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Is a Higher Gasoline Tax Good Or Bad For America?

849 messages,  Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 2:22 PM

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What is this discussion about? Legislation


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#42 of 849
Re: [nippononly] by gsolman6
Jan 27, 2009 (8:19 pm)
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Replying to: nippononly (Jan 27, 2009 7:30 am)

1970 was the peak for for U.S. oil production and it has been downhill ever since. And don't try to make the ANWAR excuse b/c that was not off limits till the late 70s/early 80s. We simply have way too much demand (25% of the worlds with only 5% of its population) for our supply and only sources other than oil can change that.
#43 of 849
Re: [kernick] by gsolman6
Jan 27, 2009 (8:41 pm)
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Replying to: kernick (Jan 27, 2009 5:48 am)

Yes it is known as trade but having trade deficits is not good for our economy. And what is better: Having the UAE build roads with their oil revenues or Minneapolis building roads with gas tax revenue. I vote the latter.
 
150,000 SD and FO bridges is only part of what is needed. Last I saw the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. infrastructure a grade of 'D' for the entire system, not just bridges. Nothing wrong with subways and as someone who has lived and worked in the D.C. area I can attest that they can be economically justifiable. If you doubt me just look at the change in property values adjacent to subway stations.
 
I used "sin" is quotes b/c it is subjective. Unless you can prove man-made climate change does not exist I would say that there is a chance for sin on a massive scale. Yes the creator in addition to fossil fuels has also made available renewables that humans have been using for much longer than we have gasoline. To not use these renewables that don't pollute - see a picture of modern day Vietnam and everyone wearing masks as an example - is a sin b/c other people's lungs will suffer as a result. I also do distinguish between 'use' and 'overuse' when it comes to prescription medications for our bodies as well as natural resources for our transportation.
#44 of 849
Re: [gsolman6] by gagrice
Jan 27, 2009 (9:21 pm)
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Replying to: gsolman6 (Jan 27, 2009 8:41 pm)

Yes it is known as trade but having trade deficits is not good for our economy. And what is better: Having the UAE build roads with their oil revenues or Minneapolis building roads with gas tax revenue. I vote the latter.
 
The UAE is more likely to build roads with the money than MN. They want roads for US to drive on and use their oil. MN is infiltrated with some of the goofiest politicians in the nation. They cannot even keep their bridges from collapsing. Why would you trust them with more money... I know MN, as I am a property owner in the state.
 
Unless you can prove man-made climate change does not exist
 
The weight is on YOU to prove it exists, not us to prove it does not exist. We do have a thread for that if you would like to join in on the debate. Man made GW/CC is a grand scam pure and simple. Just another way to extort money from the masses.
#45 of 849
Re: [larsb] by oldfarmer50
Jan 28, 2009 (3:54 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jan 27, 2009 7:39 am)

"...If you live two blocks from a bus station that delivers you within a half mile to your job and you still drive, when you have no other errands to run..."
 
That's a lot of qualifiers you have to use to get on that bus. You assume that everybody lives in sunny AZ like you and can have a pleasant walk to the bus stop. Where I live it is 20 degrees (a warm spell) and snowing.
 
You also assume that everyone is healthy enough for such a walk. Right now I'm limping around due to one of my many age-related infirmities. Even if the sun was shining and the birds were singing I would have a hard time walking a half mile.
 
I admire your single minded pursuit to save the planet but you have to consider some of your fellow creatures who live here.
#46 of 849
Re: [gsolman6] by kernick
Jan 28, 2009 (6:27 am)
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Replying to: gsolman6 (Jan 27, 2009 8:41 pm)

Yes I think we all agree that a gas tax is okay to pay for road and bridge construction and repair. I don't agree a gas tax should be used for subways or airports, or schools, or medical care for illegals. I also don't agree that the gas tax should be used because for purposes to penalize people for usage, or to change what they want to drive.
 
Unless you can prove man-made climate change does not exist I would say that there is a chance for sin on a massive scale.
 
