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Thank you for taking the time to register your views about road pricing on the Downing Street website. Thank you for creating me hassle and bothering me with trivial issues such as the pursuit of democracy.
This petition was posted shortly before we published the Eddington Study, an independent review of Britain's transport network. This study set out long-term challenges and options for our transport network.This petition was posted on our website by a numbskull who has been severely reprimanded. It was terribly bad timing not to mention bloody inconvenient.
It made clear that congestion is a major problem to which there is no easy answer. One aspect of the study was highlighting how road pricing could provide a solution to these problems and that advances in technology put these plans within our reach. Of course it would be ten years or more before any national scheme was technologically, never mind politically, feasible. Yes, we want to impose taxes, the more the merrier, but one has to remember the populous have not been adequately conditioned, as yet, to accept drastic change or civil impositions without protest. Give us ten years, we'll have them just where we want them.
That is the backdrop to this issue. As my response makes clear, this is not about imposing "stealth taxes" or introducing "Big Brother" surveillance. This is a complex subject, which cannot be resolved without a thorough investigation of all the options, combined with a full and frank debate about the choices we face at a local and national level. That's why I hope this detailed response will address your concerns and set out how we intend to take this issue forward. I see this email as the beginning, not the end of the debate, and the links below provide an opportunity for you to take it further. I thought '1984' was a reference manual for 'New Labour? After all we are probably related (George Orwell...real name Eric Arthur Blair). This is a complex subject, after all we cannot simply act against the wishes of millions of British people...look at the trouble that caused over Iraq. Awfully irritating having to be seen to consider the wishes of ones public but I think this condescending block e-mail should do the trick?
But let me be clear straight away: we have not made any decision about national road pricing. Indeed we are simply not yet in a position to do so. We are, for now, working with some local authorities that are interested in establishing local schemes to help address local congestion problems. Pricing is not being forced on any area, but any schemes would teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme. And funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas. Let me be clear, we have made a decision and, as ever, we will not be swayed by you little people. What we will do is place the burden fair and square with your local authority, let them take the shit, create a few more 'jobs for the boys' and gradually seep our way into the British consciousness . Road Pricing will be forced on you eventually so get used to it and quit wasting my time.
One thing I suspect we can all agree is that congestion is bad. It's bad for business because it disrupts the delivery of goods and services. It affects people's quality of life. And it is bad for the environment. That is why tackling congestion is a key priority for any Government. Congestion is bad. Industry in Britain? Couldn't really give a shit but we must I suppose at least make sure the cheap foreign imports can arrive safely and on time.
Congestion is predicted to increase by 25% by 2015. This is being driven by economic prosperity. There are 6 million more vehicles on the road now than in 1997, and predictions are that this trend will continue. Economic prosperity, we like; freedom and civil liberty we try not to encourage. As long as the rich... those who can afford to pay the charge, however extortionate, or those who can afford to live in the city centres ...can carry on unchecked.
Part of the solution is to improve public transport, and to make the most of the existing road network. We have more than doubled investment since 1997, spending £2.5 billion this year on buses and over £4 billion on trains - helping to explain why more people are using them than for decades. And we're committed to sustaining this investment, with over £140 billion of investment planned between now and 2015. We're also putting a great deal of effort into improving traffic flows - for example, over 1000 Highways Agency Traffic Officers now help to keep motorway traffic moving. Aaagghh. Public Transport. I've been forced to spend money on it and its still rubbish. Maggie had it right.
But all the evidence shows that improving public transport and tackling traffic bottlenecks will not by themselves prevent congestion getting worse. I do not want to spend any more money on simply getting trains to run on time. So we have a difficult choice to make about how we tackle the expected increase in congestion. This is a challenge that all political leaders have to face up to, and not just in the UK. For example, road pricing schemes are already in operation in Italy, Norway and Singapore, and others, such as the Netherlands, are developing schemes. Towns and cities across the world are looking at road pricing as a means of addressing congestion. Baa Baa, Blair sheep, have you any balls?
