Oil prices went over US$100/barrel again last week. Caltex expects people to pay more than $3 a litre in the next ten years. Meanwhile the interim Gaurnaut report came out, warning of the need to cut emissions.
Recently when petrol nudged $1.50 per litre, I heard Wayne Swan on the radio having a whinge about it, and talking about the ACCC getting tough on petrol companies, the usual stuff. More recently, one Lib backbencher called for cuts to petrol taxes to relieve inflation (uhh… tax cuts accelerate inflation actually…)
Why is it the pollies (on both sides) can never see beyond the car? They can’t look at the root issues?
Most people don’t drive for the hell of it. They drive because they need to get places, and there’s no better travel option. Give people better options for some or all of their travel, and exposure to petrol prices won’t be such an issue.
People need to get places to work, shop, learn, meet, talk… Some of that interaction can be done remotely, using the net, phone, fax, letter and so on. Give people better options for that, and they won’t need to travel as much.
The more of this we do, the more we wean ourselves off petrol, and onto cleaner, cheaper alternatives.
6 replies on “The big picture”
I see on news.com.au today that all Melbourne trains will be free before 7am from March 31st. Might spread the (train) traffic around a bit.
Why is it the pollies (on both sides) can never see beyond the car? They can’t look at the root issues?
>IMHO – because they can’t see past their next election. And in our modern society, cars are a sacred part of our lifestyle that mustn’t be threatened – or you risk getting turfed out of your (electoral) seat. Or so they seem to believe.
The sooner we ALL wise up to the real threat of climate change and its impacts, then start to think and act differently, the better. We need real leadership not populist pollies.
Because it’s called survival. If they looked beyond the end of their noses and cars they would have to acknowledge the public transport system is their baby and they’ve buggered it up by not updating and expanding it in line with the growing population and suburbs.
Why admit a mistake when you can duck and weave the responsibility by blaming something else?!
The reason behind this political inertia is the fact that politicians are so short-sighted, they can’t see beyond their own noses. At least we have the Greens who have some very sensible policies.
Its a shame that whilst I agree with Reuben that the Greens have some good policies – politics has meant that they have been branded by the mainstream parties as cranks with crackpot policies.
Some of this mud slinging has stuck with the public. I helped the Greens out in the last electon campaign – handing out the Green Times are railway stations. Some of the looks and the comments I recieved reflected that sad fact. Having said that, there were also plenty of folks who openly supported the party.
Its about time people studied the Greens party for what they really are – a great alternative to ‘politics as usual’.
Saw the TT report on mon nite. Well done !