Raise the Gas Tax

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You haven't driven through NYC. They have potholes the size of Detroit.

LOL - so true

But then erekose already knows that if he works in Manhattan.

True enough. I wouldn't drive through Manhattan either.

[peejay 327]

I'll weigh in on this.

The sooner America gets its head out of the sand and breaks its addiction to millions of barrels of oil a day...the better off we will be in the long run.

Peak oil has been reached both domestically and from foreign supplies. We import more than half of our oil already. Continuing to build massive sprawling suburbs and plans to double immigration to push our country to 400+ million in another 40 years for Wall Street is national suicide. The era of cheap and plentiful oil is drawing to a close. Nobody wants to admit it though. America keeps on the same track as if it will never change.

There is no viable substitute for oil on the horizon and continuing to build our sprawling cities as if cheap plentiful oil will last forever is insanity. There also isn't a realistic long term energy strategy from the leadership in this country. They all hope they are out of office when the sh!t hits the fan.

Anyone that has lived through the oil shocks of the 1970's knows how precarious our country is. It ain't pretty and you ain't seen nothing yet. It's not if...but when it will happen.

If it takes a tax to wake up the masses...so be it.

tell dem peoplez not to buy gas guzzling vehicles.. lol, they crack me up.. the first to ###### and whine are the owners of big-### trucks, that aren't even needed for their intended use.. just for looks.. har har..

I've been working in the domestic oil industry half of my life. I'm just a grunt that works at the wellhead and know the smell of crude oil. Of course I'm no petroleum engineer, but I read trade journals. Even the learned experts are uncertain about peak oil. If we aren't there yet...it is coming soon. The more I read about it, the more it becomes disturbing to me. It isn't science fiction or conspiracy theory. I believe it is a valid concern that isn't being addressed on a national level by our government. If anyone doesn't believe oil drives foreign policy...look at the roots of our foreign policy in the parts of the world with significant oil.

Here is just one link I Googled up explaining peak oil and its consequences:

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

[john_and_marlene 162]

If you could somehow make the wealthiest Americans pay the extra tax on the gas that the lower income earners use, then you might have a plan.

How about slapping an extra tax on the sticker price of Escalades, Navigators, Hummers and the like....say like another 5 or 10 grand?

They already do that. Luxury tax of 8% on the value over $35,000.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You haven't driven through NYC. They have potholes the size of Detroit.

LOL - so true

But then erekose already knows that if he works in Manhattan.

True enough. I wouldn't drive through Manhattan either.

I almost always train to Manhattan. Why drive there at all, it's so unnecessary.

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

Doesn't make me want to ride a bike as much as go the other way... a tank.

careful, you're starting to sound like a republican

[Jasman0717 9]

Instead of a gas tax why don't they just put in a 'windfall profit' tax! Exxon just posted a 10 billion (yes billion with a B) profit for the last quarter. In 73 it was a sin to gough the public but in 2006 it seems to be an acceptable practice to completely screw the consumer. My rant!

[dani_christine 0]

the problem is, we'd see much more than an increase in prices at the pump. like it or not, when shipping costs go up (it costs a LOT to fill up those 18-wheelers!), the cost is offset by the companies by raising consumer prices. so in turn, we'll pay more for basics like milk and bread as well.

the answer is not to penalize the consumer by slapping on higher taxes...but rather, to encourage the development of higher fuel-efficiency vehicles (it CAN be done!) and to encourage the development of alternative fuels and mass transit systems.

where i live, mass transit isn't even an option. technically, i *could* ride the metro bus to work every day but the backwards route i'd have to take to get there would mean that it would take well over 2 hours and several transfers, just to travel the 7 miles to my workplace.

we have an initiative on our ballot in november for development of a light-rail system...it sounds promising, but i dunno.

if we could get the oil-lobby out of the back pockets of our congressmen (both dems and republicans), we might actually see some proactive legislation. it is TOTALLY possible to get higher MPG than we currently do...and maybe it's time that they legislated a mandate for auto manufacturers for higher minimum MPG's or something?

[Peikko 1,575]

To actually make a difference on this is virtually impossible because it entails a shift in thinking.

The US, and other western societies totally rely on a cheap supply of energy to run the consumer economy. To admit that there might be a problem is to admit that it might not be possible to endlessly make more. Can't see any politician jumping on that bandwagon any time soon.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I'd just be happy if they would actually use the money they do collect on gas and road tax went towards fixing the dreadful condition of the roads. Had to replace a headlight a few weeks back because the roads in NJ are so uneven and pot-holed that the vibration broke the filament.

I agree, Detroit has the worst roads I have ever been on. There is no accountability on these taxes.

True, even on stretches of I-75 and I-96--I've seen potholes one could simply put some boards over (and then live in).

You haven't driven through NYC. They have potholes the size of Detroit.

Yet another item on my list of "why I will never live/work in NYC".

[almaty 19]

You haven't driven through NYC. They have potholes the size of Detroit.

LOL - so true

But then erekose already knows that if he works in Manhattan.

True enough. I wouldn't drive through Manhattan either.

I almost always train to Manhattan. Why drive there at all, it's so unnecessary.

hmmmm....probably the way to go in a city the size of ny