I kind of sense that the revocation of diesel subsidies was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, and that the farmers are fed up with lots of things - regulations etc. Other countries in Europe have laxer environmental standards / regulations etc, as well as different rebates/levels of tax on diesel which pisses them off. My two bobs worth from down under, based on the some of the interviews with farmers here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k0UQm4s4yE . I wish them well.
the diesel taxe issue is framed as a subsidy, but it is in fact a tax rebate. germany is far from the only country where agricultural diesel is taxed at lower rates, in part because (it is reasoned) farm vehicles are mostly operated on private land and not public roadways.
Fascinating article, Kate and William. I have been following the in-depth and on-the-ground coverage of this story on Eugyppius' substack and would highly recommend it to give a different take on the protests. For what it's worth, I can only say that subsidised fuel has been a norm for farmers for as long as I can remember here in the UK. I never have heard anyone complain about that "perk", really. I think it is the way that road users get hammered for "fuel duty" at about 60p for every litre, and then have VAT added on top of that for the whole purchase cost- effectively being taxed twice for one part of the unit of fuel...having of course already paid income tax on the money that is used to purchase the patrol or diesel! And then of course we all have to pay an annual "road tax" for our vehicles. None of which goes into a ringfenced road maintenance fund but simply disappears into a government black hole, while the roads remain more pot-holed than ever. But the tin hat is the fact that EVs , which are much heavier and therefore exert more wear on the road network, are of course exempt from all road tax, and owners who could afford a 60-70k electric Mercedes also get a taxpayer handout to install a charging point in their house. Because climate, of course. Anyway that's a bit off-topic , but I can see your point that the motivation of the protest is probably coming from a different place than in the case of the Canadian truckers. Another time, another world. I, for one, never thought that there was equivalence. I can only speak for me though.
Ottawa was peaceful? Peaceful compared to what, January 6th?
Really Kate were you there? I have family and friends living in Ottawa, peaceful my ass. If you want to spread bullshit so be it. What respect I had garnered for you , as a writer and thinker, just disappeared, I was considering of paying for your publication, that won't be happening.
In what way has it been described to you as not peaceful?
The Canadian government was grossly trampling on our freedoms during that time. I’m not sure where you live but it was a very dark chapter in Canadian history. The war measures act was used for the first time in history to punish dissenters, including violence and confiscation of private property (ie. their money in bank accounts frozen). It was an authoritarian move.
Trudeau refused to meet with any convoy members or organizers. There was an opportunity for dialogue but the PM refused, and instead used the full coercive power of the state to force citizens into compliance.
I’m sorry you feel so strongly about this that you have decided to leave. My work is about the pursuit of truth and that definitely triggers people because I’m not always on the same side of an issue as them. I’m always open to debate, and my theses being falsified if more information comes along and changes my understanding.
Keen observation and great analysis as usual Kate!
I kind of sense that the revocation of diesel subsidies was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, and that the farmers are fed up with lots of things - regulations etc. Other countries in Europe have laxer environmental standards / regulations etc, as well as different rebates/levels of tax on diesel which pisses them off. My two bobs worth from down under, based on the some of the interviews with farmers here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k0UQm4s4yE . I wish them well.
the diesel taxe issue is framed as a subsidy, but it is in fact a tax rebate. germany is far from the only country where agricultural diesel is taxed at lower rates, in part because (it is reasoned) farm vehicles are mostly operated on private land and not public roadways.
Fascinating article, Kate and William. I have been following the in-depth and on-the-ground coverage of this story on Eugyppius' substack and would highly recommend it to give a different take on the protests. For what it's worth, I can only say that subsidised fuel has been a norm for farmers for as long as I can remember here in the UK. I never have heard anyone complain about that "perk", really. I think it is the way that road users get hammered for "fuel duty" at about 60p for every litre, and then have VAT added on top of that for the whole purchase cost- effectively being taxed twice for one part of the unit of fuel...having of course already paid income tax on the money that is used to purchase the patrol or diesel! And then of course we all have to pay an annual "road tax" for our vehicles. None of which goes into a ringfenced road maintenance fund but simply disappears into a government black hole, while the roads remain more pot-holed than ever. But the tin hat is the fact that EVs , which are much heavier and therefore exert more wear on the road network, are of course exempt from all road tax, and owners who could afford a 60-70k electric Mercedes also get a taxpayer handout to install a charging point in their house. Because climate, of course. Anyway that's a bit off-topic , but I can see your point that the motivation of the protest is probably coming from a different place than in the case of the Canadian truckers. Another time, another world. I, for one, never thought that there was equivalence. I can only speak for me though.
Ottawa was peaceful? Peaceful compared to what, January 6th?
Really Kate were you there? I have family and friends living in Ottawa, peaceful my ass. If you want to spread bullshit so be it. What respect I had garnered for you , as a writer and thinker, just disappeared, I was considering of paying for your publication, that won't be happening.
Best of luck to you
Hi Mark, I was there for the first weekend and it was very peaceful. It became violent when the RCMP started attacking citizens.
I even covered it here:
What’s Actually Happening in Ottawa
https://youtu.be/RdXONBU_Wf4
In what way has it been described to you as not peaceful?
The Canadian government was grossly trampling on our freedoms during that time. I’m not sure where you live but it was a very dark chapter in Canadian history. The war measures act was used for the first time in history to punish dissenters, including violence and confiscation of private property (ie. their money in bank accounts frozen). It was an authoritarian move.
Trudeau refused to meet with any convoy members or organizers. There was an opportunity for dialogue but the PM refused, and instead used the full coercive power of the state to force citizens into compliance.
I’m sorry you feel so strongly about this that you have decided to leave. My work is about the pursuit of truth and that definitely triggers people because I’m not always on the same side of an issue as them. I’m always open to debate, and my theses being falsified if more information comes along and changes my understanding.
Take care.
Would diesel subsidies not be another way to describe not having to pay a fuel tax on same diesel?
Particularly when Þe purpose of a use tax fuel tax is to maintain roads tractors don’t normally utilize?
It seems dislike Þe irony of using tractors on cities streets to protest a tax they are being forced to pay to maintain Þe streets Þey don’t use.
Interesting. Thank you for adding some information here!