gas tax!

[CaTeacher]

Kerry voted for a 50 cent per gallon gas tax in Massachusetts! I am so pleased to hear this!

A large gas tax has always been my favorite solution for getting folks out of their gas-guzzling SUVs and on into public transport--or even better--walking or bicycling which would be heart healthy as well as fuel efficient. As many of you know, I bicycle 6 miles per day (round trip) to work--when the weather is bad, I ride the bus.

Hopefully when Kerry is president--such a gas tax will be passed on the national level! We could completely change how people think about transportation in this country! These ARE the best reasons to support a Kerry presidency! Kerry cares about the environment. This kind of policy will reduce fuel use--thus limiting our dependency on the cruel Saudi Arabian theocracy. If we use less fuel, there will be no need to shed blood for oil, or to drill in our pristine wilderness areas!

I love John Kerry!!!!

[strategery blunder]

1. Umm...campaign reality...now is not the time to advertise this!

Higher gas taxes would turn LOTS of people against Kerry. While both of us support the concept, I am afraid that there are enough SUV owners out there to turn the election to bu$h*co's favor if Kerry proposes this. Gas taxes are a LOSING ISSUE for Dems.:evilfrown:

Let's worry about this AFTER we kick the cabal back to Connecticut.:)

[CaTeacher]

2. Oh I agree that he should not

use this as a campaign issue (too many SUV driving gas hogs would vote against him).

But--hopefully once he gets in office--we can get somthing like this passed! Obviously he supports the concept...lets not only get him in--but also GIVE HIM A CONGRESS so that we can really get some GOOD legislation passed and turn this country around!!!

[HFishbine]

4. To what end

I've noticed you're a big advocate of more and more taxation. Two questions:

1) Do you think a gas tax is regressive?
2) Where would you direct the funds from a 50 cent increase on federal gas taxes?

[CaTeacher]

9. It is a regressive tax--

HOWEVER--most people will be able to figure out ways to control or limit their consumption. Perhaps they can do less driving, perhaps they will use mass transit, perhaps they can carpool, perhaps they will buy a more fuel efficient vehicle--or one that uses an alternate fuel source. People have options--and the tax would eventually be a benefit to all.

I would use the money to fund more public transport--and to give incentives to people who purchase alternative energy vehicles. (ultimately this would also be a big benefit to environmental causes--even though the money would not go to them directly in the short term).

Yes--I support taxes--because I support a strong government--and levying taxes is how the government takes in money to provide programs--and also hopefully to pay down the federal debt.

[bryant69]

3. I hate to say I think this is rightt

Think of California for example; big loosing issue there, and as I recall, California has a lot of electoral votes.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[shraby]

5. I think if you'll check

it was an idea that was floated years ago and never became a bill or voted on.

[Warpy]

6. It was apprpriate in Massachusetts, where there is public transit

in many areas and commuting distances aren't enormous. It would be a killer in most parts of the country, where suburban sprawl makes an hour or two commute to and from work more the norm than the exception. It would be a killer nationally, where it would drive up the cost of every item that is shipped by long distance trucking, which means just about everything, period.

Yes, increased taxes and increased prices will encourage conservation. No, it's not a winner of an issue right now.

[ComerPerro]

19. Exactly

[Cleita]

7. Well, it could hurt senior citizens like my husband and I.

My husband couldn't use public transportation or ride a bicycle, since he is barely able to walk from the bedroom to the bathroom. Also, the closest bus stop to us is three miles away.

I agree about the SUVs, but I think a high license fee for these gas guzzlers would accomplish the same thing. If it isn't needed for work or towing, it would inspire people to think small in buying an automobile.

[papau]

8. Just more Bull shit - NO, NO, NO - Kerry did not vote for a $0.50 gas tax.

As part of the FEDERAL 1994 deficit reduction discussions Someone else suggested a Federal gas tax hike of 50 cents (the gas tax was raised by 4 cents at that time as I recall). Kerry was asked in a newspaper interview if he rejected the idea being proposed - the 50 cents gas tax increase - and he said no - he did not reject it and it should be looked at along with all the other possible actions. He rejected the idea a few days later.

There was never even a Federal bill introduced for a 50 cent gas tax.

So what the GOP hang there hat on is an interview comment that did not reject out of hand a gas tax increase that was not even in bill form at that time and never made it to bill form.

