A.b.d.

[Trevz]

Hey everyone,

if you enjoy your motoring please check out this site http://www.abd.org.uk and please consider joining.

Its only 20 quid and they fight against crazy high fuel tax, stupid low speed limits that are popping up everywhere and loads of other issues .

Basically its the motorists voice "dont let them drive us off the road".

Check it out and fight back against the do-gooders that hate the motorist and take us for a ride in taxes and fines. :mad:

[Paul C]

Originally posted by Trevz

Check it out and fight back against the do-gooders that hate the motorist and take us for a ride in taxes and fines. :mad:

 

LMAO!! & pay another £20 to do so!!! :D

 

are you sure this isnt a scheme run by the government?!? :D :rolleyes:

[Guest TT Tim]

I second this, been a member of ABD for a while now.

 

The AA used to be on the side of the motorist that was until the Gas board bought them, now its all about insurance..

 

Okay, it's £20, FFS that's only 1/3 of a tank of fuel in the Zed. I bought a pair of shoes yesterday that cost 5 times that!

 

Tim

[markstevens]

I joined last year, wont again, basically I think they are a very well intentioned bunch of namby pambies.

 

They have got nowhere since they started.

 

We dont need another "presure group" we need someone who will organise, (If Possible In This Sit Back Country), a proper demonstration of the power we, as motorists hold, if only we would stick together.

 

The government ignore the ABD, why should they do otherwise? they are no threat.

 

The ABD is a waste of £20.00 IMHO. They need to get nasty. Then I will give them another £20.00

[Guest Dave Marley]

Originally posted by markstevens

The government ignore the ABD, why should they do otherwise? they are no threat.

So who was it that helped to get speed cameras painted yellow?

 

The reason the ABD don't hold as much sway with the government as they'd like is that they don't have many members, and they don't have much money.

 

That won't change while people sit back and wait for them to become a "threat" before they join. They need people to join now.

 

Who else tries to stick up for the motorist in this country? AA, RAC? - Not any more!

 

The ABD do amazingly well with limited funds and no full-time staff, and more people prepared to pay their £20 would help immensely, if only to allow them to claim they represent more drivers.

[Guest TT Tim]

Originally posted by markstevens

I joined last year, wont again, basically I think they are a very well intentioned bunch of namby pambies.

 

They have got nowhere since they started.

 

We dont need another "presure group" we need someone who will organise, (If Possible In This Sit Back Country), a proper demonstration of the power we, as motorists hold, if only we would stick together.

 

The government ignore the ABD, why should they do otherwise? they are no threat.

 

The ABD is a waste of £20.00 IMHO. They need to get nasty. Then I will give them another £20.00

 

And you have done what?

 

Hmm, just how big were the Anti War Demos, or the Capitalist marches or the Fuel protest? So is that proof that demonstrations work?

 

FFS, its only £20 and at least they are trying to do something which looks like a lot more than you are. I see that you haven’t paid £20 to be a full member of this board, so I guess you’re a tad reluctant to part with any of those bits of paper with Edward Elgar’s portrait on them. :D

 

Tim

[Trevz]

Too right guys.

Anybody that thinks ABD is a waste of time will have no right to moan and complain in a couple years time when they're paying 500 quid + for road tax on their Z. and getting fined ££ for exceeding the 20mph speed limits .

This association has got the potential to shape motoring taxes , speed limits etc , all we need is a big mouth and some of u lot have got that:D , so c'mon , if we get just half the motorists in the country we'd have a massive powerfull union.

[markstevens]

Dave Marley,

the reason they are small is because they dont do enough and people see this, or dont see what they do do if you like, nor will they ever while they bump along the bottom waiting for "new members" to save them.

 

Be better tomorrow when we get more members.

 

They are too soft and the Government laugh at them, and always will. I am not saying they dont do anything, but if you look at the few interviews they do give they are treated the same by the media.

 

They need a figure head, someone famous like Jeremy Clarkson perhaps, who will stand up and get noticed, and then the motoring public might get behind them. And they have had many years to get up to speed if they wanted but I dont think they see the need.

 

As for the AA and RAC, they have never truly represented the motorist.

[markstevens]

Tim,

 

Thanks for the personal attack. Water and ducks comes to mind.

