Comments on: An Argument for a Gas Tax http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-351 Brian Kirwin Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:08:40 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-351 Henry solved the problem! Since Republicans think tax cuts stimulate growth, the absence of taxes on government encourage more government growth! No wonder government keeps getting bigger! Government is one big enterprise zone. Henry solved the problem! Since Republicans think tax cuts stimulate growth, the absence of taxes on government encourage more government growth! No wonder government keeps getting bigger! Government is one big enterprise zone.

]]> By: Henry Ryto http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-346 Henry Ryto Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:22:14 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-346 Reid, Name one government agency that pays taxes, Please. :) Reid,

Name one government agency that pays taxes, Please. :)

]]> By: Reid Greenmun http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-337 Reid Greenmun Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:59:05 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-337 Henry, If HRT isn't paying their $0.17.5 cents per gallon state tax for the gas they buy then that money is not being collected by the state and thus the state is forced to raise taxes on everyone else to cover the short fall - so yes, the taxpayers of all of Virignia are subsidizing HRT's gas. Henry,

If HRT isn’t paying their $0.17.5 cents per gallon state tax for the gas they buy then that money is not being collected by the state and thus the state is forced to raise taxes on everyone else to cover the short fall – so yes, the taxpayers of all of Virignia are subsidizing HRT’s gas.

]]> By: Jeremy Hinton http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-333 Jeremy Hinton Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:27:10 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-333 Wally - gas tax is an existing revenue stream. Besides, the idea of simply restraining growth to match pre-existing revenue streams is overly simplistic, and only works under the assumption that govt spending starts with a "clean slate" of income/liabaility each fiscal calendar. Transportation is a perfect example of how unrealistic that is. Maintenance of existing transportation infrastructure is an outlay somewhat out of the control of the govt, yet is a significant financial liability. If the cost of maintaining existing infrastructure (not even counting new projects) escalates due to market factors, isn't it better for the govt to try and increase/stabilize the revenue stream to to meet future expected liabilities? Or should they just be constrained by out-of-date revenue formulas (relative to the changing market factors impacting their liabilities) and just start to abandon infrastructure? Sure, you can shuffle money around (and yes, in our budget case that still can likely be done), but that has its own issues. Wally – gas tax is an existing revenue stream. Besides, the idea of simply restraining growth to match pre-existing revenue streams is overly simplistic, and only works under the assumption that govt spending starts with a “clean slate” of income/liabaility each fiscal calendar. Transportation is a perfect example of how unrealistic that is. Maintenance of existing transportation infrastructure is an outlay somewhat out of the control of the govt, yet is a significant financial liability. If the cost of maintaining existing infrastructure (not even counting new projects) escalates due to market factors, isn’t it better for the govt to try and increase/stabilize the revenue stream to to meet future expected liabilities? Or should they just be constrained by out-of-date revenue formulas (relative to the changing market factors impacting their liabilities) and just start to abandon infrastructure? Sure, you can shuffle money around (and yes, in our budget case that still can likely be done), but that has its own issues.

]]> By: Wally http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-331 Wally Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:16:16 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-331 Brian - a nickel or dime a gallon isn’t going to “put everyone in the poor house.” That’s relative, isn’t it? At what point is that nickel or dime the breakpoint of one's disposable portion of a dollar that it tips the scales of household solvency? Your statement reflects that households should be willing to decrement their budgets to satisfied growth in government spending faster than existing revenue streams can satisfy. Please define when the point of household financial extremis, in the macro sense, is attained. As to a hard stop, logistics and dispatching techniques are scheduled around the four hours of traffic gridlock caused by rush hour. Accidents will not be prevented by bigger roads. Brian – a nickel or dime a gallon isn’t going to “put everyone in the poor house.”

That’s relative, isn’t it? At what point is that nickel or dime the breakpoint of one’s disposable portion of a dollar that it tips the scales of household solvency? Your statement reflects that households should be willing to decrement their budgets to satisfied growth in government spending faster than existing revenue streams can satisfy. Please define when the point of household financial extremis, in the macro sense, is attained.

