PDA

View Full Version : Financial analyst's answer to high gas prices: Slap a big fat tax on it


Regis Philbin
May 22nd, 2007, 01:10 AM
Same old failed worn out socialist crap...

Don't these idiots know the price of fuel affects the price of everything???

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/21/news/international/europe_gas/index.htm?cnn=yes

My big fat American gas tax

Should Americans consider a big price hike in an attempt to reduce demand and transfer money from Big Oil to the general public?

By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer

May 21 2007: 4:35 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It seems completely counterintuitive: Raise the gasoline tax to help American commuters.

Motorists are already paying well over $3 a gallon, and there are signs that it's beginning to cut into demand and hurt consumer spending.

But if a big gas tax was levied - like the $1 or $2 tax Europeans have to keep prices permanently over $3 or $4 a gallon - how could that possibly help American consumers?

One argument says a tax would crimp demand, lowering wholesale prices.

"Anybody with any brains has advocated that, but not the politicians." said Fadel Gheit, an energy analyst at the financial services company Oppenheimer.

Lower wholesale prices, which would mean less profits for oil firms, combined with a higher tax could transfer money from Big Oil to the government, which could then use the cash for public programs.

ConnieB
May 22nd, 2007, 02:33 PM
Of course not....just like they thought increasing the min. wage would help and not hurt anyone. I know of 8 people who lost their job due to the increase in wages....way to go congress!

I don;t know about any one else, but my grocery bill has increased by at least 20 dollars already in the last year. It may not seem like alot, but add in the price of gas, the increase in cost of services and utilities, and now my kids school has to increase the price of lunch next year by 25 cents. We'll be hurting.

MI already has a high gas tax and it hurts us. While the national average is 3.09, we are paying a 49 cent tax per gallon. This tax was put in place to take care of our roads, but now according to our democratic governor, the road fund is in the red. HOW? Just 6 years ago, our tax was 30 cents per gallon and we had plenty of money and all of a sudden we don't have any, and the tax was raised 19 more cents, not only that our roads are still in horrible condition. You know when you are in MI just by the bumpy roads. Sorry for the vent...our governor wants to raise our gas tax by 5 cents again. Soon there will be no one living in MI. Our governor wants to add over 80 cents worth of taxes on things in the next year. I'll move south if she does that.

My husband and I just got new cars last night to help with the cost of gas and I don't think it will help for very long with the way things are going, esp in MI.

WannaBreatheYou
May 22nd, 2007, 02:49 PM
I'm so heartbroken for you, Connie.

http://i17.tinypic.com/6ajdruh.jpg

Washington State's tax gas is only 4 cents lower than Michigan's, and we've been paying higher gas prices than you consistently for a year.

db44
May 22nd, 2007, 03:14 PM
Why am I supposed to shudder at the idea of higher taxes you two?

When I look at Europe, where people pay over 50% of their income to taxes, it doesn't bother them or me. Their taxes take care of them: They have many great state-run health care programs, they don't have to worry about losing jobs, and the government will help people find jobs... That's all bad? And by paying the taxes, they don't have to worry about putting their money into 401Ks or health insurance because their state-run systems actually work! When all is said and done, they probably have the same take-home as we do. So again, explain why I'm supposed to be afraid of taxes?

Sunflowergirl
May 22nd, 2007, 07:40 PM
Same old failed worn out socialist crap...

Don't these idiots know the price of fuel affects the price of everything???

http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/21/news/international/europe_gas/index.htm?cnn=yes

Don't you understand the principles of supply and demand? Or is that more socialist crap?