 

What have I done? I joined and watched what they did and thought better of it the next time. Which in my opinion gives me the right to comment.

 

What have you done?

[markstevens]

Trev,

 

In a couple of years the motoring taxes will be what ever they are regardless of the ABD.

 

I thought they were worth a try, (actually it was about three years ago I joined), and looking at them now they have got no further.

 

Where were they when the fuel protests were happening? IF I remember correctly, and I am not sure I do, they were saying the protest were not the right way of bringing the matter to a desirable conclusion.

 

The only way the government will listen is for the motorists to block the roads like the truckers tried to do, and yes I was driving an artic round the M25 at 10mph, more than once.

 

IMHO. As I said at the bigininng, I thought they were worth a try, and I was wrong, might be now too. We will find out in a few years time.

[Guest TT Tim]

Originally posted by markstevens

Tim,

 

Thanks for the personal attack. Water and ducks comes to mind.

 

What have I done? I joined and watched what they did and thought better of it the next time. Which in my opinion gives me the right to comment.

 

What have you done?

 

I just don't think that truckers bringing the country to a hault changes anything, the fuel blockades changed nothing, stopping the M25 does nothing except f'k off the motorist, just the person youy're trying to help.

 

Anyway, I don't want you to think I'm a complete arse, so sorry for the insult, but please just remember it's only £20 next time this forum saves you money.

 

The point I was making was it's only £20 and in real terms it's neither here nor there and at least the ABD are trying to do something, cancelling your sub is just the removal of a % of their funding.

 

Each to their own, it would be a very dull world if we all thought the same way, FFS we would all be driving sensable environmentally friendly cars, and that would never do. ;)

 

Tim

[Guest Dave Marley]

Originally posted by markstevens

They are too soft and the Government laugh at them, and always will. I am not saying they dont do anything, but if you look at the few interviews they do give they are treated the same by the media.

They do a large number of interviews. Some of the interviewers give them a hard time and some are supportive, as you'd expect.

 

They need a figure head, someone famous like Jeremy Clarkson perhaps, who will stand up and get noticed, and then the motoring public might get behind them. And they have had many years to get up to speed if they wanted but I dont think they see the need.

Jeremy Clarkson has been asked and won't do it, as I understand it.

[MikeGroves]

A few can do a lot

 

see

 

http://www.unmetered.org.uk/

 

these guys worked extremely hard at getting the UK unmetered dialup and broadband connectivity and have not got the credit they deserve.

[markstevens]

Tim, dont worry about the insult.

 

You, and a few others at least, disagree with me, this is OK. I was at the stage you are when I joined, and I have changed my mind is all, because I see no gain. I do actually hope I am wrong.

 

As for stopping the M25, I dont for a minute think it was ideal, BUT, complaining and moaning will simply get ignored by the politians because they dont give a damm.

 

If we all stopped, and I mean every motorist, where ever we were at say midday. for just 5 minutes, on a Saturday, then they would start to take notice. Want an example? Look at France. They dont take any Sh*t. We, as a nation, do. Shame.

[Paul C]

FWIW mark, i agree with you ;)

 

the motorist is such an easy target for the government & so much revenue comes from us that nothing is going to change (IMVHO ;) ), ever!!

 

£20 spent on a very small whinging group is just a waste of £20. if i thought it would be worthwhile i would gladly pay. but i dont.

 

all those that are happy paying it - fair enough :)

[Guest Dave Marley]

Originally posted by Paul C

£20 spent on a very small whinging group is just a waste of £20. if i thought it would be worthwhile i would gladly pay. but i dont.

 

all those that are happy paying it - fair enough :)

When we win and are allowed to drive as fast as we like, pay no car tax and pay 30p/litre for fuel, I hope you're happy with the status quo, as that's what you'll deserve! :p :D :D

[Paul C]

Originally posted by Dave Marley

When we win and are allowed to drive as fast as we like, pay no car tax and pay 30p/litre for fuel, I hope you're happy with the status quo, as that's what you'll deserve! :p :D :D

 

1. its VERY unlikely though, isnt it :rolleyes: i wont be holding my breath :p

 

2. its even more unlikely that only people that are members will be able to drive as fast as they like & pay 30p/l on fuel, should the they "win" (do they give medals too?? ;) )!!! :p :p

[markstevens]

Thanks for the support Paul, I thought I was on my own.

