Letters to the Editor
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Stupid idea, but
I don't believe if gas prices come down a bit, people will hop in their cars and drive aimlessly around, or use their stimulation checks to buy a Hummer instead of a Prius.
Most household incomes have not budged in the past 7 years, so if you save $25 a month on gas tax, it will just go to pay that 18% interest on your credit card bill, or your health insurance, or your property taxes.
McCain should talk about a War Tax holiday - save us and our grandchildren the $billions we'll be paying for the War in Iraq.
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"WHEN the party's over"?
You mean we're still having fun -- that a year from now, we'll look back on these as the good old days?
I fear you're right.
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It's time for a gas tax holiday
"Cheap gas in every tank"
And a six-pack of Bud in every refrigerator.
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Let's call it, "McConomics"
That's a real Laffer of a word.
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Global investors: Pay attention
The Republicans' solution to *every* problem seems to be to run up even more debt. The political difficulty of paying it back is already huge, and it gets worse every day. I'm beginning to think that they have no intention of ever paying it back.
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My state's gasoline tax RATE climbs with the price
Not only the amount but the tax rate itself goes up with the wholesale price. A double whammy.
The most obvious side effect of this is that all law enforcement agencies blow their fuel budgets for the quarter and then go out on a ticket writing frenzy to make up the shortfall.
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Well now we know his campaign theme song
Call me irresponsible
Call me unreliable
Throw in undependable too...
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More proof of Republican economic illiteracy -- and why does McCain agree with Osama bin Lade
That is if we needed it. It is funny that Osama bin Laden apparently voices objections to high European gas taxes -- it seems that he sees this as depressing the price of oil and gathering money that should go to the Arab sources of the oil.
Of course this is the issue -- low US gas taxes cause US residents to be more profligate in their use of oil than say Europeans -- which among other things means that the typical European vehicle is about twice as economical on fuel as in the US -- and yet Americans flock to buy sporty European sedans, minis, and VWs, when they can afford it. Seriously, if you cut the gas tax its main impact would be to allow the price of a barrel of crude to go even higher -- it would have little impact on the price of gas at the pump.
A more logical approach would be to say that I am going to keep the gas tax at a level that means that average US pump prices stay where they are now, and if the price of oil falls, the extra tax raised can be used first to pay off the cost of the Iraq fiasco, and then to try to deal with US transportation efficiency, by for example building more high speed rail lines. Maybe use some of it to fund alternative energy research, e.g., nuclear, even fusion, etc.
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@alkaline
You're right, they have no intention of paying it back themselves; China will come calling in a couple of decades and every American currently under 40 will be forced to pay back Bush's economic and military blunders.
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Are you stupid?
Andrew Leonard either can't read or can't think or can't do both. I'm really not sure. He keeps writing pieces that purport to analyze the comments of Republicans while doing nothing but distort what they say.
McCain did not encourage more people to drive. He didn't encourage more people to fill up their gas tanks. He recommended a simple way for the Feds to stop capitalizing on high gas prices by lowering the price at the pump so that CURRENT USAGE will not incur greater fees. His recommendation is to take less out of our pockets for the amount of gas that we CURRENTLY buy.
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@jpincus
McCain did not encourage more people to drive. He didn't encourage more people to fill up their gas tanks. He recommended a simple way for the Feds to stop capitalizing on high gas prices by lowering the price at the pump so that CURRENT USAGE will not incur greater fees. His recommendation is to take less out of our pockets for the amount of gas that we CURRENTLY buy.
The logic being used here is that people will pan to use less gas tomorrow if the price is higher today.
That's the same logic behind the War on Drugs, which, as I understand, the Republicans wholeheartedly support.
In the War on Drugs, we spend billions of tax dollars to engage in actions designed to increase the price that cocaine users CURRENTLY pay for cocaine.
This is supposed to make them less able to afford cocaine in the FUTURE.
And this price increase is supposed to cure their cocaine addiction.
Actually, I don't think this strategy will cure oil addiction any better than it has cured cocaine addiction.
It might have a slightly better chance at success, though, because the high price of oil will induce businesses to cut their consumption to protect their bottom lines.
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Why not eliminate all taxes?
It's not like gasoline tax dollars go to support anything, you know, like highway maintenance or anything. Last I knew, much of America's aging infrastructure is in need of tremendous investment.
Why don't the Republicans simply come out and declare a desire to eliminate all taxes, and by extension, all public services? That's their real dream isn't it? - No schools but home school. No roads but from the mansion to the airstrip. You want water - dig yourself a well! No need for a justice system if everybody just carries guns and "solves problems" in the street like they did in the Wild West.
Tell us what you really want, Mr. McCain.
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jpincus
What time do McCain's people email you their talking points? Funny how you accuse Mr. Leonard of not thinking when you're just parroting McCain's people's justifications.
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Then what?
When the "gas tax holiday" ends we'll still be in a recession. This is just like people who max out their credit cards for Christmas presents. The bill still comes due in January.
Here's a tip John, when you're in a hole- stop digging.