“They squeeze you empty, and when there’s nothing left to squeeze, they throw you away,” responds Gertaafjevanderwiel. “We are being cheated at life and the government is laughing at itself,” adds Daantje58 to. “Once a thief, always a thief” Jan_de_lange hard out.
The vast majority of participants believe that the government should lower excise duties on petrol. “That doesn’t seem more than normal to me,” responds mia22. She believes that the Dutch ‘pay the highest price for everything’. “I notice little of one European Union: all the costs for the Netherlands and the benefits for the southern and eastern countries.”
Also Gertaafjevanderwiel believes that excise duties have the function of pure money-making. “They play nice weather over the backs of the citizen with our money.” In these difficult times, the government must adjust targets and reduce tax burdens, he adds. Also #timeforreferendum2021# feels cheated: “People pay a quarter of their hourly wages for one liter of gasoline.”
Bicycles
Still, not everyone thinks it’s a sensible plan: “It’s time for alternatives, such as cycling and public transport. Put the money in that,” says Frits Fresh can. “Then we will finally be forced to drive less.” Also Pieter1951 thinks it is a better solution if people leave the car at home more often. “Because for the majority of private individuals, driving is too expensive and a luxury problem.” He also says he always takes the bike for short trips.
party believes the prices are justified, because the Netherlands has a good social safety net: “The Netherlands is a cool country. Anyone who does not agree with this: go and live in Russia,” he says. Also Frits Fresh can agrees: “Life is just expensive.”
What is the correct solution then? Many think that the Kok’s Quarter should be removed. “Where we still pay excise duty and VAT on that again,” says Jannigje† †Tax on tax is too crazy for words.”
“It’s that simple,” says Hendrikaloothoof. “Open up the gas in Groningen, compensate the people of Groningen neatly, and lower fuel prices with the rest of the money that is earned from that gas. It’s a shame our government is too simple to think of that.”
But the solution that reoccurs the most: to lower the fuel prices (possibly temporarily) to a price that is also charged on average in other European countries. †Why are we always the country with the highest prices?” FJ_fur ball.