Posted on 11/25/2018 6:13:24 AM PST by Kaslin
The Democrats are attempting to con President Trump into a decision that could end his bid for re-election.
It’s a horrible idea!
The main reason you know it’s a horrible idea is that you are the one they are expecting to pay for it. And when’s the last time that Democrats ever forced you to pay for something you actually wanted?
Through politispeak-gobbledygook they have whispered to one another that they can convince President Trump to deliver them a multi-fold win—and, they think to themselves—we can crucify his re-election chances in 2020.
They are not wrong.
What they are seeking is to exploit the President’s campaign language of “addressing infrastructure” to convince him to install a national gasoline tax that would have you paying .30 cents a gallon to the coffers of Swampville (the federal government.)
“Just think of all the projects we could accomplish,” they rehearse to themselves as though they are whispering in his ear. “He’s such a savvy deal-maker—we’ll have him bite, and voila, we get the money—and—we can pummel him in 2020.”
And they would.
They will attempt to sell it to Trump as a way to “build bipartisanship” and to simultaneously “keep an oft-discussed promise from his campaign.”
They do so knowing they will gain an upper hand that here-to-date they have been unable to get hold of.
Here’s some of the basic reasons Trump should decline their advances:
It disproportionately hurts his most valuable voters. Without question the Democrats are going to make a tough play for the rust belt in 2020. A consumption tax on gasoline will hardly impact urban commuters who are increasingly moving towards public transportation and already occupy blue strongholds. Rust belters drive. Some of them many miles a day to and from their jobs. And no matter how much their living standard may have improved .30 cents per gallon at the pump is a significant chunk of their hard earned raises, savings, and work. One estimate puts it at $405 per month per driver. (Obviously depending on average miles.) If the average factory worker and family just got their touted $2000 per year raise (crumbs to Nancy Pelosi), the gas tax wipes that out in less than half the year.
There is little guarantee that “infrastructure” ever sees a dime. In so many instances where government set asides are supposedly funded via taxes, why is it that so few of them ever make it to their ultimate destination. Taxes on gambling earnings have been promised to improve every state education system that has ever adopted them. Sadly many schools in those same locales consistently end up with worse educational experiences and the complaint by the teachers is always insufficient resources. Another tax, this time on something as vital as personal transportation isn’t something indulgent like gambling, it’s a hard need, and for the middle class more expensive than ever.
Republicans in Congress won’t necessarily help. Over the past week I’ve had opportunity to interact with a couple of elected Republicans — both in Congress. Both shook their head and agreed with my original sentiment that this tax will be seen as a betrayal of the Trump administration to the American voter. Then both went on to whisper under their breath, “but if we get infrastructure done, then we can claim we worked together with the other party.” The blank stare on my face in both conversations may have indicated what an idiotic “swampy” idea I believed their sell-out concession to be. If infrastructure is a priority to your district help Congress prioritize its values and get rid of waste, fraud, and useless spending. Since the feds reported record tax receipts for 2018 (as I predicted they would) there is proof that cutting taxes creates Government revenue. The real problem is spending. So spend wisely, make great choices, and don’t raise taxes.
Democrats don’t just want the tax, they want to take down Trump. Mr. President not a single one of your voters voted for you to raise a tax, to institute a tax, to invent a tax, or to justify a new tax. Your voters supported you—and I proudly among them—because your message that the swamp’s days were over represented economic renewal. To place taxes on a gallon of gas at .30 cents per gallon would be seen as a betrayal of that economic inspiration. The Democrats know this. They know it gives them something to pin on you, that they can then use to poke a whole in the rising balloon of making America great again. Such a tax will discourage your most ardent supporters—one’s in the rust belt that are hard earned for republicans to begin with. There is little need, zero actually, to push them away. It plays into Nancy Pelosi’s deviousness unnecessarily.
The Democrats will have taken 40 seats when the 2018 tallies are totaled. The map is even less friendly for the President’s allies in 2020. The way white hot economic growth begins to slow, before it begins to halt is for government to intrude in ways that hurt the voter.
