The Oil Drum | The Case for Higher Gas Taxes (and Lower Income Taxes)

156 comments on The Case for Higher Gas Taxes (and Lower Income Taxes)

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steve from Virginia on December 15, 2008 - 11:08am

Here's hoping with a new administration, the response is a sincere "Yes we can!"

I wouldn't hold my breath.

"President-elect tells Americans 'help is on the way.'

He has called for lawmakers to come up with a package that invests in infrastructure, green energy and tax cuts for the middle class. Some have estimated the price tag could run between $500 billion and $700 billion.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/26/news/economy/Volcker/

The US will be assisting the domestic suto industry, not cutting its lifeblood:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13auto.html?_r=5&ref=business

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_oil_spill.html

Obama is on record supporting the auto industry.

Great idea, but it won't happen with this administration. Just more business as usual; meet the new boss, same as the old one.

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Spaceman on December 16, 2008 - 12:00am

Just more business as usual; meet the new boss, same as the old one.

It makes even less sense to expect changes in basic human behavior based on price alone.
Have you ever seen an obese person pass up a chance to pay more for a Big Mac or Whopper when they could have chosen a salad and paid less?
Fat chance!
Yet Robert expects a few dollars here and there will "discourage excessive consumption".
Just as an overweight person can only lose weight by reducing or rationing calories, our society will only make meaningful reductions in fuel consumption when fuel availability is restricted.

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156 comments on The Case for Higher Gas Taxes (and Lower Income Taxes)

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