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Does being green mean being socialist? | 31 comments (31 topical)

Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#11)

by Charlotte Mackenzie on Mon Jun 18, 2007 at 10:01:24 AM GMT

Labour in govt is building international action, which is what is needed as the UK's emissions are a tiny part of the global problem.


Your tax proposals would be an intervention in the market, and unrelated to income. The problem being that people on lower incomes who could least afford the tax hike also have least capacity to switch vehicles.

Do you think govt policy should require businesses to behave ethically, or is that unacceptable interference from a Lib Dem viewpoint? On govt track record we've come a very long way since Michael Howard as environment minister refused to monitor power station emissions!

And we are leading the calls for more international action.


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Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#12)

by libbysd on Mon Jun 18, 2007 at 05:53:29 PM GMT

I don't really want to get into a party competition about who's the greenest (although we sooo are ;p), read our mini manifesto if you want to find out what we want to do cause it'll be a lot quicker than me typing the entire thing out!


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Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#15)

by Charlotte Mackenzie on Mon Jun 18, 2007 at 07:28:27 PM GMT

Re your comment #14 below, there is substantial investment in renewable energy research etc.

The waste management track record of Liberal Democrat councils here in Cornwall means they are fast losing their reputation locally as the party for the environment. Which is partly why I think the impact of local decision making on the environment needs to be recognised.



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Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#18)

by libbysd on Mon Jun 18, 2007 at 10:26:44 PM GMT

Absolutely and if they continue with that poor track record then they deserve to be voted out. I live in Epsom and ewell (the last borough council run by an independent residents association (I think)) and they have the worst record on recycling and environmental measures in Surrey (the worst of the worst) and us local liberals are making some real headway in taking them on. I think there has to be a hefty national environmental direction though, it can't just be left up to local organisations. As I said earlier though I don't want to get into a who's best debate (although maybe I'm just stoking healthy competition) but I'll leave you with the simple fact that John Prescott said in 1997 (or some time around then I cannae remember) that if the amount of cars on the road were not reduced during a labour government then he would have failed. CO2 emissions have been increasing throughout the labour government as well and even though they are investing some money into research and development its nowhere near the amount their putting into Trident (a cost that could well be upto £70 billion over its period). I'll leave you with this thought as well, the only parties not advocating atleast a 3% annual cut in emissions are UKIP and the Labour party. Not a good thing


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Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#19)

by Charlotte Mackenzie on Tue Jun 19, 2007 at 11:00:14 AM GMT

On the other hand the local Lib Dem council here spends massively more on roads than it does on subsidising bus travel, and only introduced free travel for over-60s when compelled to do so despite the commitment to this in your 2005 manifesto.

Congestion charges made a huge difference in London.

The issue of annual targets maybe less important than independent monitoring and legal requirement to achieve the reductions specified in the Bill.


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Re: Does being green mean being socialist? (#22)

by jkitleft on Tue Jun 19, 2007 at 04:09:28 PM GMT

I think with congestion charge though, that we need to start building an effective transport system, rather than punishing people for having cars. i think it has been effective though


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Does being green mean being socialist? | 31 comments (31 topical)
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