Jay, is it mean to laugh at poor countries [or wise when one's own country is heading in the same direction]?
Politicians come up with the most insane ideas: <As the subsidies on petrol prices come to an end next week, the government is also trying to set the tone for energy and fuel conservation, to keep the economy and the country's coffers in good shape.
Paradoxically, while the government is letting petrol prices float, it will continue subsidising diesel at least through to the end of the cool season, or February. That way, it figures it can minimise the impact of higher fuel prices on goods in the short term.
"Oil prices have fluctuated wildly this year. If we let diesel prices go up, product prices will rise. But if oil prices decline, the product prices will never fall accordingly. We are worried about that and we'd rather wait until the end of winter," said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin yesterday chaired a meeting of relevant ministries to discuss oil prices and how to reduce consumption. His Cabinet drew up seven measures, all of which will be implemented immediately after the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
At the top of the list: petrol stations will be required to close after midnight nationwide.
This will directly reduce energy consumption at petrol stations and will indirectly reduce fuel consumption among motorists, according to Metta Banterngsuk, director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office.
The Cabinet still has not figured out how to handle the convenience stores and toilets at those petrol stations, an issue it has pencilled in for discussion at its next meeting. >
Maybe the law of supply and demand hasn't made it to Thailand so far.
Somebody should phone them and point out that if the government takes money from one lot of people and subsidizes people who buy petrol and diesel, that won't keep product prices down and nor will it reduce petrol and diesel consumption.
They should introduce a fuel tax if they want to cut petrol and diesel consumption, and give a tax cut on other things to compensate. Introduce a 100% tax and see if that doesn't put a dent in consumption.
To reduce the amount of sewage they have to deal with, they could close toilets and that would stop people using toilets. Closing petrol stations will stop people using petrol in the same way.
Those guys must be comedians.
Mqurice |
