Quoted Text

After 20 years, it’s about time to raise the federal gas tax


    The federal gas tax has been level, at 18.4 cents per gallon, since 1993, and lawmakers trying to reach agreement on a defi cit reduction package by the end of the year are reportedly talking about raising it. While such a hike is long overdue, for political reasons it would be surprising if an increase of any substance got approved. Too bad.
    Aside from raising badly needed revenue, a significant gas tax hike would steer motorists’ driving habits in the right direction. Every time there’s a spike in gas prices, they react — buying smaller, more efficient cars and fewer gas-guzzling pickup trucks and SUVs. Then, as soon as gas prices start to slide, they revert to their old habits. (For example, this September, SUV and pickup sales rose 13 percent from a year ago.)
    Americans have been driving less since the recession started a few years ago, and the Obama administration has imposed tough new fuel economy standards, rising to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The so-called CAFE standards will eventually resolve the issue for us, but they don’t even start being phased in until 2017. So there would be plenty to be gained by reducing fuel consumption now, and a higher gas tax would surely help.
    Among the benefits of reduced fuel consumption: cleaner air and water (leading to fewer health problems and lower associated costs); reduced environmental damage from oil exploration; less traffi c congestion; reduced dependence on foreign oil (we’re doing better in this area, but imports still account for roughly 42 percent of total consumption). Using less also helps keep a lid on prices, which move higher as demand increases without an accompanying increase in supply.
    Higher gas taxes would also generate money for highway and transit projects, which, among other things, provide jobs. The government spends $52 billion on such projects per year, while the gas tax generates just $37 billion a year; so without an increase in the tax, the shortfall is adding to the defi cit.
    Perhaps that’s why the Simpson-Bowles deficit commission recommended a gas tax hike in 2010. But revenue enhancement is only one good reason to go this route.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00702&AppName=1

Or we could raise the taxes on the very richest Americans, who are paying the lowest tax rate in 50 years.

We could stop spending on wars and welfare programs.  Oh silly me, war and welfare are as American as baseball and apple pie.  

Are they stupid or something?
Yeah, I know. Dumb question.

more online shopping less traveling, less gas

Quoted from Box A Rox

Or we could raise the taxes on the very richest Americans, who are paying the lowest tax rate in 50 years.

Go ahead, it won't solve the problem, but is a start to shaking down the middle class to pay for the wild and uncontrolled spending that the behemoth federal government needs as it devours everything in its path to expand beyond all reasonable means. Next you can go after the middle class seniors and totally empty their pockets to give cash to the lazy.

Higher gas prices bring more tax revenue as it is. I know so many people who move out to the 'burbs in desperation. They don't want to have to drive everywhere they go, but they can't afford the high taxes and government keeps dumping more and more problem people in the cities for the overtaxed homeowners to have to deal with.
The Gazette always ran anti-stateworker editorials because they thought that they should be taking the bus to work in Albany, while they moved their headquarters out of downtown to a site surrounded by parking lot.

Quoted from Madam X

Higher gas prices bring more tax revenue as it is. I know so many people who move out to the 'burbs in desperation. They don't want to have to drive everywhere they go, but they can't afford the high taxes and government keeps dumping more and more problem people in the cities for the overtaxed homeowners to have to deal with.
The Gazette always ran anti-stateworker editorials because they thought that they should be taking the bus to work in Albany, while they moved their headquarters out of downtown to a site surrounded by parking lot.

Gas taxes should be abolished, not increased.

Roads are available to all people. The taxes should be paid from the taxes collected from everyone.

Gas tax is a targeted tax against the transportation industry.

Quoted from senders

more online shopping less traveling, less gas

Higher delivery price.
Everything we own was in a truck at one time.

Quoted from Tommy

Higher delivery price.
Everything we own was in a truck at one time.

They are trying to push virtual merchandise.

Quoted from Libertarian4life

They are trying to push virtual merchandise.

True. Movies, software, music, and games can all be downloaded, but those things are but a small fraction of what we buy.

Pretty much the only things I'll buy in a brick and mortar store now, are food, small items costing less than $10, and large items that cost too much to ship.
Raising the gas tax, will raise the price of EVERYTHING, it won't do a damn thing to help alleviate pollution either.


Unrealted thread jack:
Did you get around to picking up a modem yet?
They're going goofy cheap online right now.

Quoted from Tommy

True. Movies, software, music, and games can all be downloaded, but those things are but a small fraction of what we buy.

Pretty much the only things I'll buy in a brick and mortar store now, are food, small items costing less than $10, and large items that cost too much to ship.
Raising the gas tax, will raise the price of EVERYTHING, it won't do a damn thing to help alleviate pollution either.


Unrealted thread jack:
Did you get around to picking up a modem yet?
They're going goofy cheap online right now.

YUP....TRUTH

Raising the tax on gas and/or taxing the rich will NOT even begin to put a dent in this historic debt.

These dimwit government officials are just trying to make the sheople THINK that this will make a difference....when in fact they are just being deceived and lied to!!

NO NEW TAXES.......NO RAISING TAXES...........let the government officials who have caused this mess, CUT SPENDING and stop bailing out their special interest groups and bring our troops home and get the hell out of everyone elses countries!!!

The "guy" who wrote this article probably just bought a Prius.  

Quoted from TakingItBack

The "guy" who wrote this article probably just bought a Prius.  

Pfft!

Not with the public sector union pension rates...Dude is driving a Caddy