A lot of people have no choice, or choose not to drive. The option has to be open.
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A lot of people have no choice, or choose not to drive. The option has to be open.
Where does all the money from congestion charging go? Would it be plausible for a free bus service in towns that was paid for by a congestion charge? Or would the funding for the buses dry up as more people stopped driving into towns when they could use a bus for free?
In London, it goes back into various transport-related projects, including bus services. I certainly noticed an improvement in bus provision soon after the CC was enforced.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow
The question as to whether congestion charging could be counter-productive as a result of it being so successful that the revenue derived from it is too small to bother with is an interesting one. Any scheme would have to be really successful to reach that point, but it could happen.
I said there should be more referendums (in another thread), but was told it wasn't a great idea. I imagine they would have to raise the tax in order to put such a system in place...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
Whether it's a good idea or not I would think depends on how honestly you present the issue and the manner of presentation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew
In Texas there are many tax issues that are decided by popular vote, among them being city sales taxes and property (real estate) taxes. Local school districts are funded by property taxes. Property tax increases are almost always passed the first time although every now and then an increase will fail until the school board does a better job of explaining the need for the increase.
Contrary to the professional politician's view, not all taxes and fees will be shot down all the time just because they are taxes. We don't want our money wasted on nonsense. Isn't London having some difficulty with the Olympic funding and cost overruns? Believe it or not, I've been known to vote for tax increases myself. I resent however, being used as governments personal ATM machine.
I wouldn't fund rural public transport. Thats part of the breaks of living in the country.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
I, on the other hand, do not feel hard done by at any time by taxation. Of course it would be nice to pay no tax, or less, but I am happy knowing that while some of my money (a very small amount in real terms) goes towards things I disagree with and may be wasted, some of it also goes towards valuable things that I'm pleased to contribute to. It's an imperfect system, but I don't think it can ever be modified to suit everybody and choose to accept this. I am less acceptant of many other things, but the current method of taxation, I can tolerate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
Well, I disagree fundamentally with you, but there you go. Neither of us is going to agree with the other on this point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
I do not think taxation is automatically a bad thing. Taxation is a necessary thing. I think allowing government to tax and fee as they see fit without specific public approval is automatically a bad thing. I do not believe governments job is to try to make things artificially equal for everybody all the way around the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
I believe that holding a referendum on every single item of taxation, of which there have to be many, would be unnecessarily cumbersome and expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
By the way, apologies if I misrepresented your general view on taxation.