Rant.

So I'm flicking through my Uncle's Wheels magazine and gosh they whinge a lot. If it isn't speed limits, petrol prices or insurance premiums, it'll be the government conspiracy making life tough for Mr Car Enthusiast.

What is really ridiculous is the cry that the Government is using traffic fines, namely speeding fines via automated speed cameras, solely as a source of revenue. I mean come on, that to me just sounds like a weak excuse; a bad case of blame-shifting. If one doesn't break the law, i.e. sticks to the speed limit, then one need not be worried about being fined - it's as easy as that. It just so happens that the flagrant disregard of speed limits by a loud minority helps to fund the schools, hospitals and, god forbid, driver education and road safety programs in our state.

You'd think that a whopping big fine would be some sort of viable deterrent; after all, no one wants to pay big money out of their own pockets. But apparently, some motorists don't even respond to that. Does that point to some sort of mental deficiency? I'm not sure.

And then there's the demonising of petrol taxes. Short of endorsing fuel excise, I just think with all that the damage that cars do - to the environment, to the road surface, to health - the tax is somewhat justified. According to the budget papers for 2003-4, petroleum taxes (from fuel, lubricants, bitumen, et cetera) was worth $13.5 billion, or 7% of total Government revenue which could and should be ploughed back into health, the environment and transport. I mean with tax cuts the Government has made and the loss of half (and potentialy all) of Telstra dividends to investors, Howard is going to need all the money he can get.

Personally, I think petroleum products would be more usefully utilised in the production of polymers and plastics, rather than being wastefully burnt as fuel. I think we have more to worry about than not being able to drive cars once crude oil supplies run out or run low, if indeed they do. Computers being the future of humanity and all, I don't think PCs made out of pine will become big in 40-70 years time.



Listening to:
Title: Salvation
Artist: The Cranberries
Album/station: Stars: The Best Of 1992-2002
Length: 2.24