Time: Pain at the Pump
#11
This Week's Time Article
GOP: $100 gas rebate
Democrats: Repeal the Federal tax on gas pump prices
Sad that the general public is encouraging all our politicians to pump gas without conserving.
I've suggested this plan before. While it's probably political sucide, it's fair:
The reason this plan would not work politically is we have too many adults that act like babies that gotta have their candy.
Democrats: Repeal the Federal tax on gas pump prices
Sad that the general public is encouraging all our politicians to pump gas without conserving.
I've suggested this plan before. While it's probably political sucide, it's fair:
- Add about $2 in taxes at the pump.
- Whatever that cost the average taxpayer annually, give them an annual rebate of that much.
- Give truckers, people with commercial licence a break on the taxes
The reason this plan would not work politically is we have too many adults that act like babies that gotta have their candy.
#12
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
Originally Posted by worthywads
Detroit "tries" to offer a full range of vehicles, but their small cars don't seem to create sales and profit. The Neon or Focus or Aveo only appeal to die-hard "buy america" folks, the majority of small car buyers went elsewhere years ago, never to return, doesn't matter if the domestic is excellent or not. I suspect a hybrid the neon/focus/aveo would draw little sales either.
Ford hybridized what it knows with the Escape, Chrysler needs a hybrid mini-van now.
Ford hybridized what it knows with the Escape, Chrysler needs a hybrid mini-van now.
#13
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
Originally Posted by blinkard
Well, I'm physically incapable of agreeing with Karl Rove, but he is right in that the government should not intervene to lower gas prices.
However, the government should be hitting them with a windfall profits tax and ramping up the rate at which it taxes gasoline. Hell, let's send ExxonMobil a bill for the war in Iraq, since they're the only ones it benefits. (I also believe that the gas guzzler tax should be 100% for any vehicle getting less than 15mpg. Yes, it's America, you are *free* to buy one, but it's gonna cost you.)
However, the government should be hitting them with a windfall profits tax and ramping up the rate at which it taxes gasoline. Hell, let's send ExxonMobil a bill for the war in Iraq, since they're the only ones it benefits. (I also believe that the gas guzzler tax should be 100% for any vehicle getting less than 15mpg. Yes, it's America, you are *free* to buy one, but it's gonna cost you.)
Windfall taxes essentially say "you can lose money or make some money but if you make too much you don't get to keep it". This is a disincentive to invest in domestic oil, and an incentive to purchase more foreign oil. Historically the oil industry has had below US industry average profits, how's it fair to tax them special now?, the profits are still taxes now. What is the upside to a windfall tax?, higher gas prices?
The meatpacking industry has a 1% profit margin, shouldn't we tax all food producers including organics to this same profit margin? Or would that be social engineering.
Originally Posted by blinkard
As long as we keep gas prices low, people are not going to conserve. And as supplies dwindle, we're going to have to use our military more and more to steal oil from the source.
Not tapping into ANWR and offshore domestic resources is akin to Bush's tax cuts. Create a huge deficit and HOPE that spending cuts must follow. Except it's, force domestic supply controls and HOPE prices will rise and HOPE consumers will react with efficient purchases. Artificially creating higher gas prices.
In the long run higher gas prices (this is inevitable) will be good at driving consumer change, but I'd like to see the politicians come out and say they WANT higher gas prices, and could care less about a pristine ANWR. Seems absurd watching Democrats complain about the high gas prices that they actually want, Gore just wishes he got 50cent a gallon of it to prevent hurricanes.
Last edited by worthywads; 05-02-2006 at 08:31 AM.
#14
Re: This Week's Time Article
Originally Posted by Delta Flyer
I've suggested this plan before. While it's probably political sucide, it's fair:
The reason this plan would not work politically is we have too many adults that act like babies that gotta have their candy.
- Add about $2 in taxes at the pump.<<
- Whatever that cost the average taxpayer annually, give them an annual rebate of that much.<<
- Give truckers, people with commercial licence a break on the taxes<<
The reason this plan would not work politically is we have too many adults that act like babies that gotta have their candy.
If I'm reading this right your saying for instance I burn 1000 gallons of gasoline in a year and therefore pay $2000 in gas tax, but I get that same $2000 back in tax returns? I don't see the incentive to use less gas unless I can't afford to wait and get my money back. The historic result would be higher deficits as the governement would spend that money it promised to give back as soon as it comes in.
#16
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
Originally Posted by worthywads
The Neon or Focus or Aveo only appeal to die-hard "buy america" folks, the majority of small car buyers went elsewhere years ago, never to return, doesn't matter if the domestic is excellent or not.
It had an allegedly 140hp engine, but I don't know where the power was going because it sure as hell couldn't get out of its own way, and the most I ever managed to squeeze out of it was 33mpg (with 31 being the norm). It was amazingly bad. Felt like I had bought something from the early 80's. (My '93 Probe had been near-perfect.)
American manufacturers still equate "small" with "cheap", and consequently so does the American public. That's a hurdle we'll have to overcome if we're ever gonna get people into efficient cars.
#17
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
Originally Posted by worthywads
What is the upside to a windfall tax?, higher gas prices?
Summer travel season is still 3 weeks away and gas prices are already climbing, and it's got people's attention.
Originally Posted by worthywads
Where is this stealing happening?
Originally Posted by worthywads
How have we been keeping gas prices low?
By law, oil companies are required to pay tax on the oil they extract from federally-owned land, if gas is above $55 per gallon. But we're not enforcing that. Yes, they're taking OUR oil, not paying us for it, then selling it to us for a huge markup.
How's that for keeping prices low?
#18
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
Iraq does NOT have the largest reserves. That would be Saudi Arabia. But Iraq's reserves are significant enough to make a difference in a world that currently has only about 2-3% (if memory serves) extra capacity versus demand.
#19
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
worthwads for some reason took a shot at public transportation, even though that was the furtherest thing on my mind as I was pointing out the whining guy that chose to drive in a 12mpg vehicle.
Lets go in the other direction - maybe hard right and turn all the public roads to private authorities. Would it save money? Would roads in remote areas be drivable? Should heavier vehicles pay more due to the wear and tear they put on the roads?
I'm at a loss to explain those that think large vehicles should not be charged more - that's the capitalist way.
Lets go in the other direction - maybe hard right and turn all the public roads to private authorities. Would it save money? Would roads in remote areas be drivable? Should heavier vehicles pay more due to the wear and tear they put on the roads?
I'm at a loss to explain those that think large vehicles should not be charged more - that's the capitalist way.
Last edited by Delta Flyer; 05-02-2006 at 12:21 PM.
#20
Re: Time: Pain at the Pump
I'll be traveling to Germany tomorrow, so I thought I'd check on gas prices there:
1 Gallon of premium gas will run you $6.35 right now.
I'm all in favor of high gas taxes and prices to promote conservation, and funneling that money into research and development of new technologies.
What boggles the mind is that even though on average in Germany people burn far less gas (more frugal cars, far more extensive use of publica transportation), there are still folks there that even at these astronomical prices, will buy big, guzzling beamers, mercs, and others.
1 Gallon of premium gas will run you $6.35 right now.
I'm all in favor of high gas taxes and prices to promote conservation, and funneling that money into research and development of new technologies.
What boggles the mind is that even though on average in Germany people burn far less gas (more frugal cars, far more extensive use of publica transportation), there are still folks there that even at these astronomical prices, will buy big, guzzling beamers, mercs, and others.