Green Tax Revolt

Register · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:41 am Post subject: Green Tax Revolt

Quote:

More than seven in 10 voters insist that they would not be willing to pay higher taxes in order to fund projects to combat climate change, according to a new poll.

The survey also reveals that most Britons believe "green" taxes on 4x4s, plastic bags and other consumer goods have been imposed to raise cash rather than change our behaviour, while two-thirds of Britons think the entire green agenda has been hijacked as a ploy to increase taxes.

The findings make depressing reading for green campaigners, who have spent recent months urging the Government to take far more radical action to reduce Britain's carbon footprint. The UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, a target that most experts believe will be difficult to reach. The results of the poll by Opinium, a leading research company, indicate that maintaining popular support for green policies may be a difficult act to pull off, and attempts in the future to curb car use and publicly fund investment in renewable resources will prove deeply unpopular.

The implications of the poll could also blow a hole in the calculations of the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, who was forced to delay a scheduled 2p-a-litre rise in fuel duty until the autumn in his spring Budget, while his plans to impose a showroom tax and higher vehicle excise duty on gas-guzzling cars will not take effect for a year. He is now under pressure to shelve the increase in fuel duty because of the steep rise in the price of oil...

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What are your views? Will you be willing to pay more tax to fund green initiatives?

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x Kat x

Register · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:53 am Post subject:

Perhaps unfortunately...I'm going to have to go with the 7 out of 10 saying NO.

Not because I think it is a bad idea, but because:

1. I don't trust the government to actually use the green taxes for green initiatives

2. Increase tax means increased civil servents to do "the paperwork" which uses up tax money that would better be spent on green initiatives

3. The government is already wasting millions funding unnecessary things (Olympics - which is also environmentally damaging!), benefit cheats et al not to mention the politicians overseas holidays (again environmentally damaging!)

4. Tax on fuel in the UK is already one of the highest in the world - and for what? Are you seeing well maintained roads or are the roads constantly being dug up adding to congestion problems etc? I don't believe the government are using the tax they are already getting effectively so I oppose giving them more money to waste.

5. I don't trust the government

6. The government is wasting money on those "eco-homes" when it would be better to spend that money on redeveloping brownfield sites and altering current homes to be more environmentally friendly

7. The government already has very poor green credentials in my eyes (Marine Bill anyone) so why should people give them more money to not put it to the use it is intended for?

8. I don't trust the government

I can probably think of plenty more - mainly due to not trusting the government to use any tax money effectively because I don't believe they are using the taxes they are getting now effectively. Oh, and I don't trust the government (if you hadn't already realised).

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x Kat x

Register · Resident Joined: 09 Feb 2008 Posts: 409 Location: Montrose

What you said! Except, I don't trust the Government!

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Register · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

Wow! Your trust the government? Laughing

You must be one of the only ones Laughing

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x Kat x

Register · Resident Joined: 09 Feb 2008 Posts: 409 Location: Montrose

Yep, what can go wrong when you hand those fine upstanding Gentlemen and Ladies your hard earned cash? Nothing like what happened in Aberdeen, surely! Laughing

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Register · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

I dread to think what will happen next now you've said that...

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x Kat x