The AA Complaining Again

[Wobblers]

In my case, for "repulsive", read "impractical".

To read some of the posts on this thread, it would seem that the suggestion that one might try and find work closer to home is tantamount to suggesting you eat your own grandmother!

Oddly enough, it's something I've had to do quite often. Not out of choice, and certainly not out of smugness but out of necessity. I do have sympathy for those who have no choice in the matter for reasons of health or their workplace moving - but for many, "impractical" I rather suspect really means "inconvenient".

 

[MacB]

We've spent the last 50 years designing our lives and our infrastructure around cars and lorries. This might have been a mistake. It's a painful road back.

This is it for me and all the anger in the world from rural, disabled, minority, remote island dwelling, refuseniks, isn't going to make a blind bit of difference.

What's really painful is that the 'road back' isn't really centre focus, we're ploughing mindlessly on hoping for new oil finds, a miracle new fuel or some other technological marvel that allows us to keep on going just as we are. Even the most reasonable suggestions are negated by the idea that it doesn't matter what we do if the US, China and India carry on regardless. But it does matter as we need to be as well positioned as possible to handle the transition.

 

[TheDoctor]

Couldn't agree with you more. People that think shift work is easy, they need to give it a go.

Whereas people who think shift work is impossible could perhaps find a job that doesn't involve it?
I've done two night shifts ever, when I was temping. I'd never take a job that had night shifts.

None of which detracts from the original point of the thread - fuel going up does not constitute global Armageddon, and the AA (amongst others ) needs to stop getting hysterical about it.

 

[Brandane]

None of which detracts from the original point of the thread - fuel going up does not constitute global Armageddon, and the AA (amongst others ) needs to stop getting hysterical about it.

Hysterical is maybe a bit strong. They are merely bringing it to the attention of people who might not have realised. Or do you think we should all lie down quietly and get shafted by the Chancellor? Once they get all the cars off the road, they will need another form of income. Will you still be singing from the same hymn sheet when they turn on cyclists? Have us all paying compulsory insurance, and perhaps a pay per mile charge for using the roads? Don't dismiss that prospect, it is not all that far-fetched!

 

[Brandane]

To read some of the posts on this thread, it would seem that the suggestion that one might try and find work closer to home is tantamount to suggesting you eat your own grandmother!

Oddly enough, it's something I've had to do quite often. Not out of choice, and certainly not out of smugness but out of necessity. I do have sympathy for those who have no choice in the matter for reasons of health or their workplace moving - but for many, "impractical" I rather suspect really means "inconvenient".

I note your location: "A stones throw from Birmingham". I don't know for sure, but I am guessing it is a whole lot easier to find employment around your area than it is here (Ayrshire). You will just have to take my word for this; I have tried to find local work. There isn't anything suitable, so I face the prospect of travelling further from home. I think we are now back at post #3.

 

[TheDoctor]

You know what? I can't be arsed with this any more.

 

[growingvegetables]

sorry - you live in the Outer Hebrides and think that the tax regime for a country that is largely urban should be founded on your predicament?

I don't I did for best part of 7-8ish years. Sorry you feel that country folk should be dictated to by townies with your urban sprawl.

To be fair (? - or perhaps display monumental ignorance ), the communities living in the Hebrides aren't known for whinging about how fuel tax affects their own personal pocket? There's no groundswell of Hebridean discontent, arguing that the entire global economy and energy sector, geopolitical and geophysical reality, and national tax regime should be rearranged to suit their family pocket?

There seems to be a wee bit of practical common sense - "this is the way the world's going, let's do summat about it." Hence all the sustainable community and renewable energy stuff. Eigg alone has more sustainability stuff than the whole of Leeds, methinks! {ducks and runs}

 

[Paul J]

the communities living in the Hebrides aren't known for whinging about how fuel tax affects their own personal pocket?

Lived in the Hebs have we? Some of the dearest fuel prices for transport and heating in the UK. I would be happy to pay for fuel to be more expensive IF it was due to extraction costs, truth its not. The chancellor wants to take an already disproportionate cut. Hence why I do not agree with the extremist view that fuel should cost £2.50 per litre.

 

[snorri]

To be fair (? - or perhaps display monumental ignorance ), the communities living in the Hebrides aren't known for whinging about how fuel tax affects their own personal pocket?

The islanders, they've got it made, Google 'RET Western Isles', and' Fuel Rebate Western Isles' while I retire to a safe distance.

 

[Paul J]

They kept that quiet didn't they (Fuel Rebate). RET has been around for a few years and was due to the extortonate price of the ferry.

You can slag islanders off as much as you like but it's a hard life and i'm English BTW and moved there and then back again.

 

[dellzeqq]

To be fair (? - or perhaps display monumental ignorance ), the communities living in the Hebrides aren't known for whinging about how fuel tax affects their own personal pocket? There's no groundswell of Hebridean discontent, arguing that the entire global economy and energy sector, geopolitical and geophysical reality, and national tax regime should be rearranged to suit their family pocket?

There seems to be a wee bit of practical common sense - "this is the way the world's going, let's do summat about it." Hence all the sustainable community and renewable energy stuff. Eigg alone has more sustainability stuff than the whole of Leeds, methinks! {ducks and runs}

that's good to know - thankyou

 

[Piemaster]

Hysterical is maybe a bit strong. They are merely bringing it to the attention of people who might not have realised. Or do you think we should all lie down quietly and get shafted by the Chancellor? Once they get all the cars off the road, they will need another form of income. Will you still be singing from the same hymn sheet when they turn on cyclists? Have us all paying compulsory insurance, and perhaps a pay per mile charge for using the roads? Don't dismiss that prospect, it is not all that far-fetched!

I the figures quoted on this thread that motorists are effectively subsidised, then getting all the cars off the road would be a good thing as the Chancellor wouldn't then need to raise more income so should actually be able to cut taxes.

Insurance is compulsory to use a car on the public highway now.

 

[snorri]

They kept that quiet didn't they (Fuel Rebate). RET has been around for a few years and was due to the extortonate price of the ferry.

You can slag islanders off as much as you like but it's a hard life and i'm English BTW and moved there and then back again.

No, they did not keep it quiet, it was widely reported on tv, radio and the national dailies. No one except you is "slagging off" anyone, and referring to the Western Isles as "the Hebs" doesn't help.
If heating fuel prices in the Western Isles were really as high as you claim we would be seeing greater use of peat, instead this local heat source is being set aside in favour of imported fuels.

 

[Paul J]

No, they did not keep it quiet, it was widely reported on tv, radio and the national dailies. No one except you is "slagging off" anyone, and referring to the Western Isles as "the Hebs" doesn't help.
If heating fuel prices in the Western Isles were really as high as you claim we would be seeing greater use of peat, instead this local heat source is being set aside in favour of imported fuels.

You really do talk some crap. The reason they stopped burning peat is because they got huge grants to replace solid fuel heating with oil. When I left they where all ripping out the oil boilers and reinstalling the solid fuel rayburns. You really are the most ignorant person, as islanders call it the hebs, The Heb Festival every year google it you idiot.

 

[snorri]

You really do talk some crap. The reason they stopped burning peat is because they got huge grants to replace solid fuel heating with oil. When I left they where all ripping out the oil boilers and reinstalling the solid fuel rayburns. You really are the most ignorant person, as islanders call it the hebs, The Heb Festival every year google it you idiot.

Still "slagging off" then?