One option would be to allow congestion to grow unchecked. Given the forecast growth in traffic, doing nothing would mean that journeys within and between cities would take longer, and be less reliable. I think that would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment. And the costs on us all will be real - congestion could cost an extra £22 billion in wasted time in England by 2025, of which £10-12 billion would be the direct cost on businesses. (Do you think anyone will still be reading at this point, Cherie?)
A second option would be to try to build our way out of congestion. We could, of course, add new lanes to our motorways, widen roads in our congested city centres, and build new routes across the countryside. Certainly in some places new capacity will be part of the story. That is why we are widening the M25, M1 and M62. But I think people agree that we cannot simply build more and more roads, particularly when the evidence suggests that traffic quickly grows to fill any new capacity. (Pardon Darling, just keep regurgitating the same patronising hypocritical crap?...OK, dear)
Tackling congestion in this way would also be extremely costly, requiring substantial sums to be diverted from other services such as education and health, or increases in taxes. If I tell you that one mile of new motorway costs as much as £30m, you'll have an idea of the sums this approach would entail.What's that Cherie...Threaten them with the further destruction of the NHS and Education? Oh, what the hell tax increase anyone?...Gosh, Maggies going to love this. Sorry? ...I'm a Labour leader? Yes...Thank God we used that nifty little 'NEW' in the campaign. It changes everything. Genius!
That is why I believe that at least we need to explore the contribution road pricing can make to tackling congestion. It would not be in anybody's interests, especially those of motorists, to slam the door shut on road pricing without exploring it further. Look get used to it...I know what's best for you. How can you expect me...Prime minister of Great Britain ...to actually act on your behalf? That's not how it works anymore, stupid.
It has been calculated that a national scheme - as part of a wider package of measures - could cut congestion significantly through small changes in our overall travel patterns. But any technology used would have to give definite guarantees about privacy being protected - as it should be. Existing technologies, such as mobile phones and pay-as-you-drive insurance schemes, may well be able to play a role here, by ensuring that the Government doesn't hold information about where vehicles have been. But there may also be opportunities presented by developments in new technology. Just as new medical technology is changing the NHS, so there will be changes in the transport sector. Our aim is to relieve traffic jams, not create a "Big Brother" society. Of course we'll make the right noises over Big Brother tracking systems but as soon as the technological opportunities arise we'll utilize them. Get real.
I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a "stealth tax" on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion. Duh, there's nothing stealth-like about it. It's a Tax, its on travel, it will hit the poorest worst. Crystal.
Clearly if we decided (which we have or I really wouldn't be wasting my time on this e- mail) to move towards a system of national road pricing, there could be a case for moving away from the current system of motoring taxation. This could mean that those who use their car less, or can travel at less congested times, in less congested areas, for example in rural areas, would benefit from lower motoring costs overall. Those who travel longer distances at peak times and in more congested areas would pay more. But those are decisions for the future. At this stage, when no firm decision has been taken as to whether we will move towards a national scheme, stories about possible costs are simply not credible, since they depend on so many variables yet to be investigated, never mind decided. Rural areas? Small village communities? Harder to control, self sustainable....Force them into extinction, ASAP. It's all coming together marvelously for me...
Before we take any decisions about a national pricing scheme, we know that we have to have a system that works. A system that respects our privacy as individuals. A system that is fair. I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet. That is why we are not rushing headlong into a national road pricing scheme. Before we take any decisions there would be further consultations. The public will, of course, have their say, as will Parliament. I'm not quite sure how much further fuss you're all going to make about doing things my way. However feel free to share you concerns with your local MP. We all know that modern Labour MP's who disagree with my personal politics simply have to resign. Be it Iraq, ID cards, Road Pricing...if they don't like it or attempt to put your views across in Parliament...off with their heads.
We want to continue this debate, so that we can build a consensus around the best way to reduce congestion, protect the environment and support our businesses. If you want to find out more, please visit the attached links to more detailed information, and which also give opportunities to engage in further debate. Democracy is outmoded and peaceful protest will soon be illegal within 300 miles of Parliament anyhow. I've got you exactly where I want you. Get used to it. Suckers.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Blair[code][/code]
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