Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile

[RR7]

Right, but as mentioned, an electric car would bypass that tax, and still do harm to the road

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Right, but as mentioned, an electric car would bypass that tax, and still do harm to the road

by the time electric cars filter down to the average person, believe me, the gov will hit them with a tax. The mistake that most people make is in believeing that if one tax goes into play it will replace another. That never happens.

 

[porkchopexpress]

As it has been mentioned but ignored, there is a tax already in place, at least two and at times three. First is the feds, seconed is the state and the third is some citys have their own.

I have seen figures that the average profit per gallon is around 8 cents per gallon, that average tax per gallon of gas is like 48 cents. The taxes were to go to the roads, but have been included in the general fund last I knew.

I'm pretty sure that is for the actual gas station, not profit for the oil companies themselves. I could be wrong though, I just remember seeing a pie chart of where the revenue (so I guess not profit) goes. The gas stations take was barely a sliver.

 

[blazerboy30]

The University of Oregon is a public University, which receives funding from me, indirectly. If I choose to use its facilities by going there, I pay more. I support that.

How about elementary schools and high schools?

 

[barfo]

How about elementary schools and high schools?

I think that's already happening to some extent. As I understand it the extracurricular stuff is now fee-based rather than provided solely by the taxpayers.

barfo

 

[blazerboy30]

I think that's already happening to some extent. As I understand it the extracurricular stuff is now fee-based rather than provided solely by the taxpayers.

barfo

Sorry, I should have been more clear. By education, I meant education. Just the fact that you have "extracurricular" in your sentence makes it clear I wasn't talking about that.

 

[barfo]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. By education, I meant education. Just the fact that you have "extracurricular" in your sentence makes it clear I wasn't talking about that.

Ah, well, then exuuuuuuse my post.

barfo

 

[blazerboy30]

Ah, well, then exuuuuuuse my post.

barfo

I have no problem with the pay-to-play model for things like sports and band. I also wouldn't have a problem with the model of "those that use more pay more". But I do have a problem with picking and choosing when to use that model in a way that just ends up taxing the so-called "rich".

 

[maxiep]

I have zero problem with toll roads. Where I have a BIG problem is the government being able to track where I go. It's not a revenue issue for me; it's a privacy issue.

Just as aside, how about we focus on lowering expenses before we look for more revenue?

 

[RR7]

how is it a tax on the rich? is there a statistic that shows the rich on average drive mroe than middle class or others?

Everyone picks and chooses rules they support. Because I support one rule does not mean I support everything similar. I support some taxes. I do not support ALL taxes, as I am sure you do as well. So we pick and choose ones we see as more worthwhile, no?

 

[RR7]

I have zero problem with toll roads. Where I have a BIG problem is the government being able to track where I go. It's not a revenue issue for me; it's a privacy issue.

Just as aside, how about we focus on lowering expenses before we look for more revenue?

I agree they don't need to know where we are going. Should be strictly a mileage counter, IMO.
I think if it was not looked at as a tax, but as the cost of driving, maybe people would react differently, but because the word tax is included, it's a bad thing.
We fund state and national parks, yet still, have to pay to camp there. So those that use them MORE pay more. You could just call it a camping "tax" I suppose.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

And of course, the government will give a free pass to the worthless fuckers who live off welfare or illegal immigrants.

 

[barfo]

I have no problem with the pay-to-play model for things like sports and band. I also wouldn't have a problem with the model of "those that use more pay more". But I do have a problem with picking and choosing when to use that model in a way that just ends up taxing the so-called "rich".

What's that got to do with the topic at hand? A gas or mileage tax is regressive, not progressive. In no way is it a tax on the rich.

barfo

 

[andalusian]

how is it a tax on the rich? is there a statistic that shows the rich on average drive mroe than middle class or others?

It can't be a tax on the rich. The rich use their helicopters.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think they should tax bicyclists, especially in Portland. This city has spent millions building bike lanes and accommodating the bike crowd, but has collected no taxes or funding for those expenses. I don't see why they can't sell a permit to use the roads and bike lanes. I have a kayak and if I want to be able to kayak in and around Portland, I have to pay $15 for a permit. I don't see any reason why that couldn't work for bikes too.

