I'm pissed!
This whole European pull towards ecology is really driving me nuts! Or rather our (Polish) govs approach to it. Here is the deal:
Every now and then new anti-pollution laws appear forcing new cars', coal-heaters' and other smoke producing devices' producers to ensure that their products meet new strict pollution requirements. Which itself is ok.
Since the law can't work backwards, this doesn't apply to older machines. So French, German, British (i think) and possibly some other govs encourage people to switch to newer techlology with bonuses. For example in Germany, if you salvage your old car and buy a new one (factory new that is), you get 2000EURO for your old car no matter what year, displacement, fuel-type, colour or condition it was. Simple. That way people who can't afford new cars get a bonus which makes buying a small but new car much less of a financial effort. As a side (main?) effect of that, a market for newer technologies gets an additional kick forward, which is important especially these days.
Here is what our gov came up with. If you drive an old car, or buy a used car (x years old at least - not sure what age), use a coal powered house heater, or any other device that doesn't match CURRENT anti-pollution laws - you get a bonus of a different type - a new TAX to pay.
So if you live in Poland, and you're not particulary well paid, not only you still won't be able to buy new machines, but your monthly expenses will increase for that same reason! Where as people who can afford new cars etc. anyways get a bonus of NOT having to pay that "pollution tax".
This is a true outrage. I'm speechless. That tax idea is still under the dabate, and hopefully will not see the daylight, but I'm sceptical. The EU wants us to join the "anti-pollution" sort of assosiation, and our gov will get there the only way it knows - tax tax tax.
Keep in mind that our ruling party won last elections with slogans like "We believe in miracles" and "The most important thing is love". Sheesh.
This whole European pull towards ecology is really driving me nuts! Or rather our (Polish) govs approach to it. Here is the deal:
Every now and then new anti-pollution laws appear forcing new cars', coal-heaters' and other smoke producing devices' producers to ensure that their products meet new strict pollution requirements. Which itself is ok.
Since the law can't work backwards, this doesn't apply to older machines. So French, German, British (i think) and possibly some other govs encourage people to switch to newer techlology with bonuses. For example in Germany, if you salvage your old car and buy a new one (factory new that is), you get 2000EURO for your old car no matter what year, displacement, fuel-type, colour or condition it was. Simple. That way people who can't afford new cars get a bonus which makes buying a small but new car much less of a financial effort. As a side (main?) effect of that, a market for newer technologies gets an additional kick forward, which is important especially these days.
Here is what our gov came up with. If you drive an old car, or buy a used car (x years old at least - not sure what age), use a coal powered house heater, or any other device that doesn't match CURRENT anti-pollution laws - you get a bonus of a different type - a new TAX to pay.
So if you live in Poland, and you're not particulary well paid, not only you still won't be able to buy new machines, but your monthly expenses will increase for that same reason! Where as people who can afford new cars etc. anyways get a bonus of NOT having to pay that "pollution tax".
This is a true outrage. I'm speechless. That tax idea is still under the dabate, and hopefully will not see the daylight, but I'm sceptical. The EU wants us to join the "anti-pollution" sort of assosiation, and our gov will get there the only way it knows - tax tax tax.
Keep in mind that our ruling party won last elections with slogans like "We believe in miracles" and "The most important thing is love". Sheesh.
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