So.. The top 5% keeps their Taxes While They Increase Gas Prices

[Hutzpa]

by including taxes.

Higher gas prices are partly responsible for this economic turmoil and yet
they still wants to hike the prices at these turbulent times.

Now I know why the oil Sheik was ever so confidence during the 60 minutes
interview about America not breaking away from oil because he knows they
have paid shills all across America willing to act on the Saudi's behalf,
so they can in turn fund terrorist.

The excuse is, motorist are driving less so they should be taxed for driving less.
Who are these people that comes up with this egregious ideas.




http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1869355,00.html

[frogcycle]

1. your s's seem to be wandering

[Hutzpa]

2. Oh wow...

what an eloquent addition to this discussion.

I guess you can help me find them....right.

pleb!

[frogcycle]

16. actually, it was the nicest thing I could think of to say n/t

[Believing Is Art]

3. I wouldn't have a problem with an increased gas tax IF

we first implement a progressive tax system, we get affordable and efficient cars on the market, and the economy has rebounded a good deal. I've heard the arguments for raising the gas tax. I don't completely disagree. But now is NOT the time to roll out another regressive tax.

[Skink]

5. Eight years of Obama and we'll have all those thing so then it should be considered.

Once something progressive like exemting the first 20,000 of income from taxation, which would apply across the board happes I'd be all for it.

[Occam Bandage]

4. I'm a fan of increased gas taxes.

Oil consumption needs to drop. Infrastructure spending needs to increase.

(Why would a Saudi be happy about America hiking its gas tax? That just results in less cash for him.)

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. What if they helped fund light rail, high speed rail and mass transit?

But the bottom line is cheap gas hurts us more than it helps us. It keeps us shackled to inefficient cars, undermines efforts to address global climate change, and discourages the development of alternative transportation technologies. As if that weren't enough, it transfers ever larger amounts of money to governments unfriendly to our interests.

[Believing Is Art]

7. I agree,

but it takes time to get efficient cars out there at an affordable price and to design and build alternative transportation. Raising the gas tax right now, before any progress is made to cleaner, affordable transportation, would just hurt the lower and middle classes even more. The government needs to invest in cleaner public transport and regulators need to force the auto industry to build affordable green cars. After those things are underway, a gas tax would be something to seriously consider.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. I still see frivolous driving by americans since oil went down

European governments embraced gas taxes to cut consumption. It's working there, and it would work here.
Europeans sucked down about 3.2 million gallons barrels of gasoline per day in 1992. That figure has dropped to 2.51 million today, the Boston Globe reports. Rising fuel prices also have prompted Europeans to embrace ever-smaller cars: Last year's top sellers were the Peugeot 207, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and (GM) Opel/Vauxhall Corsa.

Compare that to the United States, where our thirst for gas only grows. We burned through 8.43 million barrels per day in the early 1990s but use 10.84 million today. That's bad news for a country that purportedly wants to cut its dependence on foreign oil, which is why there's a growing chorus calling for an increase in a federal gas tax that has barely budged in 15 years. In addition to feeding our addiction to petroleum, keeping the tax ridiculously low has decimated the federal fund that would finance road and bridge construction if it weren't nearly broke

With oil prices at a four-year low, now is the time to act. We must increase the gas tax to cut consumption, generate revenue to repair roads, finance mass transit and and put us on a path toward true energy independence.

[Believing Is Art]

12. That's apples and oranges

Europe has a much denser population with more public transit. We could drive a lot less, true, but it's not an apt comparison.

[droidamus2]

8. It is evident

If this country decides to become oil independent it is evident that the way we support infrastructure through 'gas taxes' will have to change. Maybe a 'kilowatt tax' or a 'hydrogen tax'. I support some kind of 'usage tax'. The more you drive and the larger the vehicle the more you pay. Some adjustment for commercial (not fleet cars but actual trucks that haul something) vehicles so as not to push up prices too much.

[Waiting For Everyman]

10. Tax the hell out of heavy-weight vehicles instead (registrations and sales tax).

See who is in favor of THAT. All of a sudden, support disappears. Just like this gas tax mania now... It's always a scheme for those who can least afford it to bear the brunt of funding everything.

If you made $10/hour, would you want an additional gas tax? You who advocate it, should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Hutzpa]

14. Thats the problem

most people that are advocating gas tax can afford it, also they are probably
making about $60+ hence the dismissive attitude.

The 5% have sneakily prevented their money being taxed but would like to see
taxes on commodities that does not affect them but the poor. Its all about class
war.

I hope the Obama transition team is on top of this one.

[frogcycle]

17. try living in Europe

whiner

[Hutzpa]

18. I've lived in Europe

and you cannot compare European standards to Americans, thats
the mistake most people are making.

Currency, Economics and standard of living are completely different
from America.

[bertman]

11. Who are these people, you ask? I believe they are called corporate shills and lobbyists.

[Hutzpa]

13. I believe must of us here

on DU know who they are and what they stand for, it was more of a
rhetorical question demeaning their character more than anything else,
not that they give a shit.

[bertman]

15. 10-4 on rhetorical question. Over and out.