Rhuben, you're quite possibly right about my misuse of the term Road Tax (mea culpa) but that is actually a quibble.
You say that everyone funds the upkeep of roads out of general taxation. No they bloody well don't! In practical terms the motorist does, to the tune of some 700% more than is actually spent on the roads and those motorists therefore have a valid right to complain about the inadequacy of the roads. And tell me just why the motorist should be singled out for this burden of extra taxation? Because they're all rich? Rubbish, we've already seen on this thread how necessary running a car is to many people's lives and how, particularly, the cost of motoring hits those who live in the country hardest.
For my money (what's left of it after running a car!) I would like to see a study carried out to determine what would be the effect on GDP if the Chancellor were to ratchet down fuel duty gradually over perhaps ten years until UK had the cheapest fuel in Europe. I like to think that it would provide a massive boost for the economy and give us something of a head start on the rest of the EU - but of course I'm not qualified to guarantee that.
However, I do remain in a fully justified huff about the extra tax (or whatever pedants choose to call it) which I have to pay just to run my daily life using four wheels.
Tony (I much look forward to your reply).
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