>but does local Council Tax used only to empty bins? No, it doesn't. I was ranting. It also pays for police (ha!) and some other things. The biggest percentage of the Council Tax in this area is for the police force, which is surprising as YOU NEVER SEE THEM! Actually, you see them manning speed traps, but not, you know, walking the beat or anything bloody useful (and they man the speed traps because the local force now gets to keep the revenue. Marvellous. Make criminals out of as many people as possible while real criminals laugh at the law). We also pay for schemes like a wonderful £500,000 cycle path from Thatcham to Newbury that NO-ONE USES and NO-ONE WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE! A lot of money is wasted, and these councils cannot keep justifying 10%+ rises a year. Recycling and waste disposal is going to be a BIG issue before too long (and an expensive one at that) but that isn't why people like me are paying more local taxes - yet. And the Liberal Democrats would make people like me pay even more local taxes if they got into power. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrreat. >Interesting, the right wing here insists it's the solution to reduce health care costs! I'm not sure it works with a government monopoly like healthcare. Hospitals are there to provide healthcare - their first duty is to the patients NOT to the local trust and certainly not to make a bloody profit. The NHS has always been a money-pit, but New Labour have made this much worse. I am a real believer in the NHS too, but so many workers are sick of seeing these consultants/managers coming in and being paid big £££ to "rationalize" the service - but they make it worse! I don't know. Perhaps the future IS private healthcare with some fallback for people who can't afford it. With an ageing populace, the NHS is going to be under more and more strain and I don't see how it can cope. >In a way, that's cool. Not if there isn't an alternative to the car it isn't Karl! If people have no choice, then it isn't cool at all. If people have a choice - public transport say - then fair enough, otherwise forget it. If you live in London - fine - get the Tube/bus - but if you live 30 miles from your workplace and there is no public transport, what then? >That's true I forget there isn't any british car maker left Actually, there is TVR who make VERY cool cars indeed. ;) >But is it economically possible? Hell yes! Man, a Libertarian party could legalize drugs and cut taxes with the proceeds! :) :) :)
