IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

2 Pages V  < 1 2  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Politician calls for Newbury petrol boycott but will YOU join?
Biker1
post Jan 12 2013, 09:08 AM
Post #21


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 5,064
Joined: 26-May 09
Member No.: 103



QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 12 2013, 09:23 AM) *
But then some of us old 'uns might be reminding them that life with nationalised industries wasn't always a bed of roses!

Goodness me OTE are you saying that things were worse under BR than now under good old FGW!! tongue.gif
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Sherlock
post Jan 12 2013, 10:00 AM
Post #22


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 359
Joined: 12-January 12
Member No.: 8,467



QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 12 2013, 08:23 AM) *
But then some of us old 'uns might be reminding them that life with nationalised industries wasn't always a bed of roses!


That's not the choice though, is it? There are badly run public sector owned organisations and there are many badly run private sector ones now. Many countries run highly efficient public sector owned enterprises: China owns most of America as a result. Often, nationalised industries failed due to political/civil service. Put good people in charge of a nationalised business and they'll run it well.

The government's private sector good/public sector bad mantra isn't based on evidence: it's just a dogmatic assertion. Where's the evidence that shysters like G4S (currently taking over prisons and many police functions in spite of having had to be bailed out of their Olympics megashambles by the armed forces and police) and crooks like A4E can actually run public services more efficiently?

Apologies for the rant but this is serious stuff. A cobbled together government with no real mandate is pushing through the biggest transfer of public assets to private hands in the UK's history. We ought, at the very least, be asking questions about whether this really is the right thing to do.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
badger
post Jan 12 2013, 10:42 AM
Post #23


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 18
Joined: 4-August 09
Member No.: 249



QUOTE (GMR @ Jan 11 2013, 05:51 PM) *
The trouble is who has a lot of money and petrol to drive around looking for the cheapest place (which is a contradiction)? tongue.gif

I dont drive around. I get a regular email from some organisation or other that tells me the current local prices. simples.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Andy Capp
post Jan 12 2013, 11:00 AM
Post #24


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317



QUOTE (GMR @ Jan 11 2013, 05:51 PM) *
The trouble is who has a lot of money and petrol to drive around looking for the cheapest place (which is a contradiction)? tongue.gif

You can do that when you're out on you bike checking up on the 'green meanies'!

QUOTE (Sherlock @ Jan 12 2013, 08:15 AM) *
You don't need to: this is usually pretty up to date. http://www.petrolprices.com/

Let's hope that our MP learns a lesson from this about the nature of free markets and competition.

Businesses will rig prices to maximise profits and avoid competition if they possibly can: they always have and they always will.

When Mr Benyon (and his Libdem mates) looks at all the local businesses charging exactly the same amount, to the .9 of a penny perhaps he will ask himself* whether it really makes sense to hand over a tsunami of public cash to private sector firms which are queuing up to run the NHS, police, prisons, benefits system etc etc.

* he won't, obviously

If companies are not allowed to make healthy profits, who's going to pay for pensions?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Andy Capp
post Jan 12 2013, 11:03 AM
Post #25


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317



DP
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
On the edge
post Jan 12 2013, 04:38 PM
Post #26


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 7,847
Joined: 23-May 09
From: Newbury
Member No.: 98



QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jan 12 2013, 09:08 AM) *
Goodness me OTE are you saying that things were worse under BR than now under good old FGW!! tongue.gif

Exceptions prove the rule!! tongue.gif


--------------------
Know your place!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
On the edge
post Jan 12 2013, 04:51 PM
Post #27


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 7,847
Joined: 23-May 09
From: Newbury
Member No.: 98



QUOTE (Sherlock @ Jan 12 2013, 10:00 AM) *
That's not the choice though, is it? There are badly run public sector owned organisations and there are many badly run private sector ones now. Many countries run highly efficient public sector owned enterprises: China owns most of America as a result. Often, nationalised industries failed due to political/civil service. Put good people in charge of a nationalised business and they'll run it well.

