A good tax hike?

Everyone agrees that one area of concern, which more often than not leads to military consequences, is our reliance and use of middle eastern oil. One way to begin to rid ourselves of this burden would be to instiute a gas tax. Now I know what you are all thinking, and it is in fact what I thought at first: A GAS TAX?! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING SANDY2?!? But yes, a gas tax. I know that we consider the price of gas to be high already, and I know that increasing the price of gas could hurt the economy, but then late in the night I came up with this Idea.

If we instituted a gas tax, for example a one dollar per gallon gas tax, this would create a revenue of about 162 billion dollars. This tax would then be given back to people paying income tax in the form of a tax reduction, or tax break if you will. This would give each person filing income tax a reduction of about $1245. To slightly ofset the cost of the program to the government, any person who would pay a negative tax due to this will not recieve a payment from the IRS (in other words, people who's tax charge was less than $1245 would not benifit with a check of $1245- (tax charge) dollars, but rather would have their tax zeroed out.

Now if you compare this with the annual gasoline cost for Chevorlet Colorado of just over a thousand dollars, this will benefit most americans. The only people it would hurt are those who insist on driving gas guzzling cars, and it will benefit those caring souls driving hybrids the most. It will provide a reason to drive less, while refunding the tax in the end as to not fiscally hurt anyone. And guess what. The car makers support it!
5,467 views 15 replies
Reply #1 Top
oh and by the way, my research sources include:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/SavingandDebt/P65192.asp?src=NetxAutos
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=380531
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Taxes/EM664.cfm
Reply #2 Top
A good tax hike?

By: sandy2
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 on Rants and Raves
Message Board: Politics
Everyone agrees that one area of concern, which more often than not leads to military consequences, is our reliance and use of middle eastern oil. One way to begin to rid ourselves of this burden would be to instiute a gas tax. Now I know what you are all thinking, and it is in fact what I thought at first: A GAS TAX?! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING SANDY2?!? But yes, a gas tax. I know that we consider the price of gas to be high already, and I know that increasing the price of gas could hurt the economy, but then late in the night I came up with this Idea.

If we instituted a gas tax, for example a one dollar per gallon gas tax, this would create a revenue of about 162 billion dollars. This tax would then be given back to people paying income tax in the form of a tax reduction, or tax break if you will. This would give each person filing income tax a reduction of about $1245. To slightly ofset the cost of the program to the government, any person who would pay a negative tax due to this will not recieve a payment from the IRS (in other words, people who's tax charge was less than $1245 would not benifit with a check of $1245- (tax charge) dollars, but rather would have their tax zeroed out.

Now if you compare this with the annual gasoline cost for Chevorlet Colorado of just over a thousand dollars, this will benefit most americans. The only people it would hurt are those who insist on driving gas guzzling cars, and it will benefit those caring souls driving hybrids the most. It will provide a reason to drive less, while refunding the tax in the end as to not fiscally hurt anyone. And guess what. The car makers support it!


Number 1 is it'll NEVER happen. number 2 SHOW me a hybrid pickup and I'll BUY it! Number 3 it'll also hurt small construction business owners or anyone else who uses light-medium duty trucks to earn a living. Or did you forget to factor that in to your math problem?
Reply #3 Top
I really don't see how this helps anyone.

Do you know what % of US oil comes from the middle east? Perhaps you should look up that figure first.
Reply #4 Top
Do you know what % of US oil comes from the middle east? Perhaps you should look up that figure first.


its not a huge ammount in percentage, but when you realize that it is the ONLY reason we remain in the middle east (with both our military and otherwise), you will realize that the small price to pay for our national security is worth it.
Reply #5 Top
SHOW me a hybrid pickup and I'll BUY it!


Dodge and GM have both released hybrid pickups. I hope you have fun driving it.
Reply #6 Top
I would love to have a car that don't use gas or oil at all, but to own one you need money.

There i9s no such thing as used car that don't use any has under $1,000.
Reply #7 Top

Reply #5 By: Myrrander - 10/5/2004 2:43:27 PM
SHOW me a hybrid pickup and I'll BUY it!


Dodge and GM have both released hybrid pickups. I hope you have fun driving it.


Myrrander, when did they release them? I just got off www.dodge.com And ALL the trucks listed have REGULAR powerplants (fossil fuel burning). I just checked www.gm.com and found the same thing. ALL GM's pick-ups listed had reg powerplants. Are you sure your not talking about a "concept" vehicle? Could you please provide a link? Opps I take that back on the GM's. I found a link to some. Looks like I may be getting a new truck? But I hate GM's and I haven't found the Dodge hybrid yet.
Actually Myrrander they have not yet released the GM line of hybrids. Check link: Link Which is why you can't find any on the GM site!
Reply #8 Top
There i9s no such thing as used car that don't use any has under $1,000.


Could you please explain this again, as I don't understand what you have written? Sorry.

