$6 Gas; what's your guess?

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by BigV

plt--

don't you think you're already there? If you're driving so much, you're buying more fuel, and paying more in gas taxes. In my mind, this would be an effort to fund the expense of the investment in our roads with taxes that are paid by the people who use the roads. No driving, no wear and tear, no taxes. More driving, more wear and tear, more taxes. There's an effort to do that already with a tax on fuel. More efficient cars use less, and are taxed proportionally less, and vice versa. I think this would be another way to 'PAYGO', so to speak.

I believe it would have to be introduced with a corresponding reduction in the taxes on fuel, and NOT merely an additional tax.

On the surface, this seems fair. But let's look deeper, shall we?

Communities, societies, the people within, pay all sorts of taxes that for things that keep that community running.

For instance, I don't have kids in school. Does that mean I don't pay school taxes? No, it does not. And I think I SHOULD pay school taxes, being a part of a community. (This was just my handiest example, disclaimering being I want to see the youth of the society have a chance to succeed and good schools can do that.)

We pay taxes to keep police and fire services. I don't often use the police or fire, but I damn sure don't mind paying the taxes, as part of the community, for if I ever do need them, or family needs them, or a neighbor or a friend. Police use the roads. See what I'm getting at? It's all kind of intermingled.

What a funny country. There's a predominant attitude of: I got mine you get yours. I made a transition to try to get mine, or more of mine than I was getting, and I get a funny feeling that now I am penalized for daring to not work across the street.

And if I hear the old arguments...1) Well just MOVE or 2) other countries pay so much MORE...I might wail and gnash my teeth. Moving isn't a viable option in many cases. And I live here, where we have the public transportation options you can fit on the head of a pin, or on a pinhead. I could move into the city...THEN I'll get to use the police department a LOT.

Finally, do you really think that some of the folks who have finally found a job after being unemployed for so long can just run out and buy a hybrid? Easy to sit on the sideline and say "well, it would be BEST if you..." but none of that is helpful if the ideas aren't viable. In real life, not fantasy (this is how it should be) land.