politicians said so, so we are assured of the truth! Oh.. hang on?
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you may be surprised to hear that green taxes have in fact declined.
Er, it does not say that. What it says is that they have declined as a proportion of overall tax take. As the IMF stated that British tax take in 2006, was at its highest for 20 years, this is hardly an indication that green taxes have reduced in monetary terms.
The problem in this country is that green taxes are introduced or extended in scope in addition to other taxes, not as replacements for them. This is borne out by the figures you quote in your post (otherwise the green tax proportion would have increased), and is why there is such massive scepticism towards green issues in this country.
Politicians can turn even the most worthwhile cause into a joke.
Cheers
DP
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DP - good point and I take it on board. However, it still makes me wonder why people moan so much about green taxes when there are so many other stealth taxes sneaking in un noticed.
The article still gives the impression that green taxes are set to rise - I expect that the motorist will be hit hard by this. If you think it's bad now just wait and see what it be like in years to come.
Just had another thought - aren't we due for a general election? I wonder if the motorist will get any sweetners in this years budget? Or will it be a green budget?
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It is easier to raise "Green Taxes" than put 1p on income tax! There is no evidence that the tax raised is spent on anything that reduces CO2 or any other green matter! Indeed, bearing mind that the world has cooled by as much in the last 12 months as it has got warmer in the last 100 years (allegedly) the whole Green/global warming thing may be further called into question, again!
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Green taxes are not necessarily about spending the money on reducing CO2 emissions. In this country taxes are used as means to modify the populations behaviour.
The current government are very keen to keep the headline income tax rates un changed as it seems (sadly) that a large percentage of the population only seem to understand income tax. By having a more complex (and inefficient) tax system it's easier to mislead the masses on how much we are being taxed.
Global warming is happening. Our climate will change. We must reduce our CO2 emissions, to do so the government need to change our behaviour.
What does this all mean? The era of cheap motoring is over. Expect taxes to go up and fuel to get more expensive. The only thing that will become cheap is second hand 4x4s.
However, if enough progress can be made with battery technology there is a chance that cheap transport may return one day.
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Since the article doesn't seem to define what is a green tax, it's hard to say whether we can even believe the headline of 'green taxes have dropped', never mind what they then go on to say about this situation.
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"Global warming is happening. Our climate will change. We must reduce our CO2 emissions, to do so the government need to change our behaviour."
Until and unless China, Usa, and India et al do something about their co output we could all take all our vehicles off the road and not make a difference in world terms of co output.
I for 1 am fed up being told to change my co output (I want british goods to buy but cant find any because we make nothing) whilst watching the rest of the world ignore it.
Local produce = less lorries = less co etc. and less congestion
Then to get preached about being taxed for the privilege! Just to see the tax wasted !
Sorry I dont do this green thing. I try to use little because its less expensive, not because I am saving the world!
Let the world leaders lead the world, and by example not words imo !
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Lies, damn lies, global warming and statistics.
The whole thing is a farce and it never ceases to amaze me that people still buy the concept. One Volcano eruption puts out more C02 than man's ever created.
I'm waiting for the tax on carrier bags next. Apparently ol' Gordo thinks they're nasty. (Cause he's got lots of experience down Tesco's).
Income tax reduction about to come into effect.........just in time for the local elections. Me a cynic....never.
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"Gordo thinks they're nasty."
It's not Gordon, he's just jumped on the Bandwagon of the Daily Mail plastic bag campaign. You know - the newspaper that slaughters enough trees to print 2 million copies of its newspaper every day and then wraps them in plastic bags at the weekends.
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I'm afraid that article is Bull excrement.
A Green Tax should be defined as a Tax whose proceeds are used to improve the environment.
There are no such taxes cos the proceeds are frittered away on MP's expenses, wars and other high priority items.
Ergo it is as usual another load of misleading twaddle from people who set out to mislead us.
Edited by madf on 05/03/2008 at 15:40
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