Comments on: Tax ‘em back into town? http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Babylon http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/comment-page-1/#comment-58700 Babylon Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:51:42 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=9721#comment-58700 Seems like it might be better to reduce the culture of surveillance and petty beaurocracy that is driving people out of the city in the first place. Seems like it might be better to reduce the culture of surveillance and petty beaurocracy that is driving people out of the city in the first place.

]]> By: Jo Thomas http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/comment-page-1/#comment-58191 Jo Thomas Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:14:25 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=9721#comment-58191 The writer of the article doesn't seem to take into account that people living "rurally" (in UK terms) are already taxed more. After all, they are generally dependant on private transport and have to drive to get anywhere (you've heard of fuel tax, right?). People who can't drive and don't have a car can't get anywhere in most rural parts of the UK. Many rural people are not on mains gas and so have to pay high electricity prices for all of their domestic energy needs or pay above average prices for bottled / tanked gas or oil - if they haven't worked out a better alternative that is expensive to set up. They pay the same council tax yet don't see all the benefits - fewer parks and public spaces despite the greater amount of green space; more tenuous access to schools, libraries, police, fire service, amenity sites, etc. And, of course, those of us who grew up like that and have no interest in being captains of industry can't afford to move back. Great stuff. I can see the argument for city life but the best places for low carbon living are the true cities and are not affordable because of their popularity. In fact, the affordable places are not cities or villages but the towns in between. And they do not necessarily have decent public services that make low carbon urban living possible. The writer of the article doesn’t seem to take into account that people living “rurally” (in UK terms) are already taxed more. After all, they are generally dependant on private transport and have to drive to get anywhere (you’ve heard of fuel tax, right?). People who can’t drive and don’t have a car can’t get anywhere in most rural parts of the UK. Many rural people are not on mains gas and so have to pay high electricity prices for all of their domestic energy needs or pay above average prices for bottled / tanked gas or oil – if they haven’t worked out a better alternative that is expensive to set up. They pay the same council tax yet don’t see all the benefits – fewer parks and public spaces despite the greater amount of green space; more tenuous access to schools, libraries, police, fire service, amenity sites, etc. And, of course, those of us who grew up like that and have no interest in being captains of industry can’t afford to move back. Great stuff.

I can see the argument for city life but the best places for low carbon living are the true cities and are not affordable because of their popularity. In fact, the affordable places are not cities or villages but the towns in between. And they do not necessarily have decent public services that make low carbon urban living possible.

]]> By: Denni http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/comment-page-1/#comment-58181 Denni Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:30:27 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=9721#comment-58181 Lol, we've been priced out of London. More and more businesses are relocating due to the insane rents and rates. Soon, only the bankers will be left! Lol, we’ve been priced out of London. More and more businesses are relocating due to the insane rents and rates. Soon, only the bankers will be left!

]]> By: meika http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/comment-page-1/#comment-58065 meika Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:24:03 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=9721#comment-58065 Britain has no countryside, just more or less spaced out suburbia, or what we call in Australia "hobby farms". But tax them by all means. Britain has no countryside, just more or less spaced out suburbia, or what we call in Australia “hobby farms”. But tax them by all means.

]]> By: Tony http://futurismic.com/2009/12/01/tax-em-back-into-town/comment-page-1/#comment-58060 Tony Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:45:43 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=9721#comment-58060 Ugh! Just this one quote: "new, well-planned cities" Tells you everything you need to know. Yet another 'planner' thinking that they know better how to live some elses life. All under the banner of 'the environment'. Ugh! Just this one quote:

“new, well-planned cities”

Tells you everything you need to know. Yet another ‘planner’ thinking that they know better how to live some elses life. All under the banner of ‘the environment’.

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