blog.wired.com/cars/2008/04/should-drivers.html?nup=1&mbid=yhp
riles Southern Californians like a new tax on their God-given right to drive. Yet motorists in Los Angeles County might be paying an extra 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump -- or an additional $90 on their vehicle registration fees.
Voters will decide whether to approve a "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee" under a proposed law being debated by the state legislature. It has already been endorsed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
public transportation and other projects that ease traffic congestion at a time when the state budget is strapped and money from Washington has all but dried up. They say that it exploits public sympathy for global warming in order to fund projects that are already sucking down taxpayers' dollars. Supporters point out that many ambitious public transportation projects, including the Subway to the Sea, the Wilshire bus-only lane and the extension of the Gold Line subway aren't fully funded -- and risk being sidelined. The tax would pull in an estimated $400 million a year, which makes it a model that other cash-strapped states will no doubt find enticing. California voters will have to decide whether or not it's fair.
Advertisement That's what taxes are for, to redistribute money from one source to another. Is it really a surprise that someone should want to take a little money from drivers and put that into public transport?
More taxes for voodoo science that an increasing number of scientists are disagreeing with. One morning you will wake up, and 70% of everything you make will be stolen by crooked politicians who've promised your hard earned money to special interest groups and the lazy bums of the this country who don't want to work and want everything for free. You people for more tax make me absolutely sick to my stomach.
its a theory that some left wing activist thought of to feel better about themselves. Global warming would happen even if humans where no on this planet. this is beyond injustice this is over governmentation and should be stopped.
Apr 2, 2008 12:29:56 PM no surprise why global warming is such a hot political issue... it's another excuse to tax you and make you feel guilty! Thank God Al Gore invented the internet so I could read this crap!
Apr 2, 2008 12:30:50 PM Not a bad idea -- especially if China, Mexico and India get onboard with a similar proposal. That way US taxpayers won't be footing the entire bill for a worldwide issue.
Apr 2, 2008 12:31:11 PM It's good but I agree that the tax could be a bit higher. It would also be good if people who had to drive a bigger car had to pay more per gallon.
Apr 2, 2008 12:31:22 PM this is ridiculous, gas prices in ca are already the highest in the nation based largely upon the taxes already placed on the price of gas. funding more poorly managed public transportation systems in LA is not the answer.
Apr 2, 2008 12:31:54 PM that is one of the dumbest things i have heard and a brilliant thing to do during a recession. "take more money out of already cash strapped consumers."
this is going to be viewed by future generations as the biggest HOAX ever! All you sheep get ready, the Global Warming frauds are going to start grabbing your money so you can feeeeeel better about yourselves!
Apr 2, 2008 12:32:24 PM If new tax is introduced, just ensure where the money goes. All too often there are headlines of both crisis and misconduct. Years after such incidents we find route cause and our American's today have a short memory and attention span. Need evidence, check Bush family in Saudi since 1950s and yet 6 of 8 years as President, and we are at war over that said oil. Even as we speak Bush is trying to implement bills, that would take away more rights all in the name of defending our country from terror. Yet all that has been done during this presidency is win an election via controversy, run us into debt, crazy insane war, etc....
Apr 2, 2008 12:32:41 PM This is the kind of loony idea the rest of the country has come to expect from the left coast. It wouldn't matter one bit if the First Church of Global Warming was once-and-for-all exposed as the hoax it is. If some underused government program needs money, go ahead and soak the taxpayers even more. This would fail miserably in any rational state of voters.
Apr 2, 2008 12:33:11 PM Higher fuel costs at the pump, whether market driven or increased tax, increases the cost of consumer goods because good travel by commercial carrier, trucks, vans, etc and most if not all use fossil fuel of some sort. When they have increased costs, they pass it along to all the consumers, not just those who drive a car or truck !
Apr 2, 2008 12:33:37 PM I think that it is completely unfair to those who can't afford it. It's just saying that they want to tax something that most of us cannot pay for. If you really think about it the US is in debt to other countries becaues it spends so much for nothing.
If we weren't taxed so much in the first place we wouldn't have to work 6 out of 7 days a week! We could stay home like we're supposed to on weekends and relax and not drive our vehicles to work and back!
It was nothing more then a scare tactic made up by Al Gore. The Founder of the Weather channel has out right said that Global Warming is false and any meatoroligist talking about it on his network would be fired! Gas is already to high, they are just making it harder on the average person.
Providing motivation to reducing driving, polution and our gas-guzzling lifestyle is laudable, and use it for public transportation seems OK too, but to call it a "climate change mitigation" is simply fraudulous.
Lets make the EPA actually inforce a clean air car, plane, train, "PERIOD", and Manufactures will have no choice but to fall in line if they want to stay in business. lets get our OIL president out of the white house and give tax breaks for those using solar panels, wind generators. Qaudruple the fine to factories that make deadly gas that hurt the planet, and dump waist into the water. Make the fines so high, that it is no longer cheaper for them to pay the fine, than it is to clean up their mess. Grow your own food, plant tree's, and walk, or ride bikes.
The one's who have no ability to make policy and are aleady at the mercy of the oil companies and the automobile industry. If we really want to make a difference get the money from "Big" Business that refuses to make the cleaner leaner fuel burning cars or alternatives. They are the ones responsible for the damage not Joe Schmoe who is just trying to get back and forth to work everyday just to make a living.
Apr 2, 2008 12:37:15 PM Why do the consumers have to pay for it at the pump when Big Oil makes record profits every year and gets huge tax subsidies from the government. They make record profits and they still get our tax dollars... We could have more efficient and cleaner cars, but no, let's just take more money from the people like usual and use it for dumb downed to solutions.
Apr 2, 2008 12:37:35 PM I like the idea, even though I already spend $3-$4 a day on gas. I have no choice but to commute, but if this is one way to give back, then so be it. Should that be a criteria by which people choose to live responsibly (I use the word "choose" loosely, as issues of liberty can be raised)? I do not believe that we have the right to live irresponsibly, such that our actions negatively affect current and future generations. For every action, there is a reaction, cause and effect, etc. Arguments from both sides are perfectly valid, which I why I hate philosophy and chose to pursue a career in the complete opposite direction, engineering. Just consider what I said, despite the stream of consciousness approach.
Show me hard evidence that global warming exists and I will pay for the extra gas charge. The idea that government takes money from people to pay for pet projects is rediculous. How about an extra tax on the limo's the Hummers the private jets - why should the working class always have to bear the brunt of politicians pet projects. What California politicians need to do is to try and balance the budget and figure ways to stop spendin...
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