So now it is Kerry as Lt. Gov in Mass - a position that has no legislative vote - voted for a 50 cent gas tax? - and we have never had such a proposal in Mass - so the GOP can not find even an interview about a possible bill about a possible bill with respect to a Mass. gas tax increase. Folks - the GOP lies!

LOL

But God, these folks are poor liars.

But then I do expect to see this om the broadcast media news tonight - because our media checks nothing that might harm a Dem - indeed as we have seen, lies and smears are treated as possible truth if they are smearing a Dem.

[CaTeacher]

10. well--that is disappointing to hear.

I have advocated for such a tax for many years, so I was quite excited to hear that Kerry had supported such an idea. I think that such a tax would be welcomed by younger, more environmentally conscience voters--such as the Nader supporters.

I do agree that it should not be used as a campaign issue. But--I would personally love to see something like this proposed by President Kerry in his first hundred days.

[papau]

11. Bob Reich was the economist that suggested the tax at the time - and he

still supports the idea.

And indeed it makes alot of sense

except the red (rather empty?) states where it is an hour between towns need a break - and a gas tax hits them hard.

[CaTeacher]

13. Maybe what they need is a good

system of trains that link the small towns. Nice, fast commuter trains like they have in Japan and Europe that would connect lots of the towns....

[PatriotGames]

12. Your nuts if you think John Q. is going for that. IMO n/t

[papau]

14. Which is why it has never made it to bill form - never been proposed -

by either GOP or Dem.

[PatriotGames]

15. I completely agree. But maybe the vehicle manufacturers should

have some serious pressure on them to come up with mor economical cars. Why should we, the comsumer, have to pay for corporate laziness. Just my opinion.

[MadHound]

16. And unleash rampant inflation on the poor and those on fixed income?

Not a smart move. Rather than take the stick approach to reducing our dependence on fossil fuel, why not dangle the carrot in the form of tax credits, etc for those who conserve fuel, buy alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles, etc.

Imposing a large gas tax would drive up the price of everything, food, clothes, heating, etc, for virtually everything in this country is transported by trucks, and they will simply pass that tax on to the consumer. Those in the upper income brackets might bitch about it, but they won't be hurt enough to change their habits. The ones you will be hurting will be the poor, elderly, disabled, and middle class families, those who can least afford it. How is a person making minimum wage, living in a large, pedestrian unfriendly city supposed to come up with the bucks to afford a pricey hybrid? How is somebody going to commute into the city when there is no mass transit where they live?

Rather offer incentives to change. Something a middle class family can do on a budget, something that somebody who is poor can afford. Whacking people indiscriminately with a huge tax increase only causes hardships for those already strapped, and leaving the economy in shambles.

[PatriotGames]

17. Exactly. The wealthy wouldn't really be impacted by it, but poor to

middle class families will again, pick up the burden.

[Cleita]

20. Thank you for this.

Consumption taxes of any sort hurt the poor and do nothing to deter those who can afford them.

[Xithras]

18. It'll never happen

1) More than half of our population lives in areas with NO meaningful mass transit, so raising the price of fuel will have little effect on their consumption.

2) Freight transporters, railroads, and farmers use substantial amounts of fuel in their daily business, amounts which typically cannot be reduced. They would simply pass on this price increase, meaning that you'll end up paying more for everything from toilet paper to fresh vegetables WITHOUT seeing any reduction in fuel usage or pollution...it's a regressive tax with no upside.

A 50 cent national fuel tax may succeed in getting some SUV drivers out of their cars (eliminating the SUV tax writeoff would work even better), but without a viable alternative it would be an economic disaster for most of the nations poor, working, and middle classes (the wealthy wouldn't even blink at a 50 cent per gallon tax).

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Something like this ought to be done

and a gas tax is the logical way to do it - discourage the production of carbon dioxide, rather than try to change taxes based on car size (if you've got an SUV that get 15 miles to the gallon, but you only use it half as much because you cycle where you can, why should you pay more than someone who gets 30 miles to the gallon?)

It's obvious that the USA needs something like this - I've only ever heard the phrase 'summer driving season' in conjunction with America. Driving shouldn't be a pass-time. Jet fuel should be taxed too.

Since it is a regressive tax, the only way to implement it is to cut another regressive tax; federally, only the payroll tax seems to fit the bill (unless someone else can suggest something?) For states, they could cut general sales taxes.

Eventually, some politician will manage to convince the American electorate it's needed. If not, then kiss Florida and other low-lying areas goodbye.