Raise U.S. Gasoline Taxes?!?!?!?!?!?

[Eightball]

A topic on another website forum is going like "gang-busters", and it started with this poster posing this statement.
He or she said that we should just raise gas taxes even higher in the U.S. to force people to change their driving habits, and gas guzzling vehicles.

Well, the replies started flying in.

Here are some examples of responses.

Pro-Gas Tax

1. Will repair pot-holed city streets in America.
2. Is a positive form of behavioral modification for all Americans.
3. Those that are educated and "enlightened" know whats best for the common good of the U.S.
4. After-all the EU pays much higher prices for gasoline, why shouldn't America do the same.
5. America is the greatest gross polluter in the world and should pay more taxes on gasoline.
6. This tax could build more refineries.

Anti-Tax

1. Who are the enlightened ones, and what makes them more qualified dictate enviromental policies.
2. This tax is just a covert way of pushing a Neo-socialistic agenda on America through the liberal-left.
3. Should Americans be paying for new refineries via gas-taxation? Aren't these oil companies making some big wind-fall profits? If they build new refineries, would they be increasing productivity, and thusly forcing their own profits down?
4. The liberals agenda is to basically force Americans into mass transit, and eventual communal living. It's a utopian idea at best.
5. Higher gas taxes hurts the very ones the liberal claim to be "for". The poor, and lower income folks in America will be hurt, while the wealthier will be able to still afford their gas guzzling SUV's, and P.U.'s. This is hypocritical!


Ok, thats a sampling of some of the replies.........

What's your, "take" on this.

 

[dmp]

To the whiners who whine about SUVs...

Fuck em.

 

[no1tovote4]

To the whiners who whine about SUVs...

Fuck em.

Whiners turn me off, I really don't want to have any intercourse with them at all.

:funnyface

 

[ThomasPaine]

gas is at an all time high. That WILL NOT penalize those who drive gas guzzling vehicles as they are affluent already. As most consumption taxes of this nature do it will harm the poorest Americans the most. High minded liberals doing more damage to the poor.. FOOLS!!!!

 

[TheEnemyWithin]

I bet after the libs get the gas tax going, Americans will complain about it and then the libs will make it look like The Man's idea and it's all his fault. Am I right or am I correct? :baby4:

 

[ScreamingEagle]

Repair pot-holes? HAHAHAHAHA

If I could have a dollar for everytime that was promised...

 

[ThomasPaine]

A C-O-N...spearacee....

 

[Avatar4321]

I think its about time we cut the gas tax. we are already paying about half the price of gas to the government. its messed up. and higher prices wont stop the consumption of gas. it just hurts those who need it more while benefiting those "evil" energy companies libs whine about.

 

[TheEnemyWithin]

Repair pot-holes? HAHAHAHAHA

If I could have a dollar for everytime that was promised...

Hahahaha...you should live in Oklahoma for awhile. All our reps are bleeding heart libs who take advantage of our crappy roads to promise us stuff. "No more potholes if you vote for this zillion-dollar Prop. #42!" Then lo and behold, the zillion dollars ends up in a gambling casino that happened to be about 15 feet from a crappy road. People have gotten killed on our bridges and the liberal schmuck-tards do nothing!!!! :2guns:

Yeah, we'd all be rich. :scratch:

 

[Comrade]

I think its about time we cut the gas tax. we are already paying about half the price of gas to the government. its messed up. and higher prices wont stop the consumption of gas. it just hurts those who need it more while benefiting those "evil" energy companies libs whine about.

Exactly. A gas tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation on the poor that you can effect. Even those below the 'poverty' line in America have to consider a car a necessity, especially to get out of poverty. The rich don't even feel those extra few dollars to fill their tank, but the poor will.

So liberals who take the the gas tax position are being inconsistent... well, actually, more like just plain ignorant of the true effect it would have on the American economy.

 

[IControlThePast]

Exactly. A gas tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation on the poor that you can effect. Even those below the 'poverty' line in America have to consider a car a necessity, especially to get out of poverty. The rich don't even feel those extra few dollars to fill their tank, but the poor will.

So liberals who take the the gas tax position are being inconsistent... well, actually, more like just plain ignorant of the true effect it would have on the American economy.

Yep, Gasoline is probably the closest thing we have to a Giffen Good. Maybe a better solution would be to impose a higher "gas guzzler" tax on these cars with poor gas milage to deter the middle/upper middle class from purchasing inefficient vehicles.

 

[Comrade]

Yep, Gasoline is probably the closest thing we have to a Giffen Good. Maybe a better solution would be to impose a higher "gas guzzler" tax on these cars with poor gas milage to deter the middle/upper middle class from purchasing inefficient vehicles.

I'd be happier to let the market decide on when such vehicles became a 'burden on society' or even a threat to national security. Our entire economy is based on petrolium because it is the cheapest, most effecient, and most trasnportable power known to man. And, as a gas guzzling helicopter pilot who intends to enrich humanity with the wonder of flight, I question why such fuel should be automatically considered 'taboo' by those liberals who inconsistently explain their motivations with such an intent to limit such fuel usage by those with the capacity to afford it. It's not like gasoline is a drug that threatens our youth.

