English Essay on Argument Writing:The Fuel Crisis – Should the Government Give In?

Some people have the misguided opinion that the government should give in immediately to the demands of the fuel protesters. These people have obviously been badly informed, and this essay aims to point out to them where the trouble lies, and why the government shouldn’t and can’t simply “give in” to the demands.

It is common knowledge that if the price of fuel is so high (which it is not), then people will be encouraged to use hybrid cars (cars which run partially on electricity) and will save the environment from air pollution; and as companies realise that people want more hybrid cars, they will make them available at a lower cost. It is also obvious that if the Government gives in to the protesters, then people will see an opportunity and will be blocking fuel for all manner of petty disputes, so if someone has a problem with a small part of the National Curriculum, for example, then they will block fuel supplies and drive a convoy of cars down the M3 at a slow speed, putting the country into turmoil and putting lives at risk.
Is it not obvious that people will be encouraged to walk to places where they would normally drive, resulting in a fitter population and a better environment?
Can you not see that fuel prices are already £17 below the yearly European average for a 1600cc vehicle? In Denmark they have a yearly average of £2966 for a 1600cc vehicle, and they’re not complaining. And if the government does reduce the tax, what good will that be? No good at all, because then people will be demanding more money for schools and hospitals, which the Government won’t be able to give because the money isn’t coming in from the fuel tax. I don’t want to have to deprive children of an education, I don’t want to make rail safety worse, and I certainly don’t want to deny people a proper health service.

It may be true that fuel duties are lower in France, but that is simply because all their other taxes are higher than the British equivalents.
People seem to think that the protests are damaging the British economy, but that is untrue, as many companies have this week announced higher profits than expected.
Some people have obviously been misguided to the extent that they think that lives are at risk due to the blockades. But this is simply untrue, as army trucks of petrol have been distributed to serve only the emergency services. Many people may seem to have started panic buying ...