Here it comes, just as I said it would. Last year I wrote several articles on this using less motor fuel will lead to unexpected tax shortfalls and increased taxes eventually (in essence you cannot ever satisfy the tax hogs in government) and it has come to pass, or rather, it is trying to come to pass.
We have pointed it out on numerous occasions during 2008 what was alleged to be headed our way. One post in particular hits it right on the money, it is Give Up – Surrender it was written last April.
They say the mark of a true prophet is how much of his prophecy comes to pass, well this might be of interest to some.
There be Dragons … Raise the gas tax
At both the state and federal level, raising the gas tax is the new third rail in politics. California jettisoned it from the budget, even though a 12 cent increase was estimated to bring in over $2 billion.
Now this panel recommends it (ten cent increase in the federal tax), but it will never see the light of day. So some more convoluted plan to install GPS and clock units IN EVERY CAR to track vehicle miles is proposed. And different types of roads will result in different charges, time of day will factor into it, etc… And to assuage privacy concerns, the only thing the unit will spit out is what the latest charge is. Sooooooo, no way for the driver to see how the amount was arrived at, or challenge it.
Sounds like a very straightforward plan, with no chance for fraud or failure of course. Typical government. The apparatus for collecting the gas tax is ALREADY IN PLACE, but that can’t be increased because it is politically unpopular. So lets rely on unproven technology to take the money so people can’t blame us.
C’mon – how stupid are we? (Perhaps I don’t want an answer to that question)
A tax is a tax. If the roads cost that much to maintain, either some must be closed, or we all pay more. I think since road damage/wear is directly influenced by vehicle weight, that a “maintenance” tax should be charged at sale based on gross weight. Also a type of “gas guzzler” tax. I love how the idea that we are addicted to oil is popular, but anything that might cause any type of “pain” to change that is met with angry voices.
So like it or not … it is here, this is the now, it is, as predicted, here. So again, the question might be: “C’mon – how stupid are we? Are we going to sit still and allow them to gouge us even more?
It is nice to see that I said it was coming, and low and behold, it is here. I am now going to withdraw “two atta-boys from petty cash” for a job well done, walk on down to the mall had have me some fun.
Kind of nice to win one every now and then.
OOO