Drmiller, I was happy to hear that from you. Do you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Nevada or Florida? If so, the Chevy one is available now. http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/hybrid/
Otherwise, and if you want a dodge, dodge will be releasing a Ram HEV (hybrid electric vehical) late this year or early next year.

I addressed your problem that it would affect small business owners. On commercial vehicals (not the same as the vehical you can lease and declare it a business expense), you do not have to pay tax on the gas for those vehicals, or if more feasable it could be done that you would be given a tax rebate for tax money spent on gas for commercial vehicals, subject to IRS auditing. The $1,000 rebate per person would be reduced, but should still be about $750, which is more than you would spend on tax for an average car driving an average amount.
Reply #9 Top
Seriously only $750 for a car to use gas in a year? Or is that something else? How does this help the average consumer who right now is having trouble purchasing gas? How about moving or oil interests to Nigeria and Sudan, out of the Middle East?

- GX
Reply #10 Top

Reply #8 By: sandy2 - 10/5/2004 6:57:16 PM
>
Drmiller, I was happy to hear that from you. Do you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Nevada or Florida? If so, the Chevy one is available now. http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/hybrid/
Otherwise, and if you want a dodge, dodge will be releasing a Ram HEV (hybrid electric vehical) late this year or early next year.

I addressed your problem that it would affect small business owners. On commercial vehicals (not the same as the vehical you can lease and declare it a business expense), you do not have to pay tax on the gas for those vehicals, or if more feasable it could be done that you would be given a tax rebate for tax money spent on gas for commercial vehicals, subject to IRS auditing. The $1,000 rebate per person would be reduced, but should still be about $750, which is more than you would spend on tax for an average car driving an average amount.



Nope sorry I now live in PA, I quit the peoples republic of Kalifornia 2 years ago. Now as to the second part A lot of states charge you through the nose for commerical plates and most small construction business owners don't want to/can't afford to pay that cost which means they gotta pay gas taxes. When I say small, i mean *small*! Companies that only have say 2 half ton pickups. In some of those states mentioned before the 1/2 ton doesn't qualify for commercial plates.
Reply #11 Top
Nope sorry I now live in PA, I quit the peoples republic of Kalifornia 2 years ago. Now as to the second part A lot of states charge you through the nose for commerical plates and most small construction business owners don't want to/can't afford to pay that cost which means they gotta pay gas taxes. When I say small, i mean *small*! Companies that only have say 2 half ton pickups. In some of those states mentioned before the 1/2 ton doesn't qualify for commercial plates.


To address this problem, since the federal government would be collecting this gas tax, the federal government would determine commercial vehicles and would not charge through the teeth.. wish full thinking, I know.

Seriously only $750 for a car to use gas in a year? Or is that something else? How does this help the average consumer who right now is having trouble purchasing gas? How about moving or oil interests to Nigeria and Sudan, out of the Middle East?


The $750 is a refund for the $1 tax only, not to pay for the gas. I think we should move our oil interests elsewhere, but it eventually comes down to the best thing for this country would to be self sufficient on oil.
Reply #12 Top
Sandy2, I think I half agree with you. Since the US depends on oil, and more significantly protects European and Japanese access to oil (they import a much large percentage of their oil than we do), it makes sense to keep using using mideast oil as long as it's the cheapest in the world. Basic economics means that if we avoid using that oil and instead develop American oil sources (which are much more expensive per gallon) or buy more expensive oil from another region, the US economy will be wasting money -- which will lead to lower standard of living for Americans. Actually, that's one of the reasons it doesn't make sense to develop ANWR in Alaska: it's much more expensive to pump oil anywhere in the US than to just buy it from the Middle East.

On the other hand, that makes the US vulnerable to whoever controls the Middle Eastern oil fields, and there's also the problem that oil will eventually run out, and it will certainly get more expensive as it gets harder to get access to the oil that remains. That's why the US needs to develop alternative energy sources -- you're dead on about that.
Reply #13 Top

Reply #11 By: sandy2 - 10/5/2004 7:27:34 PM
Nope sorry I now live in PA, I quit the peoples republic of Kalifornia 2 years ago. Now as to the second part A lot of states charge you through the nose for commerical plates and most small construction business owners don't want to/can't afford to pay that cost which means they gotta pay gas taxes. When I say small, i mean *small*! Companies that only have say 2 half ton pickups. In some of those states mentioned before the 1/2 ton doesn't qualify for commercial plates.


To address this problem, since the federal government would be collecting this gas tax, the federal government would determine commercial vehicles and would not charge through the teeth.. wish full thinking, I know.


Your right, wishful thinking! The states would never give up that source of *income*!
Reply #14 Top
There i9s no such thing as used car that don't use any has under $1,000.


I love it when I forget to proofread.

I meant that there is no such thing as a used car that don't use any gas (alternative such as electric car) that would cost less than $1,000 to buy.
Reply #15 Top
True Dos Equis, so true.

- GX