As to a hard stop, logistics and dispatching techniques are scheduled around the four hours of traffic gridlock caused by rush hour. Accidents will not be prevented by bigger roads.

]]> By: Henry Ryto http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-330 Henry Ryto Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:36:44 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-330 So a tax-exemption is a subsidy? By that definition, the government is subsidizing churches and non-profits. I don't think so. So a tax-exemption is a subsidy? By that definition, the government is subsidizing churches and non-profits.

I don’t think so.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-328 Brian Kirwin Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:23:33 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-328 Wally, without new or improved roads, those "delivery of goods and services, unti production and other things that effect the economy" come to a pretty hard stop. Now, there is an argument to be made about the existing revenues being used to fund transportation at a higher clip, but seriously, a nickel or dime a gallon isn't going to "put everyone in the poor house." Wally, without new or improved roads, those “delivery of goods and services, unti production and other things that effect the economy” come to a pretty hard stop. Now, there is an argument to be made about the existing revenues being used to fund transportation at a higher clip, but seriously, a nickel or dime a gallon isn’t going to “put everyone in the poor house.”

]]> By: Reid Greenmun http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-327 Reid Greenmun Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:53:02 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-327 So, HRT isn't paying their fair share of taxes on fuel? Typical. Why are taxpayers subsidizing HRT anyway? Why aren't the users paying adequate fares to cover the costs HRT incurs? So, HRT isn’t paying their fair share of taxes on fuel? Typical. Why are taxpayers subsidizing HRT anyway? Why aren’t the users paying adequate fares to cover the costs HRT incurs?

]]> By: wally http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-322 wally Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:29:04 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-322 Gee. I thought someone would think that maybe fuel is used for other than going to and fro from work. Kind of like delivery of goods and services, unit production and other things that effect the economy. Helloooo... it's the economy folks. Government spending is beyond its peak. There ain't no mo' money that can be got without hampering economic velocity. Divert existing revenue streams to resolve problems, not put everyone in the poor house. Gee. I thought someone would think that maybe fuel is used for other than going to and fro from work. Kind of like delivery of goods and services, unit production and other things that effect the economy. Helloooo… it’s the economy folks. Government spending is beyond its peak. There ain’t no mo’ money that can be got without hampering economic velocity. Divert existing revenue streams to resolve problems, not put everyone in the poor house.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-320 Brian Kirwin Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:21:56 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-320 Actually, I'm not wholly opposed to a gas tax for roads. Democrats threw the only Republican delegate out of office who pushed for one, so I don't see any reason to rush to it. Actually, I’m not wholly opposed to a gas tax for roads. Democrats threw the only Republican delegate out of office who pushed for one, so I don’t see any reason to rush to it.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-319 Brian Kirwin Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:08:38 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-319 Yet another way we subsidize them. Yet another way we subsidize them.

]]> By: Henry Ryto http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-318 Henry Ryto Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:50:38 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-318 Brian, NEWS FLASH: as a government agency, HRT doesn't pay tax on it's fuel. Jeremy is right - for once. Brian,

NEWS FLASH: as a government agency, HRT doesn’t pay tax on it’s fuel.

Jeremy is right – for once.

]]> By: The Squeaky Wheel http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-317 The Squeaky Wheel Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:45:34 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-317 Well, it is not like the poor are being taxed on something they <i>have</i> to buy, right? I mean they could walk or bike to work! Well, it is not like the poor are being taxed on something they have to buy, right? I mean they could walk or bike to work!

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-313 Brian Kirwin Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:21:07 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-313 Soooooo, as long as poor people pay more, but indirectly, you're fine with it. Gotcha. Soooooo, as long as poor people pay more, but indirectly, you’re fine with it. Gotcha.

]]> By: Jeremy Hinton http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/05/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-311 Jeremy Hinton Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:48:23 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/04/an-argument-for-a-gas-tax/#comment-311 ... and hence my use of the phrase "direct payers". Drink your coffee Brian, your brain's not awake yet. And, as a fed/state/local/fare funded transit agency, would HRT even be affected? … and hence my use of the phrase “direct payers”. Drink your coffee Brian, your brain’s not awake yet. And, as a fed/state/local/fare funded transit agency, would HRT even be affected?

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