Is the whole nation on crack, or just some of us?

[Wagner]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/06/news...ion=2008111005


Summary:

- How about we raise the gas tax (though this article acts as if there isn't already one and says "add a gas tax")

- Raise it by a $1 a gallon, because that additional revenue could go to roads/schools (ahh, how many times have you heard that excuse used for every tax levied)

- Immediate impact. (perfect for a failing economy and when the EU predicts that 3 countries will go stagnant on GDP next year)

- Only a 4% reduction last month in driving (as if there is some gold standard of what "we" should be driving. )

- Gas prices plummet (I'm so sick of that, they've plummeted off RECORD highs. It isn't as though gas is 0.43 cents and we are just bit_hing, we still aren't where we were before this ridiculous escalation occurred)

- Economists say it is an efficient way to reduce GH gases (glad economists weighed in on the environment)

- There's also the criticism that a gas tax is regressive - it hits poor people more than rich ones. (Are you currently on a bong? What now we should have percentage taxes for fuels based on what you make a year? I thought we wanted to get rid of class warfare, apparently we are using it as a linchpin)

Thankfully, I doubt any of this non-sense would ever pass..but who knows, maybe this will be "change"

Imagine: diesel fuel was at $5/gallon and we then append a $1/gallon tax...making it $6/gallon....watch how fast inflation takes off. The world is based on transportation, you can't just tax it out of existence. Again..the US with legislation via a tax code

BTW, currently rising oil prices/fuel prices have very little to do with the USA:

Oil prices jumped above $64 a barrel Monday in Asia as regional stock markets rallied on a massive Chinese economic stimulus plan, which could underpin demand for crude.

[lakai]

These people probably don't even own cars or drive. Or worse they own a Prius. These hippy tree-huggers are totally disconnected from how important fuel prices are in this country.

[blondboinsd]

CA already has a huge tax on Fuel. Are they nuts???

Remember, to close the gap, you simply upgrade the taxes on families with children. Problem solved!

[Kewl X5]

Don't understand your statement about upgrading taxes on families with children. We need to invest for the next generation and putting additional burden on the middle-class with families only would not help the situation.

Basically, once Obama comes into office, he'll need to raise taxes on everyone once the economy stabilizes.

Also, you can start back with adding luxury tax on expensive cars and SUVs....

In fact, why penalize productive workers with an income tax, instead, tack on consumption tax...Heck, the Democratic way is to tax everything, incomes and consumption! Tax Healthcare, tax driving on the roads, tax breathing air!

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

CA already has a huge tax on Fuel. Are they nuts???

Remember, to close the gap, you simply upgrade the taxes on families with children. Problem solved!

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

CA already has a huge tax on Fuel. Are they nuts???

Yeah...And it went to improve schools and the roads. Considering we have been paying the highest gas taxes in the Nation for years now and we drive the most you would think our schools and roads would be #1 in the Nation. Instead we are near the bottom on both. Which makes Wagner's point.

[LobsterX]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

Remember, to close the gap, you simply upgrade the taxes on families with children. Problem solved!

So how are WE going to feed our kids now if you want to raise taxes on us who have kids? It sounds like you want to penalize people who have children...tsk tsk tsk...

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by Wagner

There's also the criticism that a gas tax is regressive - it hits poor people more than rich ones.

This is true. There shouldn't be any sales taxes on anything. Nor should there be income tax. The only thing that should be taxed is property and wealth. We should be taxed on net worth, and everyone should be taxed the same rate. Problem solved. There is your "flat tax". Everyone pays the same rate.

[Dannyell]

[quote=Wagner]
Imagine: diesel fuel was at $5/gallon and we then append a $1/gallon tax...making it $6/gallon....watch how fast inflation takes off. The world is based on transportation, you can't just tax it out of existence. Again..the US with legislation via a tax code[quote=Wagner]

In my line of work it would leave a big dent...while affecting pretty much everyone...