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ClaphamBusman

Listed below are comments made by ClaphamBusman between Tuesday, 24th February 2009 and Friday, 20th November 2009.

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Why cars are greener than buses (maybe) 10:06am on 20 Nov 2009 Another factor is the value of time - from where I live I can be in central London in just over half an hour by train, one hour by car and over two hours by bus - so the train wins, despite its cost. However, to go to the local computer store would take half an hour by car or half a day by public transport (literally).
Horses for courses.
Why cars are greener than buses (maybe) 09:58am on 20 Nov 2009 As a former insider in London's public transport, I recall that average ridership was about 14.7 persons per bus. There are approximately 8 million single bus trips per day in London.
Other points:
- Public transport has to run, whether it has an economic number of passengers or not - most private car journeys are because they are (perceived as being) necessary.
- Cars spend most of their time standing idle, but the problem with car club-type solutions is that they can't cater for all needs (do you want to borrow a car that someone has used to take his garden waste to the tip?)
- Public transport is (generally) fine for single person trips in urban areas but try taking your weekly groceries home on a bus - or better - try taking your recycling on a bus ...
- The cost of fares is a significant factor - and how much energy do you use earning your wages in order to pay the fares?

The most ethical question is not related to mode of transport but rather whether your journey is really necessary at all.
A plan not a timetable 10:48pm on 08 Oct 2009 16 FrankSz
Please add capping all interest rates to 10%, especially credit cards (and make them pay interest on positive balances).

And outlaw direct debits - much of the personal debt in this country is as a result of people signing and then forgetting direct debits and thereby allowing suppliers to help themselves to as much as they want. You wouldn't give Dick Turpin free access to your bank account, so why Dick Branson? At least with cheques and standing orders you do have some idea of how much you're spending.
A plan not a timetable 9:07pm on 08 Oct 2009 So, it's no longer necessary to explain your proposals - it's sufficient to convince the world that there is a plan, even if nobody knows what it is.
Haven't we had enough of that already?

If David Cameron had promised to cap MPs' salaries and link them to the average income of their own constituents (the MPs who did well for their constituents will get more, the other 600 won't) then he would achieve the biggest landslide in history. If he can make the political classes 'fit for purpose' then his weaknesses in other areas might be overlooked. Conversely, if he doesn't, it will just be the same old cycle of rising hot air and declining confidence for another five years.
Should EU confront fishermen? 09:08am on 17 Apr 2009 Isn't there a precedent for using small fishing boats for ferrying men and equipment across the Channel?

Maybe the French fishermen could diversify a bit - not only could they make another sort of killing during the closed season, they could also help introduce the concepts of "libre" and "gratis" into the principle of free movement.
Strasbourg under siege? 8:09pm on 04 Apr 2009 Have you noticed that when Mark upsets some of the regulars he either
a] goes on holiday so that we miss him and start pining for his idiosyncrasies, or
b] writes another blog very quickly, to draw the fire onto a different topic.

That's being a journalist, I suppose!
Czech dinner snub 8:01pm on 04 Apr 2009 Why has the moderator just called me a "new member" when I have been making comments on Mark's blogs for the best part of two years?
Czech dinner snub 7:58pm on 04 Apr 2009 This is an error - a diplomatic faux-pas.
The Czechs are currently occupying the EU president role so this is a major snub, and undermines all that he claims his international background has taught him. The trouble with dismissing the previous administration lock, stock and barrel is that there's nobody left to advise on these matters. Sir Humphrey (or even his successors) would never have let it happen.
Road-testing EU rules 10:34am on 27 Feb 2009 If M Sarkozy manages to repatriate all the vehicle manufacturing jobs, what then stops experienced car workers from eastern Europe moving to France for the higher salaries?

Since they are experienced assembly workers, surely the management would be tempted to take them on, rather than train French workers?

Results:
Higher manufacturing costs mean lower sales;
Higher pay means more money repatriated to eastern countries;
French workers - no change.
Financial vortex spinning faster 09:15am on 24 Feb 2009 So how is it that a car plant in Romania is increasing production, in order to meet a demand from Germany?

A case of the small guys getting on and fixing things while the superfluous load-mouths simply generate ever-increasing amounts of hot air.

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