[sch_peakoiler]

After I read this GM statement.... well.... I am unsure. When we have such discrepancy between opinions, it usually means neither side is correct. actually, it can very well be possible, that current gas prices hold for at least 5 more years ( due to numerous reasons like demand destruction elsewhere + ethanol, ctl and so on) which would effectively mean a success for GM.
They should have based that decision on something.... I wonder what that could be. I am not ready to accept the common version here that top managers at GM are as dumb as a bag of rocks or as a bunch of friggin' stoned potsmokers.

[jeezlouise]

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.
Upton Sinclair (1878 - 1968)
There are quite rosy gas price/oil production predictions, and there are downright horrifying ones... I doubt they have some information the rest of the world doesn't... so guess which scenario they based their decision on? (Especially if it came from a government agency?)

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sch_peakoiler', 'T')hey should have based that decision on something.... I wonder what that could be.

[veliger]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jeezlouise', 'W')ell, there you have it then. That's quite a trick GM has pulled: pounding in the final nail from inside the coffin.

[joewp]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('veliger', 'F')or all of you automobile ignoramuses, the new Hummer will be called the H4. It will be smaller than the H3 and compete directly with the Jeep Wrangler. It should get decent mileage, similar to a Jeep Wrangler.

[Temperedoil]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sch_peakoiler', 'A')fter I read this GM statement.. well.. I am unsure. When we have such discrepancy between opinions, it usually means neither side is correct. actually, it can very well be possible, that current gas prices hold for at least 5 more years ( due to numerous reasons like demand destruction elsewhere + ethanol, ctl and so on) which would effectively mean a success for GM.
They should have based that decision on something.... I wonder what that could be. I am not ready to accept the common version here that top managers at GM are as dumb as a bag of rocks or as a bunch of friggin' stoned potsmokers.

[jbrovont]

From back in March: Article
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')M (GM) expects North American sales to fall sharply as it tries to earn more money from fewer cars. GM also plans to announce white-collar layoffs, according to the Wall Street Journal

[KevO]

may this spread to other European cities and indeed to the SUV citadel of the USA!
"Vehicles causing the most pollution in central London are to face huge increases in the congestion charge, mayor Ken Livingstone has announced.
The daily charge for vehicles in carbon emissions band G, which includes some 4x4s, is to rise to £25 ($40 PER DAY) from 2009.
In 2008, the charge will be removed for cars in Bands A and B which produce the lowest emissions, Mr Livingstone said.
A 90% residents' discount for people living in the charging zone will also be withdrawn for vehicles in band G"
Ken, if you're reading, God Bless Ya!
BBC ARTICLE HERE

[kokoda]

Legislate them off the roads ... and not before time. I hope other countries follow suit.
People can own and drive what they like as far as I am concerned. So long as they are willing to pay for the privilege.

[FoxV]

how exactly is the law enforced. Do people just get a surcharge to their property tax bill, what about people outside London commuting in.
At £8/day thats £3000/year and £25/day its £9000. That's one hell of an extra wallop to be hit with.
Or are the vehicles tracked by license plate id as you move through the city to give people the "courtesy" of only charging them for the days they use the vehicle (a very British solution)

[KevO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FoxV', 'h')ow exactly is the law enforced. Do people just get a surcharge to their property tax bill, what about people outside London commuting in.

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

Unless we plan on becoming a one party state (I know we're on the way), all these measures will get voted out eventually, thats what democracy is about.

[TreebeardsUncle]

The power to tax is the power to destroy. A suv is too big for 1 person to occupy. I think one should have to have a special license to own or use one, given to those who have cause to benefit from its space such as having a 6 or more people in a household. Hummers should only be available to military and emergency service personnel such as those in swift water rescue involved in traversing flooded locales. Leaf-blowers should be banned from the planet.

[FoxV]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KevO', '*')Congestion charging contributes £50m to London's economy, mainly through quicker and more reliable journeys for road and bus users
*The number of penalty charges issued average 165,000 per month
*There are about 110,000 charge-zone payments per day

[mrobert]

It's amazing what governments come up with, to get more and more and more taxes. Sure ... pollution is a good reason.
Why don't I hear something like :
The money will be used to finance nature-friendly/etc projects?

[IanC]

That is a good point - what is the money used for?
Here in Portland, we have such a rabid environmental streak that I could see something like this happening once A. pollution gets intolerable (recent reports show our Benzine level is way higher than the national average because oil companies can sell their dirtiest gas here because our air is so clean...go figure) or B. overpopulation makes downtown impassable.

[mrobert]

I don't like SUVs and I agree 101% that we must take steps to lower pollution.
I would suggest introducing VERY HIGH taxes on new SUVs, to prevent people from buying them. Existing ones would go off the streets during time without affecting their owner. It would be fair, as people would know about the taxes while choosing a new car.
Here, they won't allow you to import any cars manufactured before 2000, while the country is full of cars that still run on leaded gasoline. That's a pure crime. The should let people get rid of these and get a cheap used car from Europe, which at least runs on unleaded gasoline.
Lead is something you DON'T want in the air/water, etc.
But then again, there is always the easy way of introducing taxes, and everyone is "happy".

[gg3]

Consider it a user fee paid in order to internalize an economic externality (i.e. make someone pay for the real cost to others of their activities).
However we have got to find a better way to do it than all these damn cameras. You can bet I have no desire to visit the UK if I'm going to be photographed 300 times a day or more.

[mrobert]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', ' ')You can bet I have no desire to visit the UK if I'm going to be photographed 300 times a day or more.

[KevO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', 'H')owever we have got to find a better way to do it than all these damn cameras. You can bet I have no desire to visit the UK if I'm going to be photographed 300 times a day or more.