Vote this guy out of office.....

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Congressman wants $.50 per gallon gas tax (on top of rising prices)

 

foxnews

[Wishfire 2]

It's a good idea. Hopefully it will get more people interested in looking at alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient cars.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

It's a good idea. Hopefully it will get more people interested in looking at alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient cars.

 

If TPTB really wanted to reduce consumption they'd look at 4 day work weeks, telecommuting, and informing people that eating locally grown foods would do more to reduce consumption than taxing gas. Something like 40% of fuel consumption in this country goes to shipping food across the country - so people in Florida can eat California oranges - goodness knows we need them here.

 

And where do they plan to spend the tax revenue - not for anything useful I'm sure - more pork barrel politics.

 

As for driver's behavior - the irony is that anyone that can afford a hybrid really won't be dissuaded by the rise in gas - but people like me who have to commute to remain employed are going to be priced out of being able to maintain a living. And I drive an old civic with many, many miles that gets 40mpg - I can't downsize anymore. This guy is a jerk - he just wants more money for congress to spend while giving the appearance of being enviro-friendly.

[TJ Phaserman 2]

i say shoot him...i mean this guy just wants more money into his pocket

[Wishfire 2]

It's a good idea. Hopefully it will get more people interested in looking at alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient cars.

 

If TPTB really wanted to reduce consumption they'd look at 4 day work weeks, telecommuting, and informing people that eating locally grown foods would do more to reduce consumption than taxing gas.

 

Four-day work weeks aren't viable unless you don't mind productivity decreasing, which can have a negative impact on the economy. Either that, or companies will hire more people, which can actually increase fuel consumption. Either way, it's not a good idea. As for telecommuting, that's already becoming increasingly popular. I agree about the local foods.

 

Something like 40% of fuel consumption in this country goes to shipping food across the country - so people in Florida can eat California oranges - goodness knows we need them here.

 

That's not actually so bad when you consider the weight-to-fuel-usage of freight liners. Trains, more so than freight trucks. Freight trains have the best fuel economy, which means that they can transport more weight for less fuel.

 

And where do they plan to spend the tax revenue - not for anything useful I'm sure - more pork barrel politics.

 

Instead of just complaining about it, why don't you try to find out?

 

As for driver's behavior - the irony is that anyone that can afford a hybrid really won't be dissuaded by the rise in gas - but people like me who have to commute to remain employed are going to be priced out of being able to maintain a living. And I drive an old civic with many, many miles that gets 40mpg - I can't downsize anymore. This guy is a jerk - he just wants more money for congress to spend while giving the appearance of being enviro-friendly.

 

So, you're opposed to this because... it inconveniences you.

 

You make it sound as if hybrids are expensive. The average hybrid goes for about $21,000, with several new models expected to start between $12,000 and $15,000.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

So, you're opposed to this because... it inconveniences you.

 

Now you've gone beyond being argumentative just to disagree with me to being personally insulting. I am just one example of the many, many people in this country who live on the margin and are suffering from the current economic downswing spurred by rising fuel and food prices. Friends, family & co-workers and strangers all over the country would be hurt by this - and no one would be helped. I know you've indicated you were once in financial difficulties - has your situation improved so much that you've lost sympathy for the working masses?

[Wishfire 2]

So, you're opposed to this because... it inconveniences you.

 

Now you've gone beyond being argumentative just to disagree with me to being personally insulting. I am just one example of the many, many people in this country who live on the margin and are suffering from the current economic downswing spurred by rising fuel and food prices. Friends, family & co-workers and strangers all over the country would be hurt by this - and no one would be helped. I know you've indicated you were once in financial difficulties - has your situation improved so much that you've lost sympathy for the working masses?

 

First of all, I never argued with you "just because." I argued with you because I actually do disagree with many of the things you have said, and have disagreed with similar ideas before you said them. On the other hand, if, in the course of a debate, I agree with something you say, I will say so. Much like I did in my last post.

 

Secondly, if you think that I'm "being argumentative just to disagree with" you, then I can say the same exact thing about you.

 

Thirdly, I couldn't help but notice that you completely ignored every other thing I said. If you have no actual responses to my comments, either say so, or just don't respond. But don't try to drag the debate down the wrong path.

Edited March 21, 2008 by WishfireOmega

[Kor37 9]

Hybrids are a joke. It actually takes more energy to make ethanol than it does to make gasoline. Ethanol is not the answer. Fuel cell cars are the future but refueling stations have to be in place before these cars can really impact the usage of gasoline.

 

As for the gas tax, most of the money you pay for a gallon of gas already goes to the government. The Governor of Maryland also wants to raise the gas tax. I predict a single term for that guy too.

[Wishfire 2]

Hybrids are a joke. It actually takes more energy to make ethanol than it does to make gasoline. Ethanol is not the answer. Fuel cell cars are the future but refueling stations have to be in place before these cars can really impact the usage of gasoline.