The government's private sector good/public sector bad mantra isn't based on evidence: it's just a dogmatic assertion. Where's the evidence that shysters like G4S (currently taking over prisons and many police functions in spite of having had to be bailed out of their Olympics megashambles by the armed forces and police) and crooks like A4E can actually run public services more efficiently?

Apologies for the rant but this is serious stuff. A cobbled together government with no real mandate is pushing through the biggest transfer of public assets to private hands in the UK's history. We ought, at the very least, be asking questions about whether this really is the right thing to do.


Couldn't agree more! Ironically, the 1930's independent public board model worked, for instance, BBC, London Transport, Imperial Airways, and Central Electricity Board. You are quite right that the failure came when politicians and trades unions were able and started to meddle. Market forces might be a great idea in theory; but the wise guys don't ever recognise that in practice markets comprise of spivs and wide boys. Nothing will change until we get some integrity both sides of the counter.


--------------------
Know your place!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Simon Kirby
post Jan 12 2013, 07:25 PM
Post #28


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 6,326
Joined: 20-July 10
From: Wash Common
Member No.: 1,011



QUOTE (Sherlock @ Jan 12 2013, 08:15 AM) *
You don't need to: this is usually pretty up to date. http://www.petrolprices.com/

Let's hope that our MP learns a lesson from this about the nature of free markets and competition.

Businesses will rig prices to maximise profits and avoid competition if they possibly can: they always have and they always will.

When Mr Benyon (and his Libdem mates) looks at all the local businesses charging exactly the same amount, to the .9 of a penny perhaps he will ask himself* whether it really makes sense to hand over a tsunami of public cash to private sector firms which are queuing up to run the NHS, police, prisons, benefits system etc etc.

* he won't, obviously

Sorry, but what?

The site you reference tells me that you can buy diesel within 10 miles of Newbury (and I'm guessing that probably at the M4 service station) at 149.9p/litre, which is relatively expensive. But then you can also buy diesel within 10 miles of Newbury at 140.9p/litre, which is relatively cheap, so there's no price fixing, it's just different places charge different amounts for the same thing. Like everything else.

And Swift-Hook wants you to boycot the garage selling diesel at 140.9p/litre? Why?

Sure, say you you drive to Winchester, there's a garage there selling diesle for 138.9p/litre, but if you don't do your research you might also fill up at one of the Winchester garages selling diesel for 143.9p/litre, so there's no great anti-Newbury conspiracy going on.

So say you commute to Winchester, if your car does the same ecconomy as my Volvo you'll be spending around £25 per week on diesel, so yes, compared to Newbury's cheapest service station you could save 35p each week if you filled up at Winchester's cheapest, but Julian Swift-Hook could save you way more than that on your council tax if he addressed just some of the inefficiency at the Town Council that he leads.


--------------------
Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Jayjay
post Jan 12 2013, 09:03 PM
Post #29


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,012
Joined: 22-September 09
Member No.: 357



Five came up for my postcode (central Newbury). Four out of the five (Shell, Tesco, Chievley and Falkland) are all charging £133.9
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
GMR
post Jan 13 2013, 05:38 PM
Post #30


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 6,085
Joined: 13-May 09
From: Newbury, Berkshire.
Member No.: 33



QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Jan 12 2013, 11:00 AM) *
You can do that when you're out on you bike checking up on the 'green meanies'!



Not really; I cycle locally; i.e. stay within Newbury. I am not that energetic or enthusiastic to cycle further. Besides, 'green meanies' walk at a slower pace and within Newbury laugh.gif wink.gif
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
gel
post Jan 13 2013, 07:56 PM
Post #31


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 948
Joined: 11-September 09
From: Thames Valley
Member No.: 337



RELATED article here re predatory pricing; could we have some please!!

Telegraph article
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

2 Pages V  < 1 2
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 11:20 AM