A national gas tax of near .30 cents per gallon is the economic equivalent to the Obamacare mandate. In dollars in fact it comes very close to the same increases.
A national gas tax would have a similar devastating impact on the individual, small business, the entrepreneur, and the CEO.
I honestly believe that President Trump is savvy enough to see this coming. My earnest hope is that when the jedi-minding-vipers come to talk smooth words in hopes of getting their way, that President Trump just smiles and remembers, “These people are all about themselves...”
“And I’m here to put America first!”
The ploy worked for them with daddy "Read my lips: no new taxes" Bush back in 1990.
Bush made the campaign promise "No New Taxes" then broke it when he agreed to a compromise budget with the democrat senate that included tax increases.
That turned him into a one term president.
Is the proposed tax 30 cents per gallon or 0.3 cents (1 penny per 3 gallons)?
” And no matter how much their living standard may have improved .30 cents per gallon at the pump is a significant chunk of their hard earned raises, savings, and work. One estimate puts it at $405 per month per driver.”
I am dead set against any additional federal tax on anything, especially gasoline but, having said that, the person who came up with that $405. a month for a thirty cents per gallon tax needs to sober up and take some math lessons. That would be 1500 gallons of gasoline per month. My wife and I don’t use anywhere near that for an F-150, a Mercury Marquis, a lawn mower, a Terramite, chain saw, leaf blower, string trimmer and a tractor. You would have to drive all day, every day, all week, every week in a vehicle with very poor gas miieage.
Your wrong. They do affect you even with out a car. Everything is delivered with gas or diesel.
If the cost of moving products goes up, the cost of said product goes with it.
How about we put an end to the endless and senseless wars in the ME and use that money for infrastructure?
How about slapping taxes/fees on money that illegals wire back to their native country?
Did you sleep through Econ 101?
************
Econ 101 — the Milton Friedman version — suggests that users should pay for roads and bridges — so that the money saved from ending wars can be broadly distributed via tax cuts.
Taxing illegals is a great idea, but I’d like to share in the benefits if I don’t drive a car or own trucks.
This just another example that shows foreign money/influence is more powerful than the influence of the Americn voter.
It’s 14 cents per gallon in two stages on top of 25% increase in market fuel price.
Right.
Wrong.
I guess you did sleep.
Yep. Everything would be affected. Everything.
[Im personally car free so new gas taxes wouldn’t affect me but they would affect everyone who drives for a living.]
Indirectly it would but I see your point.
If the President approves this, he cannot rightly complain about interest rates inching up.
Thirty cents/gallon plus what the states tack on (you know they will not let the opportunity get by), will slow the economy down just as much as higher rates.
Well said in eight words...
I don't think the dimwits who about to run the House actually think Trump will sign off on this idoit idea, it's a trial balloon to develop a 2020 campaign to see what sticks as a workable talking point.
Look for several more to pop up.
The heads of Global Warming nuts must be exploding every time they fill up their Hummers with all this cheap gas ,LOL
The article uses “.30 cents per gallon” repeatedly, which is confusing. The zero makes it seem like 30 cents, but the decimal should mean 3/10 of a cent.
Really? Another devious Democrat plot......Yawn.
Democrats have blithely abandoned their role in the two-party system of checks and balances.
They have morphed into an invading army......trailed by a bunch of camp followers.
Are they that stupid? Didnt learn from Hillary's defeat?
Let's hope they continue on their vengeful course ....b/c we, the deplorables, are taking note.
All of their machinations against Trump are a slap in the face to voters.
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As FReeper KNARF insightfully posted:
Democrats have not acted as a political arm in a long time.
All we, the people, get subjected to is gauntlet after gauntlet thrown down.
Dems have morphed into an aggressive army challenging a peaceful nation....a nation they despise.
Forget about Democrats and forget about Trump. What incentive does the GOP-controlled Senate have to support such a tax hike?
I’m all in for a gas tax, as long as it’s voluntary.
Look at Paris. Even the French don’t like the gas tax.
Think of all the projects they could accomplish if they cut social spending.
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