 

Hybrids =/= ethanol. Though I do agree that ethanol is a waste of effort. Personally, I think that diesel is the best next step. While diesel has been in use for the better part of a century, mostly in trains and larger trucks, it's about as cheap (or expensive, depending on how you look at it) to make as standard gasoline, it burns slower, giving it more mileage, and, if you're stuck somewhere with no diesel anywhere to be found, you can dump some vegetable oil in the tank as a handy temporary (maybe permanent?) replacement.

[Kor37 9]

The only problem with diesel is getting people to use it. Diesel currently costs about 20-30 cents a gallon more than gasoline. Good luck getting people to switch to that!

[Wishfire 2]

Everywhere I've seen, diesel has been either at the same price or lower than gas.

 

Then again, I don't look to see what the prices are every time I'm in a gas station. And I wouldn't be surprised if it's cheaper at truck stops.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Thirdly, I couldn't help but notice that you completely ignored every other thing I said. If you have no actual responses to my comments, either say so, or just don't respond. But don't try to drag the debate down the wrong path.[/color]

 

No one is obligated to respond to every point of a post - and I did respond to the main point you were trying to make. Seriously, you made the comment you must have wanted me to notice.

 

As for your other "points" - you state 4 ten hour days lower productivity as if it is a fact yet many places have already used this option to reduce spending. Kentucky was the first to use a four day school week many other school districts in other states have followed and there's no decrease in performance but definite savings in tax payer dollars. Other places have used it as accomodation to valued employees. I know from personal experience that that hour or so after 5:00 is actually the most productive time of the day because the phone isn't ringing - you can get much more done .

 

Ttrying to solve every problem by creating a new tax is killing this country. One of these days the working class is going to crumble from the weight.

 

There are many, many, many things we could to reduce consumption - but no one really wants to make us less oil dependent - that oil companies lobby too hard to prevent that they just want to appear to be helping.

 

As regarding the discusison of alternate fuels - ethanol - which may or may not reduce our oil dependence is going to lead to a food shortage - food prices are rising; farmers are opting out of growing wheat to grow corn for ethanol instead. With more corn being used for ethanol there is less for the market and corn is a major food source for livestock so higher corn prices will equal higher meat prices and it goes on and on and on. Which isn't necessarily bad - Americans need to eat less and eat less meat - however the rising prices of wheat have made less available to charities serving third world countries - and those people don't need to eat less.

 

Ethanol, hybrids etc are methods of alternate fuels but if TPTB really want to help - they'll help find ways to reduce consumption.

[Wishfire 2]

No one is obligated to respond to every point of a post

 

No, but that doesn't mean that it's acceptable to cause drama over a perceived slight.

 

- and I did respond to the main point you were trying to make.

 

Not by a long shot. The main point I was trying to make is that something has to be done about about our dependency on petroleum fuels, and that something might not be something that we all like. You obviously missed it, though.

 

Seriously, you made the comment you must have wanted me to notice.

 

Several, actually. Apparently you didn't notice them, however, considering that instead you noticed the least important statement.

 

As for your other "points" - you state 4 ten hour days...

 

Funny how they suddenly become ten-hour days. I thought you were talking about regular eight-hour days, so I responded as such.

 

...lower productivity as if it is a fact yet many places have already used this option to reduce spending. Kentucky was the first to use a four day school week many other school districts in other states have followed and there's no decrease in performance but definite savings in tax payer dollars. Other places have used it as accomodation to valued employees.

 

I've never even heard of such a thing. Care to post some links?

 

I know from personal experience that that hour or so after 5:00 is actually the most productive time of the day because the phone isn't ringing - you can get much more done .

 

That's only true because of the way are work days are set up. If they change, so does the validity of that statement.

 

Ttrying to solve every problem by creating a new tax is killing this country. One of these days the working class is going to crumble from the weight.

 

I never said that new taxes is always the solution.

 

There are many, many, many things we could to reduce consumption - but no one really wants to make us less oil dependent - that oil companies lobby too hard to prevent that they just want to appear to be helping.

 

That doesn't prevent other people from stepping up and trying to make a difference.

 

As regarding the discusison of alternate fuels - ethanol - which may or may not reduce our oil dependence is going to lead to a food shortage - food prices are rising; farmers are opting out of growing wheat to grow corn for ethanol instead. With more corn being used for ethanol there is less for the market and corn is a major food source for livestock so higher corn prices will equal higher meat prices and it goes on and on and on. Which isn't necessarily bad - Americans need to eat less and eat less meat - however the rising prices of wheat have made less available to charities serving third world countries - and those people don't need to eat less.

 

Yes, I agree with that. That's another reason I don't support ethanol production.

 

Ethanol, hybrids etc are methods of alternate fuels but if TPTB really want to help - they'll help find ways to reduce consumption.

 

And that's the purpose of this tax.

Edited March 21, 2008 by WishfireOmega