On a side to my earlier ranting about the congestion charge. How about this little gem? Taken from a report in todays Metro newspaper.
Households in Britain are paying £400 more in GREEN TAXES than their carbon foot print.
A total of £10 billion nationwide.
A report from the Tax Payers Alliance claims that "GREEN TAXES" raised £21.9 billion in 2005 but the social cost was just £11.7 billion. That is not all there are other ways used to raise money, the truth is frightening.
Only 20% of people think that polititions are trying to change our habits by using the tax system. But no less than 63% think it is just an excuse to raise money.
What do You think?
If you want more figures from these studies, just leave a comment and I will be happy to oblige.
I can be certain that you won't like it. We are being screwed and we can do nothing about it other than at the ballot box. Vote for the Monster Raving Luny Party, which one is up to you!
2 comments:
Hmmm. There are a couple of points here. First off the Tax Payers Alliance. Clearly they have an agenda and I wonder what figures they could produce on any number of tax policies, not just vogueish 'green' taxes.
I'm also not sure what 'social cost' means in terms of carbon foot prints. They've put a figure on how much polluting costs? I thought the problem was that being green was expensive which is why everyone is so slow to endorse it.
Secondly: the public perception of 'green' taxes is clearly a problem. If the Government are raising money to be used specifically for environmental policies 'ring-fencing' it (another revolting phrase that will hopefully die out soon) then they need to make sure we know that. Of course if that is not what's happening then the public perception is correct - we're being taken for a ride.
I'd just take everything I hear with a pinch of salt - you can make figures prove anything you want if you're motivated to.
How I agree with this, I don't remember where the original quote came from but "Lies, Dammed Lies and Statisics" seems to be very relevant.
As I have said in the past, who really knows the truth? My guess is no one.
There are so many if's, but's and maybe's,it is almost impossible to sort the wheat from the chaff. Unless of course you happen to be the chancellor and then any excuse is good enough to screw the workers
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