Vote for the Congestion Charge
So in Manchester we’ve got a referendum for introducing a London-style congestion charge paid by those people who insist on driving into central Manchester rather than catching the train like everyone else.
As a non-driver, for a while I wondered whether voting for a tax that will be paid solely by people other than me is a morally right thing to do. But then I though about a bit more, and came up with some justifications.
- Drivers get enough subsidies already, despite the endless whining from the motoring lobby. Train fares go up above inflation year after year, yet the cost of motoring has actually gone down over the years.
- It will piss off those annoying libertarians who refuse to acknowledge the existence of any externalities they find it personally inconvenient to deal with.
- If I don’t vote for my personal self-interest, nobody else is going to.
So take that, Clarkson groupies!
December 20th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Interesting comments,
I am not having a go but I drive and wondered where you get your figures to back up the comment that the cost of motoring has gone down over the years? Would be interested to see them,
Cheers !
Great blog btw!
January 11th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Oh glad to see you did. I voted for as well. Sat down over Christmas meal the topic got brought up. I was the only one who voted for the charge. For a short moment, dressed in a paper hat and with a plate of sprouts before me, I smiled.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Unfortunately the timing of the referendum, in the middle of the credit crunch under an unpopular government meant that it was never going to pass.
Too many people voted “No” just to stick it to Gordon Brown. (Does he run Manchester? You expect Daily Express readers to realise this) And the “Yes” campaign didn’t do enough to counter the “No” campaigns lies.