 

[andalusian]

Have you considered mounting wheels on your Kayak and declaring it a bike?

 

[Natebishop3]

Have you considered mounting wheels on your Kayak and declaring it a bike?

The problem with that is, I wouldn't be able to steer very well

 

[andalusian]

The problem with that is, I wouldn't be able to steer very well

Sounds like most of the bikers I see on the road. I say we have a winner.

 

[blazerboy30]

What's that got to do with the topic at hand? A gas or mileage tax is regressive, not progressive. In no way is it a tax on the rich.

barfo

Are they applying the same tax-per-mile to people on a bus?

 

[barfo]

Are they applying the same tax-per-mile to people on a bus?

So, your definition of rich is "people who drive cars"? Ok, that's amusing.

barfo

 

[blazerboy30]

So, your definition of rich is "people who drive cars"? Ok, that's amusing.

barfo

Strawman. Ok, that's amusing.

 

[barfo]

Strawman. Ok, that's amusing.

It's not a strawman at all. You objected to taxing the rich. I pointed out that a mileage tax isn't a tax on the rich. You asked if it applied to bus riders. What was the point of that question if not to imply that the tax fell unfairly on the car drivers?

barfo

 

[andalusian]

I teleport everywhere. I am against the installation of tracking devices on my person. It's not that I object to the privacy invasion. It's that I have an iPhone and I am against redundancy.

 

[Minstrel]

I teleport everywhere. I am against the installation of tracking devices on my person. It's not that I object to the privacy invasion. It's that I have an iPhone and I am against redundancy.

Yeah, instead of government getting into the people-tracking business, I'd much rather they contracted it out to established private sector businesses who already track people, like Google.

 

[RR7]

Are they applying the same tax-per-mile to people on a bus?

I would assume they would, or at least, I think it should. If buses were going to be also taxed per mile, and so Tri-Met saw its cost of operation increase, than undoubtedly, it would pass along that fee to its riders. Same way they raise prices when gas prices go up(yet those fuckers never drop them when gas prices go down).

But yeah, your car=rich, bus=poor is amusing.

 

[RR7]

I think they should tax bicyclists, especially in Portland. This city has spent millions building bike lanes and accommodating the bike crowd, but has collected no taxes or funding for those expenses. I don't see why they can't sell a permit to use the roads and bike lanes. I have a kayak and if I want to be able to kayak in and around Portland, I have to pay $15 for a permit. I don't see any reason why that couldn't work for bikes too.

I agree, was going to say that earlier. And I try to bike as much as I could. Still, seems only fair. I dunno how you put it into place. An additional tax on the purchase of a bike? Registering bikes like cars, and requiring a license plate, of sorts.

 

[blazerboy30]

It's not a strawman at all. You objected to taxing the rich. I pointed out that a mileage tax isn't a tax on the rich. You asked if it applied to bus riders. What was the point of that question if not to imply that the tax fell unfairly on the car drivers?

barfo

I'm sure you already know this and are just doing your typical shtick, but...

There is a difference between: a) rich = people who drive cars and b) the average bus rider income is lower

I actually don't know if (b) is true, but in my experience it seems like it might be.

 

[andalusian]

I agree, was going to say that earlier. And I try to bike as much as I could. Still, seems only fair. I dunno how you put it into place. An additional tax on the purchase of a bike? Registering bikes like cars, and requiring a license plate, of sorts.

Maybe require tassels on a bike - as they require seatbelts - and tax the tassels.

 

[magnifier661]

Why is this a bad thing? There should be some incentive to live close to where you work (or punishment to live far away). We need to figure out a way to limit peoples car usage. This may be the wrong way, in fact I'm pretty sure I'd e against it, but there needs to be something. I'd support a significantly higher gas tax in lieu of this. That way you tax those who not only drive more, but drive less efficient vehicles as well.

economic implosion

 

[maxiep]

Will these new taxes be offset by lower taxes elsewhere? Me thinks not.

Remember, everyone else needs to make a sacrifice in tough economic times but the Government.