The new tipping point: UK motorists rebel against additional taxes by shutting down highways.
After hundreds of angry drivers shut down highways in England Tuesday in protest against green automobile taxes, and drivers and fishermen in France and Spain paralyzed their ports and roads in a fuel-tax protest, politicians began to signal Europe’s ambitious emission-control policies may soon have to be abandoned. While Europe has led the way in using tax incentives to encourage people to buy low-emission cars and to build carbon-neutral houses in order to meet Kyoto targets, it has become increasingly apparent that inflation-battered voters are no longer willing to go along. Political leaders in Britain and France are seeking the reversal of tax policies designed to make polluting vehicles more expensive, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and some British ministers calling on their own governments and the European Union to relax ecologically friendly taxes in order to give relief to citizens suffering from fast-rising food and fuel prices.
—Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail, 28 May 2008
The fuel protests hammer home a clear message. After the 10p tax rebellion, the local elections, and the Crewe by-election, no one can doubt the mood of the country any more. There is insurrection in the air. The British people are ready for change and they don’t believe Labour can deliver it.
—Nick Clegg, The Daily Telegraph, 28 May 2008
Gordon Brown has been urged to stand firm against calls to abandon green tax rises on fuel as environmentalists warned that scrapping the proposals would risk undermining Britain’s drive towards a low carbon future and send the wrong message about the Government’s commitment to tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Amid fears that the gloomy financial outlook could sap the political will needed to combat climate change, Charlie Kronick, senior climate adviser at Greenpeace, said: “When they are willing to spend millions of pounds shoring up their vote in a by-election they can do this as well. How serious can they be about using the tax system to try to affect environmental outcomes when, if they are under political pressure, it is the first thing that goes?”
—Ben Russell, The Independent, 28 May 2008
Drivers should not be “hammered” by the Government, Cabinet Minister John Hutton declared yesterday in a clear sign of a road tax climbdown. The Business Secretary spoke out as senior Labour sources admitted planned increases of up to £245 a year that could hit millions of family car drivers were a “mistake”.
—Bob Roberts, The Mirror, 28 May 2008
Huge rises in road and petrol taxes for millions of motorists could be scrapped after two Cabinet ministers hinted at another U-turn in government policy.
After warnings from MPs that the party was alienating ordinary voters, Jack Straw and John Hutton suggested that the Pre-Budget report in the autumn would contain changes to plans set out by the Chancellor in March. But, in a further sign of government confusion, Downing Street and the Treasury insisted that no plans were being considered to revise the vehicle excise duty changes announced in the Budget.
—Philip Webster, The Times, 28 May 2008
Wrong button again – darn it!
Avfuktare krypgrund vind
The benefits of burning gas far outweigh the practically unnoticeable disadvantages. You say you don’t mind paying more fuel tax if offset by reductions in payroll taxes. I disagree. Govenments never offset a tax increase with an equal reduction of another. They always end up screeding off more. And besides, more fuel tax means reduced transportation, i.e. less freedom.
AGW is a scam by Europe to pay for their bankrupt bleeding pension systems. With birthrates at 1.4, Europe is now entering a demographic crisis. In a few short years Europe will have droves of retirees to pay and care for – with a diminishing workforce. The ecology tax in Germany is used already to finance deficits in the state pension plan.
In summary, fuel taxes are being used to underwrite gross state mismanagement and gain more power over free peoples. That’s all it is.
RC: Good link. Like I’ve been yammering on about–peak oil is a product of pointy heads. On the left side of the aisle.
First they do everything humanly possible to prevent oil exploration, refinery–and use. Then they caterwaul (at great expense) for weeks on end about how the oil companies aren’t coming across and bitch about the economy.
The peaky panicmongers are bad enough. But when they try to grab power by means of laying down in front of the rescue vehicle, it really becomes a bit much.
added to the Congestion tax and now you’re really in trouble
Pierre Gosselin suggested that Greens are like watermelons – I’ve heard that one taken further: they are like tomatoes – first green, the red, and finally brown…
Average UK Unleaded price today: 115.1ppl
Average UK Diesel price today: 128.2ppl
Price per UK Gallon Unleaded: 523.1p
Price per UK Gallon Diesel: 582.7p
Price per US Gallon Unleaded in $: 860.6c
Price per US Gallon Diesel in $ 958.5c
MB, I’m skeptical of models over 30 years out, but Lomborg believes in them and uses them to estimate the proper cost of GHG emissions at about $2 to $14 per ton CO2, IIRC.
Jim Arnd says :
Hi,
Here is a conversion kit to make your car a hybrid.
I have tried that one, I can get my Merc SLK 280 converted to Gas with no prob.
This will reduce my CO2 emissions and keep me in the lower UK CO2 band, or will it, well err NO. The CO2 emission rating applies only to the original manufacturers figures. Now tell me if this really is a tax on CO2 or just another money grabbing scheme by a bankrupt government.
