re: As would any tax on current cars that don't get good gas mileage. If you only tax new cars, than you encourage people to hold on to older cars, which may pollute more and use more gas, as long as possible (except for a brief flurry of buying before the new tax takes effect).
Maybe you don't get the concept. Efficient cars would get a significant credit. Buy a Dodge Neon, that gets over 30 MPG, and you might get a $8K tax credit... very compelling on a $17K car. Does that lead to a replacement cycle from inefficient cars to efficient cars? You bet it does.
re: People can't stop commuting to work but over time more expensive gasoline causes people to find ways to reduce their commute, and encourages greater use of public transportation. If more people use public transportation it might expand and become more useable because it will cover more areas.
Public transportation is an issue I could support (having grown up in Chicago with maybe the best pubic transportation system in the country). But can you sell it, with the tax investment as a political issue in this country? I doubt it.
re: Well I don't think you ever expected to get unanimity, but I'd have to strongly oppose this particular plan.
Never expected unanimity. If we could build a consensus on 10 pragmatic issues, even if most people disagreed with 2 or 3, then I think we are doing a hell of a lot better than the current political parties.
I hope you decide to contribute, and think in terms of results for Citizens, not ideology.
John |
