You wanna talk politics? Let's talk issues. Gas tax summer moratorium

[Dueller]

Hill and Big Mac want to have a summer gas tax holiday saving you $.18 per gallon...maybe $3.50 savings per tank. Fed's will lose $9-10 Billion in revenue for highways that will have to be found elsewhere..

BoBama says its just a BS ploy to pander to voters and the issue is larger.

Where do you guys stand?

[Tobra]

Perhaps you should sit down.












I think Mr Obama is correct

[Jim Richards]

It's pander. IMO, everything you'll ever hear from a pol is simply to pander to the voters. Cynical? Nah!

[legion]

Yep. It's a pander.

A real solution would be extracting some of the oil we already have.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Grandstanding politicians in an election year?

Perish the thought.

[hardflex]

I say leave the gas tax, add a windfall profits tax on the Oil Co's too. This will cut the ballooning deficits, which may stop the dollar's slide and make oil and gas cheaper. \\

Supply Side economics, remember?

[MRM]

It's the second stupidest idea this year, behind only the tax rebate checks in the dumb ideas that look like free money to the voters contest.

[john70t]

If we are in a gasoline crisis, how 'come the speed limits haven't been dropped to 55mph?

[the]

And the gov't makes up the lost revenue from . . . . where?

The gov't is like a business. Suspending the tax results in a direct loss of revenue. That loss of revenue has to be reflected somewhere on the books. It's not "free."

It is fairly similar to the rebate check thing. A govt running huge deficits and huge inflation, writing everyone a check for $1000 to "stimulate" the economy.

It's all the same. You get votes by promising "free" stuff.

[Jim Richards]

McCain is planning on surprising us by pulling out of Iraq to pay for the gas tax holiday. What a guy, eh?

[kstar]

I'm with the "rebate checks and gas tax holiday moratorium are stupid" group.

Stupid with no real or lasting benefits, IMO.

[Neilk]

Obama is correct, but Hillary (and her $109 million) and McCain (I married a brewing heiress) feel your pain and want to save you a few dollars. I could see giving long haul truckers some kind of break though.

It's all a ploy that will add to Obama's latest woes.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Neilk

It's all a ploy that will add to Obama's latest woes.

Unfortunately, pandering works.

[the]

As I think about it even more, I get even more surprised at how stupid it is. But it's not just silly, it (along with the rebate check scheme) is a little frightening when you realize how much it is a reflection of our out of whack system.

It is philosophically pretty much the same as this idea: Making $100,000 per year is enough for anyone to have a decent standard of living. We don't want to have poor people, people without food or shelter, etc. So if you make less than $100K, the govt will make up the rest! Yep, if you make $40K, at the end of the year the govt will print up $60K and send it to you.

So many problems (homelessness, hunger, school tuition, etc.) solved with one simple plan. Everyone will be rich!

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Unfortunately, pandering works.

P.T. Barnum once said, “Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.” or any other public for that matter.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by the

As I think about it even more, I get even more surprised at how stupid it is. But it's not just silly, it (along with the rebate check scheme) is a little frightening when you realize how much it is a reflection of our out of whack system.

It is philosophically pretty much the same as this idea: Making $100,000 per year is enough for anyone to have a decent standard of living. We don't want to have poor people, people without food or shelter, etc. So if you make less than $100K, the govt will make up the rest! Yep, if you make $40K, at the end of the year the govt will print up $60K and send it to you.

So many problems (homelessness, hunger, school tuition, etc.) solved with one simple plan. Everyone will be rich!

Hey, now you're on to something! You should run for prez.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Obama is correct, but Hillary (and her $109 million) and McCain (I married a brewing heiress) feel your pain and want to save you a few dollars. I could see giving long haul truckers some kind of break though.

How about cutting spending AND lowering taxes?

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by legion

How about cutting spending AND lowering taxes?

Your talking about Washington here.

Serious question, when was the last time that the total budget has been cut?

I love how all these states find themselves in a deficit, but if you look at their spending, they've all exploded in the past 5 years, now they can't afford it.

[gprsh924]

$.18 a gallon is almost meaningless. So lets say there are 12 weeks of summer. Between the 5 family cars and the boat and the waverunner we go through 100 gallons of gas a week, totaling 1200 gallons for the summer. At $4/gal thats $4800 for the summer. An $.18/gallon break makes gas $3.82/gal for a total of $4584 or a savings of $216. That is essentially inconsequential.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Your talking about Washington here.

Serious question, when was the last time that the total budget has been cut?

I love how all these states find themselves in a deficit, but if you look at their spending, they've all exploded in the past 5 years, now they can't afford it.

Ah yes, the "ratchet effect" with taxes:

Revenues are up, increase spending!!!

Revenues are down, increase taxes!!!