tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2567907241439261243.post8191464744254896985..comments2024-01-09T04:41:41.590-08:00Comments on Analysing British Politics: Red Ken comes over all GreenWyn Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17473299774041779419noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2567907241439261243.post-59028385758656375742008-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:002008-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:00I'm not an advocate of SUVs, I think that you have...I'm not an advocate of SUVs, I think that you have a valid point about their safety for other road users and I certainly wouldn't drive one myself. Although I don't live in London, I have an Oyster card for use there. Having said that, the tube in particular is often dangerously overcrowded and the buses are very slow. But I doubt whether relatively marginal changes in the taxation regime either in London or nationally will make that much difference, especially when they can be evaded. I'll try and find out how the system is doing financially.Wyn Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17473299774041779419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2567907241439261243.post-64816780620529041442008-03-26T06:43:00.000-07:002008-03-26T06:43:00.000-07:00I'm not sure you can dismiss the charge on "gas-gu...I'm not sure you can dismiss the charge on "gas-guzzlers" as "envy politics". If it is not about a contribution to a greener London, it's about raising money. I'm not sure we all want to be them or have their car. When I'm skinning a 4x4 in my 1 litre corsa, I look over and I don't envy them, I think they're idiots. When they merge without looking on fast roads so I have to slam on the breaks not to go into the back of them and literally die, I don't envy them, I think they are inconsiderate, dangerous and awful people. They know that anything they hit bar a truck they will come out without a scratch, so it doesn't matter to them. Do I envy people so bad at driving they need to be in tank several feet higher than anyone else just in case they crash...no.<BR/>When we are on the bus/train/tube in London, do we really think "God, I wish I was driving through central London in an SUV right now"? I don't think so.<BR/>Economical VW golf diesel or Mitsubishi "animal"? <BR/>Anyone who digs cars/driving and has no need for a badge to say "I have so much money, lack of fuel economy doesn't matter to me" chooses the former.<BR/>It's not envy. I can't think of anything worse than the SUV life.<BR/><BR/>I don't see why anyone would drive in central London for reasons other than business, and if you live in the zone, you have enough dough to cough up.<BR/><BR/>I have noticed the many private hire stickers too. Not only on your classic minicab cars.<BR/><BR/>Do you have information on how the system is doing financially. I know when it first came in, it was losing money. Did they reverse that significantly?<BR/><BR/>Regards,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com