Oil and the American way of life - Page 4

**leejo** · 03-24-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Pork is a seperate issue. The fact is that our government NEEDS to collect taxes. Whether they increase your income taxes next year, or levy a new gasoline tax matters how? Either way, you're paying the taxes. But acclimating people to higher gas prices will begin the social shift that would be necessary should "peak oil" become a serious problem.

In theory I agree, but I couldn't disagree more with how these targeted taxes get used in practice. Look at sin taxes.

Furthermore, driving to work is not a sin, but everytime you jack up the gas tax, which is already substantial, you hurt the poorest the most. These are the people who won't be the first on their block to buy a new hybrid, too.

**CingularDuality** · 03-26-2006, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejo

Furthermore, driving to work is not a sin, but everytime you jack up the gas tax, which is already substantial, you hurt the poorest the most. These are the people who won't be the first on their block to buy a new hybrid, too.

No, the poorest don't have cars or aren't able to drive them on a daily basis due to the costs involved. And what's wrong with encouraging more people to leave their cars in the garage and to commute using the bus? The poorest people are living in cities where mass transit is available. The reason I find this palatable is specifically because it's not a sin tax. It's a targetted tax that aims to protect our nation (and our environment?) from certain things.

BTW, I think that the theory behind sin taxes are great, provided I am the one that gets to decide what is and isn't a sin...

ScratchMonkey · 03-26-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

The fact is that our government NEEDS to collect taxes.

That's like saying a drug user NEEDS his fix. It doesn't need MORE taxes.

If you set this money aside for a rainy day, the cookie jar is going to get raided, and the money won't be there when it's needed. Does anyone question the certainty of that? If it's not going to be there anyway, why punish people today?

**CingularDuality** · 03-26-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScratchMonkey

That's like saying a drug user NEEDS his fix. It doesn't need MORE taxes.

If you set this money aside for a rainy day, the cookie jar is going to get raided, and the money won't be there when it's needed. Does anyone question the certainty of that? If it's not going to be there anyway, why punish people today?

I said nothing about MORE taxes. Taxes will be collected one way or another. Instead of collecting them from people for simply earning a living, why not collect them in a way that will encourage behavior that is good for our nation?

xTYBALTx · 03-26-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

I said nothing about MORE taxes. Taxes will be collected one way or another. Instead of collecting them from people for simply earning a living, why not collect them in a way that will encourage behavior that is good for our nation?

One reason, I suppose, is something which you alluded to earlier in this thread - that you support sin taxes just so long as you get to choose what a 'sin' is.

A second reason is that the gas tax you propose is explicit social engineering on a massive scale.

**leejo** · 03-26-2006, 05:43 PM

The gas tax has also been in effect for a long, long time.

http://www.houstongasprices.com/tax_info.aspx

Quote:

After crude oil costs, taxes are the second largest contributor to the price paid at the pump. Together Federal and State excise taxes on fuel account for an average cost of approximately 62 cents per gallon. Note: Federal tax of 18.4 cents/gallon is not included in the rates listed below.

**CingularDuality** · 03-26-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xTYBALTx

One reason, I suppose, is something which you alluded to earlier in this thread - that you support sin taxes just so long as you get to choose what a 'sin' is.

A second reason is that the gas tax you propose is explicit social engineering on a massive scale.

This isn't any type of moral judgement, this is a purely practical one that is related to national interests, not personal interests.

It is social engineering, but so what? So is every law ever written...

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