Just read an article that Congress is thinking about raising diesel fuel tax a dime(same with gassers as well) coming up next year. Plus they are also wanting to levy a tax based on how many miles you drive as well. Get ready to assume the position, I already know I'm going to have to(I hate to think what that tax will be per mile as I drive about 40k+ a year now).

 

That why I'm waiting for the metro to hit us. A big One. all for One, One for all.
That way we all get ****** . That the GOV for you.

 

Wait until they put a windfall profit tax on oil companies again. Then 10 cents a gallon will be a non-issue, because diesel will cost 8 bucks a gallon.

 

WTF, another 10 cents? Don't they take enough already?

 

Well, from what I gathered from the article is that road works are needing more funds in order to be able to afford the supplies to do road construction or repair etc. and their funds are derived from the taxes that are put onto fuel. That's the argument that the article quoted. Since Congress is controlled by the Dems, I wouldn't put it past them to also see this is as a chance to further ole Gore's dreams(now that is just me but given the fact that Obama was saying he endorsed Gore's vision further supports that claim I believe). Now it hasn't passed and a year(they were thinking next summer) from now is a long time anything can happend, but if I were y'all I would start saving for the next rim job that comes our way just in case it does pass.

 

That's crap, it won't do a bit of good, nor will the summer fuel tax abatement either. Just political showmanship because no matter which one is done, in the end consumers will be paying for it one way or the other.

 

So here's the big question. How much tax actually goes back into the road repair, etc system?

I'm not sold on mass transit. All these people that pay .50 a day on the east coast to get to work have it made. It has to take a decent sum to keep those lines running. I remember reading somewhere that it comes out of the fuel taxes. So the people that live out in bfe are paying for them to get to work...

 

Who really knows, that's just what they say it goes to. Like I say, this could be political showmanship for another agenda.


Well you have to remember(I noticed your in Iowa) that bigger cities and the east coast are very heavily populated, so your able to spread out your costs. Growing up in Dallas(well Plano actually), we used the Dart train all the time when we didn't want to deal with parking in Dallas(or the violance that happens in those parking lots over there too). However, the Dart costs a little more then .50 cents for a day pass, however, there are alot of places that do offer discounts with day passes(tourist attractions mainly) for the same day visit on certain days. I do believer that there is a place for mass transit, just not in Iowa.

 

We're caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. Less miles driven, less fuel used mean less taxes collected yet the roads, bridges, etc need to be maintained. Solution -- raise tax!! Same thing happened with the water system in the Atlanta area as a result of the recent draught. Less water used, less money collected yet there's still the system to maintain. Raise rates.

 

I didn't think of it that way, but that is a valid point, however, if you raise rates and still have record fuel prices on your hands, that's going to drive demand even further down and you'll be collecting even less. Now higher taxes might offset the additional losses, but I'm willing to beat it'll be a push with what they are getting right now. Plus they are wanting that mileage tax in addition to the federal tax hike(if you were to do something, the mileage tax would probably be the least offensive to people as not everyone would bare the brunt of that(even though I would be since I'm a high mileage driver)). What gets me is that they are wanting to do both, that doesn't seem like they really are trying to generate revenue for a system, but trying to push an alterior motive(it could just be me, I have no evidence to back it up, just a suspicion mind you). Not only that but getting to tax crazy during a pretty bad economic downturn would also be political suicide as well. Now if they are going to have something in there to help drive down the big cost of fuel per gallon down(either alternative fuels(whatever they may be) widely available or more oil until alternative fuels are able to be widely available) this won't be pretty.

 

I don't disagree with you. However, I believe the system is very unefficient. Like everything it's subsidized.

 

Oh no your right, it could be better, but like everything else: "it's good enough for government work".

 

well ya see, they have to raise the fuel tax to pay for road works, cause the current fuel tax is used to balance the budget and pay for improvements to the mass transit rail lines.
they just approved the expenditure of $250 billion to put a new train tunnel in under the river to New Jork city.

the project is being overseen by the port authority of New Jork, but it has to be paid for by New Jersey, cause the riders live in Jersey.
and since the state don't have the money to pay for it,
they are raising the fuel tax and highway tolls.


now don't get me wrong, the new tunnel is needed, cause it can take over 1 hour to get the trains under the river.
but i really thing the proper place to find the money to build the tunnel is from the people that will be using it, not from the people that will never use it.

but then again, that is the reason why i will never be elected to public office. cause i think before i act.

 

Yeah, thats about par for the course. Bottom line...I finally get the truck of my dreams and in a few months I won't be able to enjoy it. Just another case in which the little guy gets screwed without even getting a kiss.

 

Yea sometimes you do miss a little forplay every now and again.