By the way, it appears Brown has persuaded the oil companies to extract more oil from the North Sea in vain the hope this will bring the cost down, this is another move by a no hoper, there is no world shortage, seen any queues at any filling stations lately. The cost of oil is directly linked to the weak dollar and speculation on the commodity markets.
Massive Oil Deposit Could Increase US reserves by 10x
http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news2.13s.html
How much more lies undiscovered.
Pierre, I am not saying I necessarily trust politicians to offset one tax for another. However, in Europe taxes are already outrageous on petrol, wage and income alike. Far better to lower the wage and income taxes then, as the dynamical effects are very positive. It makes much more sense to fight for this than to fight petrol taxes
Higher taxes won’t solve our demographic problem by the way. In sweden a low income earner is already paying a total 50% of wealth created in income and wage tax, and the sales tax – levied on goods a services alike – is a wopping 25% making the total before special taxes as on petrol and housing an astonishing 60%. 60% is for a low income earner (less than $ 50k), “high” income earners pay 75%. Add special taxes and you’re lucky to keep 19% of your income. There is no way we can raise taxes to pay for a doubbling of pensioneers per worker as that would send taxes to levels above 100% and the economy would break down completely. Social security will likely have to go along with free meds and health care etc.
Why Europe in this perilous situation chooses to focus all of it’s attention on a totally theoretical risk with low probability such as catastrophic AGW is beyond me but there must be some very interesting psychology behind it.
Whilst I’m sympathetic (scientifically) to the sceptical cause… I’d think twice before sharing bed-space with these myopic, selfish whiners. If ‘gas’ here in the UK is so prohibitively expensive then why isn’t that reflected on the hugely congested road system? More vehicles than ever. It’s a market situation, if the cost is unsustainable then demand will fall to the point where the tax take is hit. You’d think to listen to the reflex moaners, that the revenue was deposited into the Chancellor’s personal bank account… rather than fund policies and programmes that even right-whingers believe in. If *all* you care about is your personal pile of mamon then shut down the public health system.
When I see then end of vehicle ownership growth and a slight downturn in congestion, then I’ll start to wonder if the tax component is too high viz the world price of oil.
I vaguely remember when petrol was 95p/litre! Petrol is close to 120p/litre at the moment and diesel is 130p. At current exchange rates, that’s $9.70 a gallon for diesel. Food is going up too. I’m sure it wasn’t so long ago you could buy a litre of vegetable oil for about 25p. You can’t get it for less than 100p at my local supermarket now. The greenies are loving it!
Pierre, I am afraid that you are correct in your opinion. When the politico can say I had to do it and justify it with “science” they are excusable. I don’t know how long the charade will last but soon the climate will take care of the “science” and perhaps the 31.000+ scientists voices will be heard and the 2500 scientists will be calmed. I don’t think that they will ever go away but very possibly have damaged the name of the scientific community that it could be years before the trust in science will return to former status. (This may be especially true for American institutions like NASA and NOAA, I fear that the adjustment king and his minions have caused great damage.) The agenda actions of some scientists are unexcusable. Perhaps one day we will be able to get the real deal on our climate but we must continue the study and refrain from modifying (adjusting) the data. Using proper siting parameters and standards should help to make the network more reliable and trustworthy. Then clearly archive the data and methodology for verification. Then some one must use diligence and verify the findings.
Just my 2 cents.
Bill Derryberry
Anybody care to give a thought to the motives of the oil companies? Any chance they’re pulling this outrageous gas price hike just to threaten politicians into falling back in line with them? hmmm…. There’s only one way they lose, and that’s if people actually stop driving everywhere at the drop of a hat. That’s just starting to happen in my area. People here are so lazy and inefficient (how many times a week do you NEED to shop really?) and often live so far from stores, work, etc. that they have no choice but to drive. I own my home, and have already decided to rent closer to my husband’s work when he gets out of school rather than drive 30 miles to our home.
Things move a bit slower over here. I recall the 1970s of my youth having the same problems. It took 2 energy crisis, stagflation, 2 recessions, the Windfall Profit Tax, a President who blamed his fellow Americans for thier malaise, and double digit commondities inflation before significant change occured. That is, it took a decade of listening to the “experts” before the electorate “threw the bums out”. I don’t know if Americans will be as patient this go around, but if you look closely at the mid to late 1970s and today the similarities are eerie. The Federal Reserve is using interest rates to pump prime growth (and in the mean time cause the dollar to free fall and oil to sky-rocket), both parties are signaling a desire to regulate energy to a higher degree (thus increasing the chances of future supply problems), and the Greenies are proposing vast new mandates on consumers and producers (I lost count of the various cap and trade schemes, carbon tax initiatives, newer CAFE standards, etc…).
In the mean time OPEC is cutting production, domestic fossil fuel production remains locked in the 1980s, and both food and gasoline are rising at near 18% annually. Niether of the 2 major parties address the supply issue other than to offer Green platitudes or threats to Exxon. All it will take is one very long cold winter, and one severe drought cycle to shake the world from its fantasies.
