Fuel Duty (my views!)

(I do not own this picture)

So, yesterday it was announced that the proposed increase in fuel duty of 3p has been postponed, yes postponed, not completely scrapped as was stated on the BBC news this evening, it has simply been moved to become an issue in the future, probably rearing its head again in January. So we're not out of it yet!

As someone who cares about the environment, most people would think that I would be against this being postponed, surely a rise in tax would ultimately reduce car usage and therefore be of benefit to the environment. However, this is not my opinion. Car usage is 'in-elastic' and demand does not decrease with the increased price! This has definitely been seen recently with the soaring prices but the still ever growing number of cars on the road. Has anyone else noticed a drop in traffic? No, I didn't think so! Maybe if this tax was going to be directly used to tackle environmental issues then I would be more for it, but I don't believe it would be really used for anything other than helping the government tackle their deficit.

(I do not own this picture)

Also, increasing a tax on fuel only really hits the poorer people in society really. These people are generally not those who are aimlessly driving around town in expensive, gas guzzling cars but the people who require a car to get to work, to earn money for their family etc. A tax like this would not tackle consumption on the level it needs to be!

Haulage companies would also be hit dramatically by this tax increase and that is hardly fair! They are providing a vital service that everyone in the country requires. When you begin to think about it, it becomes scarily clear how much we rely on these companies to stock the shelves in our local shops etc. This increase in tax would probably cause an increase in other goods, especially if they require movement around the country by these haulage companies, cascading problems could arise, you only have to think a little to see this!

There needs to be a serious look at why and how people are consuming, there is a definite need for a reduction in all transport usage, one day, and in the not too distant future, we are simply not going to have enough oil to produce the petrol we need. What will happen then? The whole structure of society will have to change.

Okay, I know that the tax isn't all about the environment and stuff, but it's clear how much just a simple rise in prices could have dramatic effects on the country! What I think is that it's definitely right of the government not to set the increase yet, but unfortunately I don't think it will last, they will put it off for a while and suddenly we will notice the prices beginning to rise again, this it seems is how our country and economy seems to be working nowadays. Personally, I think that they should be cutting petrol prices! It seems all nice of them to stabilise them now, but the fact is that petrol is hardly ever under £1.30 a litre and this is ridiculous, most of this is tax and playing on the fact that people are very reliant on private transport in this day and age, but this is wrong and should be challenged!!! We are being pushed towards private transport as public transport is frankly inconvenient and expensive, but then private transport is becoming ever more expensive too! It's a no win situation really.

Maybe I will just walk everywhere instead!

Lets get back to blogging!

I'm not a natural blogger, and I know I only have one person who might actually possibly read this blog, but I've decided I don't mind! I'm going to try my hardest to be interesting to anyone who wants to read this, and I'm not offended if everyone thinks everything I say sucks! It's not going to be all about me, because, lets face it, who would want to read that?! I'm going to just include my opinions on interesting things I come across in my life. I hope anyone who does read this finds it at least a little bit interesting! I'll be back more often from now on!