Federal Government Considering Fuel Tax Increase

[RH77]

I heard on NPR this morning that the Federal Government is considering a fuel-tax increase, that would take effect over the next few years and effectively add 40-cents to the exisiting tax issued.

This is on the heels of the latest report of the Minneapolis bridge collapse: our infrastructure is aging, is in trouble, and needs funding to repair, upgrade, or rebuild. With this I agree -- we have a huge transportation system that needs cash to stay "up-to-speed" -- but where should the money come from?

I've added a poll to get your thoughts on the subject (everyone loves polls, right? I know I do...)

My commentary. I strongly oppose the tax because it unfairly taxes everyone, regardless of income. The rationale is that it will cut back on frivolous driving while gaining valuable income for the Federal repair initiative. I think it's going hit America in the wallet, and further drive our economy into a state of distrust. Consumer confidence is running low, Diesel prices are way up -- meaning the truck owner/company that transports (well, basically nearly all products we buy) is either raising transport costs, or eating it to survive. For truckers who own/operate their rigs, this is a huge hit.

Let's see -- who has the money? Oh yeah, the Oil Companies! Let's kick the special interests in the bum and make the oil companies make up the difference. As we learned in the late 19th/early 20th Centuries, anti-trust laws protected consumers and kept the power of large corporations at bay. Let's bring that back.

It's election time folks. Contact your Congressional Reps -- both State and Federal. They tend to listen during this time.

In the essence of Democracy, cast your vote for the solution. If you're familiar with my previous polls in other locales, if you vote "I dunno", I ask that you offer-up a another option.

RH77

[SVOboy]

Yay for taxes,

[WaxyChicken]

Only Hummers use more gas than me but i say GO FOR IT.
I would love nothing more than to see big oil go belly up. So i hope it's a huge tax. like $10,000/Gal.

but then, that's just me.
AND close the damn oil tax loops they were granted.

[SVOboy]

Indeed, I would vote really for some combination of the first two. Certainly, raising gas taxes is the only was that consumers will make a direct connection between fuel use and cost (resulting in lower use), but I also believe a nice nationalized oil company would be a good thing. If oil it going to result in billions of dollars of revenue, better to have to going into environmental or infrastuctural programs than into someone's private jet or prostitute account.

[WaxyChicken]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

... or prostitute account.

[Who]

How about all of the states do it instead? It kind of keeps truer to the whole union thing your founding fathers had in mind.

[DifferentPointofView]

Well, time to move out of the trailer and into the Jeep. If gas goes up 40 cents, and continues climbing, I'm leaving the US and living out of my Jeep. That way when our next president accidentally kills us all, I'll be nowhere to be found.

I say, let those damn oil companies pay for it. Your taking enough of my money as it is, and if you wanna take me down and swim in money, I'm taking you all with me!

It wouldn't be so bad if they had to pay 35 cents and me 5. but freaking 40 cents!? 23 gallons times 40.9 cents= about $9.41 more per tank than I'm already paying every 2 weeks!! on top of about $70 a tank to almost 80 is almost 250 more dollars a year! And they will still rake in the cash.

Well there's my view. whew, that felt good.

[JerkOfAllTrades]

I have to vote no.
After all it costs me $40 to fill my tank now, and I own a Honda!

[Peakster]

The United States' Interstate highway system (in my opinion) has been so highly subsidized that I'm completely uncertain as to whether its maintenance is sustainable in the long run. Making a 40 cent tax will just cause people to drive less, or choose a more fuel efficient car. Both of those outcomes are good for fuel consumption, but they do nothing for the sole purpose of maintaining roads that need maintenance whether 10,000 Geo Metros or 10,000 Lincoln Town Cars use it.

I believe certain provinces in Canada will come up with the same financial problem.

[cfg83]

Hello -

I voted yes because the infrastructure collapse is 20 years in the making. In my opinion, the only reason the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Nissan Versa are being sold in the USA is because of higher gas prices.

It's sad to say, but I think Americans won't make the switch to high MPG cars without high gas prices, .

CarloSW2