Weird Gas Tax Thought I had

404NotFound · Post by **404NotFound** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:37 pm

This probably seems really random, but here is an idea I had on the walk back from class:

I know that some people want to tax gasoline. Heavily. But what about a voluntary gas tax? Let me elaborate.

You pull up to a pump, and you can chose Regular, Midgrade, or Premium. As another choice, you can choose Taxed gasoline. The Taxed gasoline would be $5.00, regaurdless of the actual price of any of the three. This $5.00 would be partly that of the actual price, and the rest would go towards a private account for that indiviual person (maybe a credit-card type system.)

This private account will then accumulate the difference between actual cost and the $5.00. When the amount in that account hits some set level (say, $5,000 dollars, up in the tens of thousands of miles) then that amount can be put towards the purchase of a Hybrid car ONLY. Also, the use of the account balance would cover the rest of the car in a government-issued very low interest loan over some course of time. Or maybe even have a program that would buy the entire car up front with the trade-in of the current vehicle.

People with gas-guzzlers would reach the $5,000 much faster, and thus get those cars off the road even sooner.

Very random, I know, but also kinda unique.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:09 pm

People who drive gas-guzzlers don't want to drive Hybrids. They wan't to drive gas-guzzlers. See all those people in SUVs? They know the gas mileage on their cars before buying and don't care. Honestly, this wouldn't lower the price of gas at all. And isn't gas already taxed? I know in Connecticut, it is something like 25 cents for every gallon. Eitherway, I don't really care. If we wanted lower gas prices than we can get rid of the tax and instead of paying $2.17, i'd be paying $1.84 a gallon.

Digital Chaos · Post by **Digital Chaos** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:17 pm

What's the big deal with hybrids, you could get a damn sexy diesel car that would get just as good milage.

bizzle · Post by **bizzle** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:20 pm

Digital Chaos wrote:What's the big deal with hybrids, you could get a damn sexy diesel car that would get just as good milage.

I don't know where you live, but in NJ diesel costs over 40 cents a gallon more than regular gasoline.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:23 pm

Xylene wrote:
Digital Chaos wrote:What's the big deal with hybrids, you could get a damn sexy diesel car that would get just as good milage.
I don't know where you live, but in NJ diesel costs over 40 cents a gallon more than regular gasoline.

I hear that argument a lot, but if you factor in the fact that you're getting better gas mileage, it evens out and sometimes ends up being in the favor of the diesel. If you really want, buy a Lupo that does 70mpg.

Lartrak · Post by **Lartrak** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:34 pm

Xylene wrote:
Digital Chaos wrote:What's the big deal with hybrids, you could get a damn sexy diesel car that would get just as good milage.
I don't know where you live, but in NJ diesel costs over 40 cents a gallon more than regular gasoline.

Hybrids long term durability is also still in question. My main problem with them. Diesel is also harder to find though. Hybrids are probably going to continue to get better gas mileage, and they'll probably eventually pull significantly better than diesel.

404NotFound · Post by **404NotFound** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:04 pm

Tall Israeli wrote:People who drive gas-guzzlers don't want to drive Hybrids. They wan't to drive gas-guzzlers. See all those people in SUVs? They know the gas mileage on their cars before buying and don't care. Honestly, this wouldn't lower the price of gas at all. And isn't gas already taxed? I know in Connecticut, it is something like 25 cents for every gallon. Eitherway, I don't really care. If we wanted lower gas prices than we can get rid of the tax and instead of paying $2.17, i'd be paying $1.84 a gallon.

That's probably one of the biggest problems I have with people against SUVs. That they thing that people drive them because the gas mileage is somehow an inherant key factor in making it an SUV. This is not true.

Like the Hybrid Ford Escape, i love people who call a hybrid SUV an "oxymoron" because they think the fuel mileage is some feature of an SUV in itself.

People who drive SUVs don't smile with glee when they drop tons of money at a gas pump. They have, for the most part, bought that SUV in the late 90s when gas was dirt cheap and it is yet to be economic for them to switch.

As for diesel, they do get great mileage, but they also produce a good bit of pollution.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:10 pm

404NotFound wrote:
Tall Israeli wrote:People who drive gas-guzzlers don't want to drive Hybrids. They wan't to drive gas-guzzlers. See all those people in SUVs? They know the gas mileage on their cars before buying and don't care. Honestly, this wouldn't lower the price of gas at all. And isn't gas already taxed? I know in Connecticut, it is something like 25 cents for every gallon. Eitherway, I don't really care. If we wanted lower gas prices than we can get rid of the tax and instead of paying $2.17, i'd be paying $1.84 a gallon.
That's probably one of the biggest problems I have with people against SUVs. That they thing that people drive them because the gas mileage is somehow an inherant key factor in making it an SUV. This is not true.

