Some people just don't get it about the "road charging" situation.
I signed the petition, along with well over a million others. No doubt, the government will simply brush it off, as they brushed off the mass protest against the war in Iraq.
Does it mean that I want them to just build more roads? Does it mean that I don't believe that congestion needs cutting for the sake of both the health of the country, and the towns in particular, and the environment? Does it mean I don't think global warming is taking place?
No, it doesn't. What it means is that I don't believe in establishing a police state, where a government agency can track every vehicle, quite possibly knowing who is driving it, 24 hours a day, in order to do it. It is only the latest in a long line of schemes proposed since 9/11 which make it easier for the state to keep watch on us all. The only difference with this one is that it's dressed up as an environmental measure, when in fact only better public transport, accompanied by the removal of commuter parking in places like central London, will get people out of their cars.
And by the way, we already have a charging system in operation - it's called fuel tax. People who use gas-guzzlers like four-by-fours, which emit more carbon dioxide, pay more. People who drive in ways which waste fuel pay more. People who use hybrid electric/fuel cars pay vastly less for their fuel, and thus less tax. None of this requires a big government surveillance infrastructure. I don't mind replacing it if it's not doing its job; what I mind is someone looking over my shoulder every time I drive a car!
Why is this so difficult for some people to understand?
Because Labour want to control every aspect of our lives. Meanwhile Red Ken and Diane Abbot get taxis and John Prescott has two jags.
And if you think this is bad, have you seen the latest about ID cards?
Another pretence to care anything about what anyone else could possibly think about how the country should be run.
I think that this is viewed as a bit of an own-goal with the person behind it being described as a 'prat'?
Then again they have a nice collection of email addresses which could be useful.
Just as an aside. I had to get my own car through its MOT last week. Talking to the mechanic he tells met that he was informed by a police man that the cameras around traffic lights can record your licence plate and check with DVLA to see if your car has a valid MOT.
If not, it is flagged and the police in the area you are driving in are informed to be on the look out for you.
It may be an urban myth but technically it is certainly possible. The congestion charge people already use it.
Comrade Ken is starting to annoy me.
You know I have been in London for a little while now and I have to say as an AMerica that if London were a person I would diffinetely want to get my friends together to kick his ass.