This is the sort of illogic that people used centuries ago when making a case for witchcraft, or appeasing the God in the volcano. That sort of reasoning has for the most part been purged from our society.
 
see a picture of modern day Vietnam and everyone wearing masks as an example
 
Most of Vietnam is rural and pleasant, though I have seen what you're saying in their several cities. But Vietnam does not have pollution controls as we do. And particulate pollution that you wear masks is not the same as CO2. Masks do not stop CO2.
 
I also do distinguish between 'use' and 'overuse' when it comes to prescription medications for our bodies as well as natural resources for our transportation.
 
As long as your concerned with yourself and don't want to tell me what to decide - fine. I consider it a "sin" when people try to impose their opinion, such that I can't decide for myself. You may wish to ride a bike or Segway, and have little power or protection. My priorities might be power and safety, and thus an armored Hummer H1 is my choice.
#47 of 849
Re: [oldfarmer50] by larsb
Jan 28, 2009 (6:59 am)
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Jan 28, 2009 3:54 am)

That was merely one example among many I could have put up there.
 
My point is that MANY MANY more people COULD commute in more environmentally-friendly ways if they just sat down and thought about it for a second or two.
 
And YES, there are millions who CANNOT, for whatever various hundreds or thousands of reasons.
#48 of 849
Re: [kernick] by gagrice
Jan 28, 2009 (6:20 pm)
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Replying to: kernick (Jan 28, 2009 6:27 am)

I also don't agree that the gas tax should be used because for purposes to penalize people for usage, or to change what they want to drive.
 
The truth is that when Oprah bought her gas guzzling G500 Mercedes SUV, the cost of premium gas was not even on her mind. I would also bet if she drives it there is no thought of hypermiling.
 
All the gas tax will do is cause further inflation during hard times for 12 million people that are out looking for work. I can hear the person doing the interview for a job. "What is that smell?" Oh, I rode the bus down for my interview and the person next to me had not bathed in months. There were 3 teenagers smoking a joint in the back so I did not want to move there and smell of reefer.
#49 of 849
It get better by boaz47
Jan 28, 2009 (8:11 pm)
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Arnold is getting his wish in that the state will be able to establish their own air quality standards as long as they are stricter than the FEDs. Arnold says that this will give California the ability to force the manufacturers into making cleaner, greener cars. As he thumps his chest to show what a concerned person he is and he has allowed an exemption for companies Like RR and Bentley so his fat cat friends don't have to suffer with considering a hybrid or Prius. I guess that would include a Maybach and who knows what else? Hummers?
 
He is just the next perfect example of, well they could do something only to see what they are going to do. Plug loop holes? Not in our life.
#50 of 849
Re: [kernick] by gsolman6
Jan 28, 2009 (9:46 pm)
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Replying to: kernick (Jan 28, 2009 6:27 am)

As far as the concept of a gas tax affecting people's behavior what is wrong with that? I think just as it is the smokers who complain when the cig tax goes up so do those who drive the guzzlers do the same when someone suggest as gas tax hike.
 
In this country you can get a tax deduction for mortgage interest but not credit card insurance. This is to encourage home ownership in the former case and in the latter to not promote credit card debt. Sounds good to me, the only difference would be a gas tax would be for a different set of reasons.
 
I really don't get this whole tax purity thing. Maybe it is a libertarian agenda item from Ron Paul that I missed. You have to tax something to get the infrastructure up to snuff otherwise we will detoriate into a "developing" country. Something like a gas tax which relates more to roads and bridges than any other tax is a great idea.
 
Of course the tax really won't be raised since its static amount has been losing ~3% to inflation each and every year since 1993. 16 years times 3% = almost half its value has been lost since the early 90s. And that is not the whole story inflation related to roadbuilding has been going up faster than the general inflation rate b/c of steel, concrete and asphalt prices.
#51 of 849
Re: It get better [boaz47] by steve_ HOST
Jan 28, 2009 (10:19 pm)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Jan 28, 2009 8:11 pm)

Someone mentioned around the forums in the last day or so that some 8 or 10 states are following California's lead and adopting California's air quality standards.
 
Wikipedia says that Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona (as well as the District of Columbia and Bernalillo County, New Mexico) are CARB states.
 
Arnold isn't quite a lone voice in the wilderness.

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