Posted on 11/27/2004 10:07:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
So many ideas; so little thought. I refer to that geyser of public policy wisdom known as Sacramento, from which the latest nostrum is the replacement of the per-gallon gasoline tax with a tax on miles driven, the latter to be monitored with a tracking device placed in autos.
This proposal is misguided economically and dangerous politically.
The economic idea is that the tax shift would raise additional revenues for road construction and maintenance, although that depends heavily on the magnitude of the new mileage tax and the ensuing responses of drivers.
More important, there is no guarantee that any additional revenues in fact would be spent on roads; Sacramento has circumvented the existing requirement that the revenues from the sales tax on gasoline be spent on roads by borrowing the funds and spending them on non-road programs. This practice did not end with the arrival of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and given the looming deficits of $7 billion and counting, it is likely to continue. Accordingly, the mileage tax "for roads" likely would become a general-fund revenue source.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Good thing my electric hybrid gets such great gas mileage so I can pay more taxes on even less gas! ;^)
Yeah, another tax. That should fix all the problems.
Better mileage, less fuel consumption, less money for the gummint to waste.......the answer is TAXES TAXES TAXES
Big Brother could care less about the tax. They already get money through the gas tax. It's mainly a way for them to track our every move and then punish certain driving and other behaviors with increased taxes and fines, or even criminal prosecution.
The government will use it to monitor our commute habits, driving speed, parking locations, meetings we attend, who our friends our, what bar we attend, etc, etc.
It is one of the most significant threats to freedom ever proposed in this country and must be fought tooth and nail.
California....what a cool place to live!
The fees to hitch a ride north from the boarder up into central and northern California will certainly triple once the tax is imposed.
Corrected: California....what a cool place to leave!
Isn't why more people are leaving California for Nevada or Utah?
Our ancestors really let us down when, in the name of public safety, relegated a "right" to travel on publicly funded roads to a "privilege" to travel on publicly funded roads.
Driver's license requirements, mandatory insurance, blood alcohol content, check points by police, all have quietly and effectively diminished a right so it was only a matter of time before the state wishes to monitor your every move for the sake of revenue or any other reason.
Again, that is what happens when rights become privileges.
It's a very bad idea...government inhibiting and interfering with the free movement of citizens in a "free" country.
So of the 3 businesses I own here in Ca and fleet of about 150 vehicles ------ lets see how much that would cost ME ---- I mean my customers.
Oh and I live in El Dorado County where more than 50% of the jobs here are NOT from the private sector but Government ---- let's see the Governments share would be ----- ?
Ecactly! That is the thinking of the liberal left.
My geographical area can sometimes be dry, we have to drastically conserve water, one year we did such a good job, the water rates were raised because the revenue was less due to compliance....
Not sure how factual it was, but I did read that in NYC every time the tax on cigarettes was raised, the less total revenue the city collected.
Duh, let's see...
First we pay tax on every gallon of gas we purchase "to pay for new roads and reconstruction".
Then we pay permit fees, including road fees, for new developments (causes more traffic, you know).
Now, they want us to tell them each mile we drive, so that they can tax us on the mileage.
Next, they will know the mileage on the engine, so they can tell us when to change it (like the Japanese). Or, they could tell us when we need new tires... or an oil change...
Hmmmm. Sounds OK to me!!!!!!! NOOOOOOTTTTTTT!
Then the folks that overused their water and were fined, had those fines forgiven and the people who lost their lawns, etc. were the ones who suffered.
John Galt, where are you!
It's a lot less intrusive and should appeal more to the eco-weenies.
SO9
so goes california, so goes the nation.
Don't forget the 18 cent tax we pay on a gallon of gas here is TAXED by the State sales tax. Where does it say we can be taxed on our TAXES??? I wish someone could get to the bottom of this.
Plus with the cost of gas going up 50% in the last year, where is all the extra sales tax money going???
To fix the roads or in some Pol's pocket?
A majority of the stupid voters in my area approved a bill to raise the sales tax in this county by 1/4%. To pay for bike paths, railroads and roads...guess what will come last?
The last time a tax hike was on the ballot to widen Hwy 101 it was defeated. Guess what, they had the money already and widened the road.
Our Federal Tax (18 cents per gallon) goes to Washington and never comes back.
About 800,000 per year. Now, mind you, that's generally people with jobs, so in a few years you're going to see a state that will literally collapse under it's own socialist weight and cry for bailouts from the rest of us. They're supporting half of Mexico.
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