Gore says tax pollution, not payrolls

Reuters ^ | 9/18/06 | Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

[Our man in washington]

Gore is proposing eliminating the income tax in favor of additional gas and/or oil taxes, then I'd say that is a tradeoff worth considering. The additional savings at the household level would more than compensate for the additional taxation at the pump, there would be strong incentives to become less oil dependent, and the administration of such a tax would be far less intrusive to individual liberties.

I agree with you. In my perfect world, though, I wouldn't make the tradeoff revenue neutral. I'd cut government spending a great deal so the tax on fuels wouldn't be too high.

I would cut government spending by getting rid of blatantly uncostitutional government functions and then laying off the least productive 25 percent of government employees (for starters.) I work for the Feds. I know of what I speak.

[Between the Lines]

The pollution tax would replace all payroll taxes, including those for Social Security and unemployment compensation, Gore said. He said the overall level of taxation, would remain the same.

"Instead of discouraging businesses from hiring more employees it would discourage business from producing more pollution," Gore said.

Is Gore admitting that income tax, Social Security and unemployment compensation are a burden to business and increase unemployment?