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Craig Hall

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Any one for free public transport

In the UK we spend £6 billion on subsidies to the train and bus companies. If we add 1p on income tax we could raise a further £5 billion giving us a grand total of £11 billion a year to spend on infrastructure and transport and provide free public transport.
Not only would we create real jobs and growth, but it would eleviate congestion leading to cleaner air. Reduce road traffic accidents, increase disposable income to the poorest, after all we are being taxed to get to work and back. Can you imagine coal mine workers being charged to travel down the mine shafts.
It would also increase the chances of reducing our carbon emissions, it's a win win.

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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Feb 20 2013: i don't get it. you said "free". then you talk about increasing tax. do you think that tax money is not money? btw i don't exactly get how could "1p" generate 5 billion income. 1p is what? per what time period? 5 billion means 83 per person on average. including infants and village people that don't need public transport.
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      Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+

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      Feb 20 2013: Besides the "cost" we pay environmentally for continuation of fossil fuel transport. Nothing is free.
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      peter lindsay 30+

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      Feb 21 2013: I know a transport system that isn't based on "user pays" goes against best economic practice but the concept of "payers use" meaning that if everyone pays for it anyway they will probably use it more might be good for the environment if not for the bottom line.
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        edward long 100+

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        Feb 22 2013: Don't you have to use steroids to ride a bicycle? :-)

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