Hi Gordon A. Langston,
I wanted to make a few comments in reply to your post.
There seems to only be two ways to keep the numbers of large SUVs down and that is to limit or ban their production or put a surtax on them.
Personnaly I wouldn't favor any of your solutions. Banning the production of anything is stretching the limits of Govt control a little too far don't you think? People that drive SUVs are already paying a higher rate of gasoline tax due to more frequent purchase and larger tank capacity. I don't drive much, so I don't pay as much as some, but my husband uses a large van for his work which is home remodeling. Because he chose this line of work, he accepts that he will be paying more in gas tax than someone that drives five miles to and from their place of work.
I agree that it is a complicated issue, but I haven't seen that there is much debate in congress on the subject yet. If you have, it would be interesting reading.
Here in CA we have had to force the government through an amendment initiative to use gasoline taxes for their intended purpose, roads. Previously they were general funded and ended up who knows where for who knows what purpose. This showed up the fact that government and its constituents are not always on the same page. The only groups to oppose this were teacher's unions and health care advocates who were used to stealing from it.
How ironic. The same debate took place here in Washington State but our Socialist Governor capitulated to the legislature, and will now ALLOW the voters to decide on the next gas tax increase, and if passed, where and how it would be spent. I'm not sure where I heard, but in the last 9-10 years we have had only 10 new miles of road built in our state yet we pay some of the highest gas taxes in the Country. ( I believe we are #3, but I could be off by a number or two either way?)
The initiative process works wonderfully in our state. ( we have to watch those that write up and distribute initiatives for signatures as with anything after discovering that one initiative writer was dipping into the cookie jar. Sigh!!!!!!) Some politicians in our state would like to abolish our rights to draft and present initiatives. That would be a crime imo.
M
PS I've noticed that I have been doing some major and minor grubbing today. I wonder if it is a sign? I have two hot lotto tickets in my hands. <ggg> |