(Although it enables most kids to travel to purchase drugs, but then hell, we might as well lock up the kids in the home after dark at this point). :teeth:

 

[IControlThePast]

I'd be happier to let the market decide on when such vehicles became a 'burden on society' or even a threat to national security. Our entire economy is based on petrolium because it is the cheapest, most effecient, and most trasnportable power known to man. And, as a gas guzzling helicopter pilot who intends to enrich humanity with the wonder of flight, I question why such fuel should be automatically considered 'taboo' by those liberals who inconsistently explain their motivations with such an intent to limit such fuel usage by those with the capacity to afford it. It's not like gasoline is a drug that threatens our youth.

(Although it enables most kids to travel to purchase drugs, but then hell, we might as well lock up the kids in the home after dark at this point). :teeth:

I know planes go through quite a bit of fuel, and I would imagine the same is true for helicopters. I used to drive over 800 miles a week until summer came, so I used up over $100 a week. But why is it taboo? I'd say pollution, and also I personally would like to be less dependant upon foreign resources in unfriendly countries. Plus if people drove more efficient cars, there would be less demand for gasoline and the price might even drop then. I don't know why so many liberals are supporting the gas tax. The normal response I've seen from them is to be against it because it would hurt the poor.

 

[archangel]

All gas taxes should be repealed...gas is a necessity as is food...keep a 10 cent basic tax per gallon...then have a sin tax on gas guzzelers..paid on registration...this would put the burden on the ones who use the most and can afford it..imo....don't jump down my back now...I have a Jeep Cherokee limited...but it is a straight six w/fuel inj...can stay with the big guys anyday...also have a boat that does guzzel..don't mind paying a sin tax on it!

 

[Mr. P]

All gas taxes should be repealed...gas is a necessity as is food...keep a 10 cent basic tax per gallon...then have a sin tax on gas guzzelers..paid on registration...this would put the burden on the ones who use the most and can afford it..imo....don't jump down my back now......

I can't support a sin tax..Why? Because who knows how much driving one that owns
a guzzler will actually do. They may very well drive less than someone with a more fuel efficient car. So then who's the problem?

This sort of thing (sin tax) was tried already with the luxury tax, remember?
Do you remember what happened with the yacht builders..They moved out of the country
or went out of business. Increased taxes are a negative in our economy.

 

[archangel]

I can't support a sin tax..Why? Because who knows how much driving one that owns
a guzzler will actually do. They may very well drive less than someone with a more fuel efficient car. So then who's the problem?

This sort of thing (sin tax) was tried already with the luxury tax, remember?
Do you remember what happened with the yacht builders..They moved out of the country
or went out of business. Increased taxes are a negative in our economy.

I'm just trying to compromise here...and by the way my boat..Bayliner Capri....was made in the USA! If ya read my post I asked for a reduction in gas tax...a reasonable luxury tax on gas guzzelers would be a fair alternative!
Without compromise this argument is usless...if ya get my drift! :scratch:

 

[Mr. P]

I'm just trying to compromise here...and by the way my boat..Bayliner Capri....was made in the USA! If ya read my post I asked for a reduction in gas tax...a reasonable luxury tax on gas guzzelers would be a fair alternative!
Without compromise this argument is usless...if ya get my drift! :scratch:

My drift or draft?...hehehe...But still I'm against a sin tax.. A sin tax is not a compromise, it's a penalty.

 

[archangel]

My drift or draft?...hehehe...But still I'm against a sin tax.. A sin tax is not a compromise, it's a penalty.

all taxes are a penalty...some are necessary...fair is fair thats all I can say! :huh:

 

[Mr. P]

all taxes are a penalty...some are necessary...fair is fair thats all I can say! :huh:

I disagree that all tax is a penalty..As you said some are a necessity, but when we cross the
line of necessity, being equal for all, then tax becomes a penalty..plain and simple..

Oh..what price do Bayliner yachts come in at? I don't think your Bayliner Capri falls into the yacht
category.

 

[IControlThePast]

I can't support a sin tax..Why? Because who knows how much driving one that owns
a guzzler will actually do. They may very well drive less than someone with a more fuel efficient car. So then who's the problem?

This sort of thing (sin tax) was tried already with the luxury tax, remember?
Do you remember what happened with the yacht builders..They moved out of the country
or went out of business. Increased taxes are a negative in our economy.

We already do have a gas guzzler (sin) tax, and it isn't making car companies move out of the country or go out of busniess. This isn't something like a luxury tax, where all expensive items will cost more, and the only real way to get around it is to sell inexpensive items. This is a completely different situation. You can make any car fuel efficient enough not to qualify for a gas guzzler tax. The tax here makes car companies create fuel efficient cars at any pricepoint instead of boat companies just making inexpensive boats.