I'm not saying that national stuff doesn't need to be paid for. I am saying that a tax rate of 151.7% on a basic essential is immoral.

My solution is people power. I want legislation so that the cost of the basic good and the tax / duty /WHY cost is clearly itemised on every receipt for everything.

That way people can see exactly whats going where. I'm arguing for tax transparency.

I'm also in favour of massively simplifying taxation with a flat tax but thats another kettle of fish.

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 06/12/2011 at 13:13

The average American is far better off. Salary in US$ is higher than UK avearge, taxes are lower and prices are 25% or more cheaper.

The NHS model is fatally flawed as it encourages gross abuse.

Eg A&E at weekends - drunks self inflicted.

It is unlikley to change now but an insurance scheme linked to the NHS - as most other countries use - means that users ration their usage to what is needed. The NHS also does loads of things not essential - eg facial surgery.. for nowt.

Within the next 10 years , it will change as the current benefits/health systems are unaffordable. Period.

(Like UK consumers spending more and more based on mountains of debt/mortagages. UK consumer spending will actually fall - eventually).

Current Government spending cuts are half hearted and will not eliminate the yearly deficit let alone pay back any debt in the next decade.

Cue torrents of abuse.

Well I dont think you deserve torrents of abuse !

Just a couple of counter points, why do you think the average ameican has higher salary than UK, its just that their cost of living is generally cheaper on all of the basics - food, fuel, cars, rent, property.

I agree with the part about the economy being based on consumer spending/debt which is worrying for our country as a whole.

As an optimist, I think the NHS can still work, if they do some basic things like stop doing totally uneccesary surgery, and above all have a much more agressive approach to suppliers and above all the drug companies.

It seems to me that Drug company A has drug xyz which they want to sell to the NHS. It cost £10K per dose so NICE/NHS doesn't use it at all, although it may be pretty good. Doesn't anyone turn round and say, there are 50,000 potential cases which need this drug and if you can supply for 2/3 of this price you have a deal ??

Also, the immigration authorities have let the NHS down by allowing so many health tourists into the country to use our free system.

Finally, the differnce between the NHS and the US system is that the NHS operate on a patch-fix system rather than a preventative system. They are quite happy to have themselves clogged with out-patients using drugs and therapies which mange conditions rather than prevent or cure a lot of said conditions. I am an example of this myself. The NHS is rapidly becoming an emergency only system.

Exactly-I thought it was about fuel too!

So, why does my gasoil francais give me better mileage? I repeat-I think that it is caused by UK fuel being diluted with kerosene to achieve less smoke and cheaper for the supplier, dilute with kerosene = less dense fuel, diesel fuel systems are calibrated to deliver a calculated volume of fuel to give a measured amount of power, dilute the fuel with something that does not contain the same heat value and make it less dense=less power. Less power available from the fuel = greater throttle setting to maintain any given speed=less economy.

Discuss.

Any inside knowledge from the oil/ fuel industry welcome.

But I won't hold my breath.

"You may or may not be right about the use of kerosene - but it won't help your theory as both Paraffin C1 (19,900) and Kerosene C2 (19,862) have higher energy values than diesel (19,300) when the figures are expressed as Btu/lb."

I have no doubt that you are correct-you have obviously looked the calorific values up-so why does my diesel car and also my previous diesel car showing a marked a10% decrease in the fuel consumption as soon as I cross the channel and fill up with French fuel? However,the difference in fuel consumption is not a theory, it is backed up by repeated empirical data!

(Note. - What effect would the addition of paraffin/kerosine to the fuel have on the cetane value of the fuel? - degrade or improve?)

From about 2006 onwards we have crossed the channel with a near- on empty fuel tank and fill up as soon as we get to France. As soon as we get going again the fuel computer is showing a much more economical reading-it has always happened. And the reverse is also true-as soon as we got back to the UK and fill up with UK diesel the fuel consumption always increases by about 10%.

Another reason could be that the French don't put so much veggie oil in their diesel?

Any diesel will grow mould madf. Dino diesel is hygroscopic and will take in water just as well as bio.

Both petrol and diesel will have water in it - the moisture content of air condenses on the inside of the car fuel tank and runs down to the bottom where the pickups are, as both diesel and petrol are lighter than water. Some diesel have a water trap built into the fuel filter which needs emptying at service time.

Although cold winter air can hold less moisture than warm summer air, the colder temperatures increase the rate of condensation in winter. Older steel fuel tanks are worse for condensation than modern plastic fuel tanks. Keeping the tank fairly full reduces condensation by reducing the amount of air in the tank.

Redex for petrol engines used to claim it helped emulsify water with the petrol so that it could harmlessly be "burnt" in the engine - a low-dose water injection I guess - it certainly used to make my mk2 Escorts run smoother - I've no idea if they still claim this for their Injection and Diesel versions.