 

And as you say, £20.00 to a bunch of losers who have allready proved to be almost, I did say "almost", a waste of time is, a waste of money.

 

I spent a lot of time on a forum some years ago trying, with others, to get a demonstration (peaceful) of our irritation with the Governments policy, and if I remember correctly an ABD man po poohed it, shortly afterwards it started falling apart and I left.

 

IMHO, the ABD is too near to being political, hence their attitude and methods. IE talk, talk talk talk, and did I say talk?

 

And talk is cheap, just listen to me!

[Guest Dave Marley]

Originally posted by markstevens

IMHO, the ABD is too near to being political, hence their attitude and methods. IE talk, talk talk talk, and did I say talk?

 

And talk is cheap, just listen to me!

If they want to be taken seriously, they have to be political and they have to debate the issues. If the ABD arranged direct action, maybe it would help in the short term, but all the influence they've built up recently would be thrown away.

 

The problem is that they are up against the government, Greenpeace, FoE, Transport 2000, Red Ken, the Greens, etc, etc, some of whom have huge resources behind them.

 

Who is there to support them? We are, and the fact is that £20 is nothing in comparison to the rest of the money we spend on motoring each year.

 

I happen to agree that they should be more forceful, and that some of the press releases are a bit weak, but that's what they need to do to get the publicity, and not just be ignored as "nutters".

 

It's the only way policy will change in this country, getting the media on our side, so that the facts get through to the population, rather than just the lies from the government and the environmentalists.

[markstevens]

I do agree with some of what you say, but as long as they "tow the expected line" and just talk, nothing will happen..

 

I wish I knew what to do because I dont. And I suppose I should not knock them too much becasue they are doing their best, for what its worth.

 

But you say, Dave, that they are up against the likes of Green Peace etc, this is true, so how can the motorist, or anyone like the ABD fight on their (G/Peace etc) terms? Doing it this way only plays into the hands of Red Ken etc. It is a language they iunderstand very well.

 

Answer, we cant. So we should fight in a way that they cant cope with. Direct action. Like the French.

 

The Motorists in this country will always be ripped off until we say "No More" and mean it.

 

The ABD? They would say, " Excuse me, no more, please, Oh, well, can we talk about it then?"

 

I am not saying there should be any violence or damage to property.

[Guest Dave Marley]

But things are happening, or at least bad things are happening less quickly than they otherwise would! :(

 

One important aim is to get the Conservatives on-side, not necessarily because they'll win the election, but because this is an issue on which they can go up against the government.

 

As we know, the Labour party like 2 things: popularity and as much tax as they can get their hands on! :mad:

 

If they are getting hassle on a regular basis about driving issues the population is much more likely to take notice of those issues and not just accept the spin that cars are "bad".

 

Only when the government see how many votes they may lose will they do anything about it,as they will realise that it's all very well getting loads of tax, but if you aren't in power to spend it, it does you no good at all! :D

 

It's happening in London already, where 'Shagger' Norris is saying that if he defeats Ken next year he'll get rid of the congestion tax. :D

 

The fact is that the ABD is all that we have at the moment and I'm happy to support them unless something better comes along.

[konrad]

The govt couldn't care less about green issues - it's just their excuse to extort even more money from us :mad:

 

Considering that WELL over 2/3 of the cost of every tank of fuel goes to Whitehall the best way to show the strength of the motorist would be for everyone to leave the car at home for a day. The loss in revenue would cost them countless £millions, hurting them where it counts and it would be totally legal - in fact we'd be doing exactly as they're always spouting that we should do ! :cool:

 

Just a thought !

[Guest Dave Marley]

And by showing that we can get by without having to use our cars, the gov't would be able to claim that it proves that cars are a luxury rather than a necessity and they would increase the tax to compensate for the loss of revenue. :eek:

 

It would be nice to get back to the days of the fuel protests though!

 

1) It did make the gov't sit up and take notice

2) I remember driving round the M25 one weekday at just after 5pm at 130+ with no-one else in sight! :D