Let’s Raise Taxes on Gasoline
November 22nd, 2008 by RichRemember that bone-headed idea floated during the election season that both John McCain and Hilary Clinton floated, about removing the tax on gasoline when it spiked to $4 a gallon?
That idea would have caused gas prices to continue to rise (because demand wouldn’t have softened as much) while at the same time deprived America of much needed revenues to fix our failing infrastructure. Minnesota bridge collapse, anyone?
Well, here’s a wacky idea. Now that prices have plummeted to about $2 or less a gallon, let’s have a temporary tax increase on gasoline.
Please, hear me out.
First, I do mean temporary. We could tie it into the price of gasoline; let’s say the when the national average shoots up again to $3 (or whatever number we could agree upon) the tax goes away, or it could be more of a rolling target that abates as the average goes up.
In the meantime, we would get a surge of new revenues that should be split two ways. Half would go to rebuilding America’s infrastructure; that would lead to better, safer roads and bridges, while putting more people to work, and hopefully taking a nibble out of the depression unemployment numbers.
The other half would go to offset tax breaks on fuel efficient, American-built cars. I’m not talking about cars made by the big 3 necessarily, I’m talking about any car manufactured in the US by tax paying Americans. Toyota, Honda, or any “US” company as well.
It’s my strong belief that we need to get off of our addiction to foreign oil asap for the safety and security of our nation. It’s not (just) a tree-hugging idea; it’s a matter of national security. You don’t put the future of your energy needs in the hands of people who genuinely don’t like you.
OK, well, that’s my .02. Fire away.
Rich Brooks
Yes, I Realize the Hypocrisy That I Drive an SUV
Tags: Clinton, Gas Prices, Gas Tax, Infrastructure, McCain
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
Good idea Rich(partially) but not if its going to take the pressure and challenges off the leaders to keep reaching out and pushing-I suppose it would keep the pressure on the consumers which is good.
You know we all need big punches when we don’t take action and make big changes on our own. my .02
PS-wondering if Obama is excluded from needing pressure to be proactive.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Rich,
I’m not a fan of new taxes, which somehow never really go away. I strongly agree, however, with your point that we need to wean ourselves from our addiciton of foreign oil.
I’m a HUGE fan of the Pickens Plan (http://www.pickensplan.com) for one reason: T. Boone promotes America. By that, I mean his vision is for our country to develop and rely on ourselves for 75 percent (or more) of our energy needs and to do this within the next 10 years if not sooner.
His message is simple: Use energy resources that are cheap, clean, abundant and ours. If our nation followed his plan, thre would be plenty of new jobs created, and we would be further developing our infrastructure as we go. Even better, we would keep the $700 billion dollars (give or take, depending on the price of a barrel of oil) here in America rather than sending that money to “people who genuinely don’t like you.”
T. Boone has been refining this plan for 20 years, so the man has definitely done his research. And you’re right. The energy issue is tied strongly to our national security but also to our economy (rescue of the Big Three ring any bells?).
I’ve already let http://www.change.gov know my thoughts on this AND asked why Obama’s transition team isn’t bringing on board someone who lives, breathes and knows the energy issue backward and forward. This is not a political issue; it’s an energy crisis issue, and we need passionate, dedicated folks to solve the problem. Ok, now I’m done with soapbox!
As far as driving an SUV, yep, me, too. As an early adopter, though, I’ve checked into buying a vehicle that runs on compressed natural gas. That won’t be easy for me to operate, as only two locations offer natural gas for sale in my city. But we have to start somewhere.
Thanks for talking about this issue!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I think that’s a fabulous idea. But while you’re at it, why not make gas $5/gallon <–that’s the number that people believe will get people out of their cars.