A really good
question to ask is – What is REALLY important in this life? In our
society today? Is it to bring African nations up to standard? Water,
better infrastructure? Is it to manage money more equitably? More
even-handed? Perhaps curtail the banks and greedy businesses and
insist on proper management? Take better care of employees? There are
many more questions but they all point to - bad management of
resources. The greedy still play havoc with the needs of the poor. As
a result the poorer parts of our society pay a far greater deal than
the rich, proportionally. The politicians are too afraid to have a
good look at the unbridled greed expansion in fear of a drop in tax.
Frankly, it has proved counter-productive looking at the multitude of
schemes to avoid tax. Obviously we need businesses but we need
businesses with a social aptitude. Businesses who care about the
environment. Because let’s be fair, it has been known for years
that cars, yes petrol and diesel, are damaging to the health of human
beings but only now is there a dialogue starting. Why? Because cars,
the tax on them, buying, selling and fuel have been dis-proportionally
important to the UK Revenue. No recent government has dared to do the
right thing in fear of losing the revenue. As a result and also
because of the relative cheap North Sea oil there has been an
explosive expansion of car ownership and a corresponding
deterioration in the environment and health. Many relatively recent
policies have been detrimental – the green tax on power bills has
seen a tremendous expansion of ugly windmills. Even though they are
only reliable to produce power at about 20% of the time. The cost of
their production, maintenance and ground rents means their costs will
take some 30 t0 40 years to break even! Yes, they do produce power
but would it not have been better to look at less invasive methods?
Solar power for one – has there not been any development to make
all new house roofs energy productive? There are mats with solar
cells, even whole roofs can be made from them. Simple ideas and
possibly not much more expensive than the windmills, these will be a
blot on the landscape for a very long time. Yes, it is all about
proper and sound management. Management of resources, methods of
distribution, perhaps even expand again the rail network. Reduce car
ownership (oh dear, now we are becoming personal!) because electric
cars are not going to be the answer. Electricity has to be produced
but in the quantity needed if everyone drove an electric vehicle
would still need quite a number of power-stations. Just so, remember
this, there is NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH! But it sure could be
made a bit tastier!
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