This suggestion grows out of the excellent discussion generated by our good friend Joseph Meehan concerning fuel taxes. Docnick suggested that a gas guzzler tax should be created. But we already have one. It pertains to cars only. I propose that we write our legislators in DC and suggest that the gas guzzler tax be expanded to include SUVs and pickup trucks. The fare would be the same as cars, which goes from $1000 to $7700 per vehicle. If a large number of people contact their representatives, it might have the desired effect. I will contact Elijah Cummings, Barbara Mikulski, and Benjamin Cardin from Maryland. This is worth doing. I hope that you will join me. Let know if you will or won't and why. Your reasons are important.
OK, maybe I misunderstood. I agree that any tax increase would have to be gradual to reduce the impact on the poor and on the overall economy, I would only be in favor of a tax increase that took full effect over about a decade. I would rather see the cost of gasoline increase by $0.50 - 0.75 per year for 10 years than see it take a $2 or 3 jump all at once.
This I agree with...When it's slow it's far easier to adjust to. The all at once is causing major major problems for many of the working poor.
That's what Tom and Ray proposed. Let the public know that the gas price will be steep in the future, and put the increases on gradually. On top of the normal market increases expected, this will send a strong signal to new car buyers.
Just stuck my head inside a Toyota showroom. The majority of cars on the floor were small models; Yaris, Corolla, Marix. Last year it would have been trucks, Avalons amd SUVs, together with Camrys.
I also agree that a tax increase of $0.50 may be appropriate. What about the guzzler tax that will in no way affect the working poor? Someone who buys a new truck that averages 12 MPG would pay $7700 up front, but no one who bought the truck used would pay a tax. The $7700 is less than 2 year's gas in that big truck anyway. Which is preferable? A guzzler tax on all new vehicle or an across the board increase of 50 cents per gallon?
One thing they covered which I forgot about...Retirees. How are they suppose to cope with the increase in gas Tax??? Move to a high crime area in the city for cheaper rent?? Great solution...
"One thing they covered which I forgot about...Retirees. How are they suppose to cope with the increase in gas Tax???"
They're retired, where do they have to go? .... Just kidding.
I'm not saying the increase in energy cost is a good thing, just an inevitability. As always, the people with fixed incomes are going to get hosed, that will happen whether the cost increase is gradual (due to taxes) or not (due to the market). Personally, I just hope I never have to retire.
I didn't mean it was a financial burden, just that it would drive me crazy not to have work to do. At the moment, I'm between contracts for a couple of weeks and I'm going to start climbing the walls soon (I have plenty of non-work related things to do, but they aren't very interesting). IMHO, anyone who is looking forward to retirement has the wrong job.
I really should do something with that, it's wouldn't take very much to get it on the road but it will take a ton of work to really make it presentable. I'm almost afraid to start because I know it will turn into a giant project. I'm also a little concerned that I won't be able to keep my 17 year-old's hands off it.
"One thing they covered which I forgot about...Retirees. How are they suppose to cope with the increase in gas Tax?"
Any time a tax is increased, someone gets hosed. The guzzler tax would likely not affect retirees much. They don't have a long commute, or any commute at all if they are truly retired.
Any time a tax is increased, someone gets hosed. The guzzler tax would likely not affect retirees much. They don't have a long commute, or any commute at all if they are truly retired.
Depends on where you live. In the suburbs where you have to drive 5-10 miles to the store, or to church or to see the grand kids....
Not to mention the cost increase in everything else like groceries....Grocery stores aren't going to absorb that cost...they're going to pass it on to the consumer.
"Depends on where you live. In the suburbs where you have to drive 5-10 miles to the store, or to church or to see the grand kids....
Not to mention the cost increase in everything else like groceries....Grocery stores aren't going to absorb that cost...they're going to pass it on to the consumer."
That supposes a gasoline tax, not a gas guzzler tax expansion to include new trucks (only), which were not covered by the original gas guzzler tax. How does a gas guzzler tax of up to $7700 for any new vehicle have a substantial effect on how much someone drives or the price of groceries?
I don't want to give the government the authorization to levy any new tax.They have demonstrated ,over the years,the ability to abuse the distribution of so much money. I do believe in peaceful demonstration.The figures show that consumption has dropped 15% to20% from 1999 to 2005. This has had no affect on the market. I do believe that a nationwide strike against the petroleum industry would bring change. Once again I say if we all boycott ,buy no fuel, Memorial Day weeked ,and shut this country down for three days,think about our servicemen and why we actually go to war.Maybe spend some time finding new ways to get around that don't use massive amounts of petroleum.Every time you go to the pump,you ask for the abuse...
"I don't want to give the government the authorization to levy any new tax.They have demonstrated ,over the years,the ability to abuse the distribution of so much money."
The government in this case is all of us. Our representatives in DC enact laws that we either advocate or do not oppose too strenuously. In any case, I am not advocating new spending, just using an expanded tax (gas guzzler for trucks) to reduce the gap between current spending and income. The tax is also meant to make large new trucks less attractive by increasing their purchase price by about 10%. Our Senators and Congressmen want to do a good job. If you don't think that they are representing you well, drop them a line and provide a little coaching. They will respond to a plea for action if enough people tell them about it.
Agree with Craig; gasoline consumption in the US INCREASED by 16% over the last 10 years, according to a February 2008 article in Hydrocarbon Processing, the authoritative industry journal.
The 2008 consumption came to 9.3 mllion barrels/day. However, gasoline production probably dropped somewhat because the US imports 13% of its gasoline now. The reasons are refining capacity bottlenecks and overseas producers getting into the gasoline export business.
Ok. Let's look at this "fuel consumption" thing at little closer. My information on fuel consumption comes from State road taxes,paid by the store that sells the fuel. Recent figures show a substantial decrease in fuel consumption by the motoring public.The mass-transit buses today are standing room only 6 months ago the were almost empty. This is the only fuel consumption that I as a public citizen have any control. I'm not out to solve the worlds problems I'm just upset with the irrationaly high cost of fuel,as is 90% of America.
What state? I don't think that anyone near me drives less than they did. Personally, I drive more than I did last year and the previous 6 years before because of a change of projects at work. I don't see less traffic on the roads near me either.
....I'm just upset with the irrationaly high cost of fuel,as is 90% of America....
I'm not upset about that - I'm upset about the irrationally high PROFITS that the Oil companies are taking. I think fuel SHOULD cost $4 or $5 a gallon - but the "profit" part of that should go directly into public costs that are a direct result of the fuel use (bridge and road maintenance, pollution, etc). Put the money where we need it and not in the coffers of the Oil companies.
"I'm upset about the irrationally high PROFITS that the Oil companies are taking."
How do you know that they are irrationally high? No question, it is a lot of money. It seems to me that when profits are high, that is the time to build the business. Before you tell me that the oil business is just giving money to executives, consider that the managers are just a part of one constituency - there are three: owners, employees (including managers) and customers. If you don't like how much Exxon-Mobil makes, buy from another gas station. Maybe you do already.
