both TonyRo76 and LasVegasDave.
Posted on 01/24/2009 11:35:34 AM PST by Born In America
Imagine being taxed on the number of miles you drive instead of the amount of gasoline you buy.
Oregon has tried it. North Carolina is thinking about it, and Ohio is exploring an idea to replace or supplement the state's existing fuel tax with a vehicle miles tax.
The Vehicle Miles of Travel tax is being hailed as an innovative way to generate transportation revenue by states that have seen gasoline tax dollars stagnate because of people driving less and cars becoming more fuel efficient.
A task force that studied Ohio's transportation needs said that a mileage tax has the potential to raise revenue and that the state should look into the idea.
"Most people on the task force agreed that we need to invest more in our infrastructure, but if you want to do that, how do you raise funds in a fair and equitable way?" said David Beach, who was on the state panel. "With new technology, it becomes feasible to have different ways to collect taxes."
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.cleveland.com ...
Seems like this would appeal to the tax hungary beurocrats. From smart meters controlling our thermostats to internal mileage counters, this is two of the three legs of energy discussed by 0dumbo. The third, eating will one day have an agent of the government present at all meals....
I hope people are lovin’ that change by now.........
What BS. If people are indeed driving less, then this won't have much impact at all. This is nothing but a way to generate tax money when we're all driving cars that get 100 mpg and run on water.
Stupid, ridiculous idea!
How much will it cost and how many cost overruns will there be to implement this?
Much simpler way: decide how much money you need. Divide by the number of gals of gas sold last year. Raise the gas tax by this amount. DONE. No need for infrastructure (GPS units, etc) or extra bureaucrats.
The biggest problem is that the taxtards underestimate american ingenuity. We know how to carpool. When gas went to $4/gallon, I quit driving on the weekends unless it’s raining. I chose to live within walking distances of a grocery store, post office, library, church etc. years ago, but didn’t get militant until last summer. Using my odemeter, I know, by miles, the shortest way to work. I want to know the next alternative when this doesn’t work well.
Interesting as this would punish the lower income folk who have to commute to their jobs, because in order to afford housing, they need to live a good distance from the metro area (if a city has mass transit, that’s one thing, but many cities don’t.)
When we were in Charlotte, we lived near my husband’s work which was in an upscale area...very pricey, but we didn’t buy, just rented, as we were only planning on being there a short time. Most of his co-workers traveled a good distance to work because they lived in SC, or other areas south of downtown Charlotte in order to afford housing.
This would hit those least able to afford it (in some areas)...isn’t that against the Democratic ideals. /sarc
So now I’m going to have to learn how to unhook my odometer, Is that what you’re telling me?
They will never curtail giving tax money to all the worthless social programs because it buys them the votes to keep them in power so they will just punish the working people by not only charging gas taxes but also mileage taxes.
As far as eating I see the Government, after establishing universal health care, using a credit card type system to give to every individual or household with a monthly allotment of different types and quantities of food stuffs and when you go shopping food purchases will only be allowed using the cards and then each food type and quantity can be allowed or denied using the card's information.
I believe thermostats that are connected to the Internet and thus to Big Brother will be forced on us in the next four years.
Dawn53,
You are correct. These taxes will hurt the working poor the most. I know construction workers who can drive any where between one and 50 miles to get to a site. Their workplace isn’t fixed. The further away they go, the more they get hurt.
This will probably end up like most rules set by liberals. They will add exceptions/waivers/increased deductions on income taxes that will make it haphazardly enforced and not very effective at all.
That or learn to use the reverse gear in you auto to go forward....
Sorry but you're going to have to stop at the pedometer checkpoint where a nice non-Engrish speaking person (most likely Kenyan) will write down your mileage, then you will get a bill for the miles you would have driven if you hadn't been walking. You will however get a tax credit for your walking miles because it will put you in a lower risk bracket for the new socialized health care. If you can prove you don't smoke, drink, eat transfats or own a gun (which raises your risk of comitting suicide or just injuring your fool self) then those are additional health tax credits which will, hopefully, offset your vehicle-mileage-that-you-didn't-have-but-should-have tax.
See? There's something for all of us! :-) /s
The best way to avoid this tax would be to move away.
The state is being run for the government, not the people.
This will do wonders for your base in a large commuter state like california. Does anyone know really know if this guys name isn’t Richard Head?
This is just an excuse to fill the general fund.
If less people are driving, there is less wear and tear on the roads to some degree. Road surface wear and bridge fatigue should drop some for example.
Here’s a novel idea, Ohio... Cut the government fraud and waste and build the roads right in the first place. There should be ample tax money left for roads after a house cleaning.
Now, what about those days I telecommute?
That is a whole different animal. That will fall under the Internet Usage tax.
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