Germany May Take Its Toll. Europe To Follow
As Americans have noted, bailouts can get costly. Europe has just decided on a trillion dollar bailout for their southern European deadbeats member states. Who’s going to pay for all that? In Germany, raising taxes is taboo (for the moment.) Lowering taxes had been one of the wedding vows of the ruling coalition. They didn’t say exactly when, but raising taxes would be politically – not very smart. So how else to raise money? Where else than from our darling piggy bank, the hapless motorist.
There are louder and louder voices in the ruling center-right coalition that demand a pay-per-kilometer road tax in Germany. Norbert Barthle, speaker for budget matters of the CDU/CSU said he will introduce such an idea. As far as the leadership goes, he’s preaching to the choir, reports Automobilwoche [sub]. Germany could implement the idea literally at the flick of a switch. Germany has a working network for a pay-per-kilometer road tax. Since 2005, toll is being collected from trucks only. The system is technology-heavy, with GPS boxes, and a dragnet of cameras that catches road tax scofflaws. It is operated by a private company called TollCollect. Behind it: Deutsche Telekom and Daimler. In 2007, the system collected €3.3b from trucks alone, €556m went to TollCollect. Imagine the take from cars! Daimler could use a little extra dough as well.
For years, the system has been eyed with suspicion by the common motorist. Now, the “if it’s there, it will be used” fears may come true.
Germany is not the only country in Europe that has to save and raise money. A European model for truck tolls has been discussed off and on. It would not surprise us if there will be European plans to shake more coin out of the unarmed motorist. Properly green washed, outfitted with words like “fair” and “just,” and bolstered by language along the lines of “why should drivers from [other country] drive for free on [our country’s] roads, which the [our country] taxpayer has paid,” the proposal will be waved through. If there is opposition, it will be blamed on bad, bad Brussels.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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And once again, as usual, the normal citizen has to pay for the poor management of the politicians.
Of course, a pay-per-kilometer road tax is the wet dream of each and every politician in debt-ridden countries. Makes them independent from declining fuel consumption and gives them additional room for wasting money. Once established, they will be able to "adjust" it every year according to their needs. If combined with a "financial transaction tax" public wasting can go on for a while. Europe/Germany will show that you can have it all: high fuel prices plus toll roads plus high taxes. That will save the planet and your local politician.