Pierre I was intrigued by your comment:
“In a few short years Europe will have droves of retirees to pay and care for – with a diminishing workforce.”
In the US we face a similar situation. Over the last few years our government has begun publishing our financial situation using the GAAP, Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. That shows Social Security and Medicare to be underfunded by $45 trillion over the next 75 years, in todays dollars. That’s a pretty hefty chunk of change. I was wondering if Europe does a similar calculation.
Avfuktare Krypgrund Vind
(Just love that name!)
I’m right with you on that. AGW is the grand diversion of public attention.
Kind of like sending the kids to their rooms so that they don’t see dad when he’s drunk.
I must say I get a big kick out of the Scandinavian countries. They love to preach to others about human rights, yet levy huge taxes on beer, wine and fine spirits!
Uncivil –
That’s a good one too.
Yes, all bad things start from being red.
“I reckon we will wait till that bull-headed Bush is out of office.”
Ummm, Steve, I know you weren’t paying attention, but the moment he assumed the office of President, Mr. Bush talked about the need to for the country to invest in its energy infrastructure and start planning for the future. Remember the demonized National Energy Policy Development Group head by Vice President Cheney?
http://www-tc.pbs.org/now/shows/224/national-energy-policy.pdf
Rather than discuss the prosposals and issues raised by the group’s report, the Democrats and their media/environmental allies obsessed over who the Vice President met with. Rather than focus on the gathering storm clouds on the horizon the opponents of the President sought to play ‘got you’ politics. Who opposed/opposes opening up new areas for oil exploration & development? Who opposed/opposes a renewal of the nation’s nuclear power? Who opposed/opposes the building of new refinery capacity? Sure as heck wasn’t the ‘bull-headed’ Mr. Bush.
The money quote from the report
“Unfortunately, there are no short-term solutions to long-term neglect.”
Anybody care to give a thought to the motives of the oil companies? Any chance they’re pulling this outrageous gas price hike just to threaten politicians into falling back in line with them?
Well, if so, for heaven’s sake let’s hope it works!
Carbon Credit Card Crap
Some TORY politician proved that the Tories have not yet recovered from the brain-damaging John Major years by proposing a Carbon Credit Card system of energy rationing. The ruling classes dont get it. This is French Revolution time. Now that, as the good Reverend has said, the eco-chickens are coming home to roost the voters are turning on the knuckleheads in Westminister in fury. Unlike the US the Brits have a potential leader, Boris Johnson. Its time for the Western nations to dump the liberal guilt and compete on an even footing with our Chinese and Indian competitors.
If ‘gas’ here in the UK is so prohibitively expensive then why isn’t that reflected on the hugely congested road system? – Zeroth
Two things: 1) Most of us have no choice but to pay these insane prices for fuel – many people are now even going without decent meals, and 2) the congestion is mainly down to our hopelessly inadequate road and transport system – due to decades of underinvestment despite the huge tax take.
Steve Stip:”Sorry, I forgot I was not talking to fellow Libs.”
Steve, I removed myself from the Libertarian Party after 9/11 when the leadership spouted the “it’s our own fault” line. I still believe in Libertarian principles, but I have also spend a good amount of time in the military. But as Evan says, this is off topic so I will put it away for now.
“Two things: 1) Most of us have no choice but to pay these insane prices for fuel – many people are now even going without decent meals, and […]”
Go to the Gov stats site and wonder how we managed in the dark ages, say twenty years ago. Legend has it that *some* kids used to walk to school back then. I’m reminded of my first visit to the US in ’86 where I was offered a twenty-five yard lift.
“2) the congestion is mainly down to our hopelessly inadequate road and transport system – due to decades of underinvestment despite the huge tax take.”
Nothing whatsoever to do with the greatly increased number of vehicles on the roads then? And if the massive sums that *have* been spent are “hopelessly inadequate” then logically, your remedy would require far greater sums… from other budgets or new taxes.
Ne’r mind, the raison d’etre of Govt in a secular society is to provide us with something to blame for all of life’s ills, imaginary or otherwise… whilst simultaneously neglecting to remember that we collectively voted for them.
but I have also spend a good amount of time in the military.
Thank you for your service.
Zeroth: There’s nothing wrong with hoofing it. But that’s not the point. The point is the damage or lack of damage caused by CO2 emissions.
I have no dog in the fight. (And no car.) I walk everywhere. But that is my free choice and I wouldn’t dream of imposing it on others.
If CO2 is seriously harmful, then yes, there is every reason for the government to limit it. But if it isn’t, there is no reason to limit it and if folks want to get a lift down the block that’s their own darn business and part of the role of government is to accommodate by building the necessary infrastructure. If it doesn’t, that’s a strike against in an election.
That’s the point.
The government works for the public, not the other way around.
Evan:”Thank you for your service.
No need, I went into the military for purely selfish reasons. I only made the point because the post was referring to Libertarian ideals. Sometimes you must temper your lofty ideals with the reality that you gotta break other people’s heads sometimes in order to keep yours safe.