Like the Hybrid Ford Escape, i love people who call a hybrid SUV an "oxymoron" because they think the fuel mileage is some feature of an SUV in itself.

People who drive SUVs don't smile with glee when they drop tons of money at a gas pump. They have, for the most part, bought that SUV in the late 90s when gas was dirt cheap and it is yet to be economic for them to switch.

As for diesel, they do get great mileage, but they also produce a good bit of pollution.

Well maybe people should take into account gas pricing changing when buying a car and not blame others. Still, the biggest problems I have with people who drive SUVs is the fact that it's just 1 guy or soccer mom in the car 90% of the time. Go buy a goddamn family sedan for your 2 kids. You don't need that extra room and if you do need it, don't drive your SUV like it's some kind of sports car when it's clearly not.

Not to mention the only attractive SUV ever created is the Toureag.

arrowhead · Post by **arrowhead** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:50 pm

I drive an SUV, and it guzzles gas. I dont want to drive it, I actually hate driving it. I bought it because it was in my price range when I needed a car. If my gas tax money went to buying a hybrid, or a good mileage honda I would be into it.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:02 pm

arrowhead wrote:I drive an SUV, and it guzzles gas. I dont want to drive it, I actually hate driving it. I bought it because it was in my price range when I needed a car. If my gas tax money went to buying a hybrid, or a good mileage honda I would be into it.

It was the only car in your price range? I doubt that.

arrowhead · Post by **arrowhead** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:18 pm

A buddy was selling it super cheap, and it was in great condition and very low miles. So yes it was in my price range of 1200 dollars. And at the time gas was still 80 cents for regular, so gas wasnt much of an issue. Everything else in that range is a real beater that would cost far too much to repair and be in good running order.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:23 pm

arrowhead wrote:A buddy was selling it super cheap, and it was in great condition and very low miles. So yes it was in my price range of 1200 dollars. And at the time gas was still 80 cents for regular, so gas wasnt much of an issue. Everything else in that range is a real beater that would cost far too much to repair and be in good running order.

Well you took a chance and it blew up in your face. Still, I think you're in the minority.

hearld500 · Post by **hearld500** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:35 pm

Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:47 pm

hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.

Me personally? I don't. I just don't like listening to these people complain about it.

Orange_Ribbon · Post by **Orange_Ribbon** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:00 pm

hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.

Well they ramp up the demand, thus the cost.

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:05 pm

Orange_Ribbon wrote:
hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.
Well they ramp up the demand, thus the cost.

Hardly. The Saudi's have enough oil for the demand, but supplying the demand means lower prices. When Katrina took out the oil pipes, the Saudi's jacked up the price and thus we get charged more.

hearld500 · Post by **hearld500** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:11 pm

Orange_Ribbon wrote:
hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.
Well they ramp up the demand, thus the cost.

Do you honestly think that if demand went down, the price would too?

We are talking about the oil industry here. Did you not notice what prices did after katrina? My state doesn't get a drop of gas from that area and the prices went up to 3$.

bizzle · Post by **bizzle** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:34 pm

hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.

Polution?

404NotFound · Post by **404NotFound** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:46 pm

hearld500 wrote:
Orange_Ribbon wrote:
hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.
Well they ramp up the demand, thus the cost.
Do you honestly think that if demand went down, the price would too?

We are talking about the oil industry here. Did you not notice what prices did after katrina? My state doesn't get a drop of gas from that area and the prices went up to 3$.

Ever think it's because other areas are now using your source of gasoline and thus driving up the price?

Tall Israeli · Post by **Tall Israeli** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:54 pm

hearld500 wrote:
Orange_Ribbon wrote:
hearld500 wrote:Why do you care if suvs guzzle gas? You arn't footing the bill.
Well they ramp up the demand, thus the cost.
Do you honestly think that if demand went down, the price would too?

We are talking about the oil industry here. Did you not notice what prices did after katrina? My state doesn't get a drop of gas from that area and the prices went up to 3$.

Well 12 of the major oil pipe lines are in New Orleans and 11 of them went down so we had to import more and thus pay the high prices.