tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848541039913019341.post2750009440664141198..comments2023-10-01T06:34:39.919-06:00Comments on Random Musings of a Tormented Mind: Mileage Tax?KGouldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537080163900313558noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848541039913019341.post-43905113108459078612010-01-04T14:25:57.828-07:002010-01-04T14:25:57.828-07:00rendensign - yes I talked about how I live in a mo...rendensign - yes I talked about how I live in a more rural region where many people have to drive a fair distance to get to work. That's just the way things are around here. We bought a fuel efficient car a few months ago to help ease the $$ burden from our SUV in nicer weather - but if we got hit with a mileage tax instead, it would kind of kick us in the butt for trying to be more Green. (actually we were trying to be LESS green - ie MONEY lol).KGouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537080163900313558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848541039913019341.post-38080273776337324452010-01-04T14:22:28.793-07:002010-01-04T14:22:28.793-07:00Powell - believe me, I have used the ciggy tax ana...Powell - believe me, I have used the ciggy tax analogy a lot but most people I encounter close their ears to it and say it's okay cos 'smoking is bad for you, and so is second-hand smoke'.<br /><br />Why yes it is. But GUESS WHAT?<br /><br />So is gasoline, according to many. And if you believe the whole AGW theory, like so many of those who guffaw at my ciggy tax talk do, then you'd know it's actually WORSE than second hand smoke because it's not just people in your near vicinity who are affected - it's every living thing on Planet Earth.<br /><br />So, pushing aside the cigarette tax comparisons because 'it's bad for you', doesn't fly anymore does it? Gasoline ain't that great either apparently.<br /><br />Next up - higher taxation on various forms of energy like natural gas and coal? Oh wait, that's already in the works with Cap and Trade type plans, what was I thinking? Silly moi!<br /><br />Anyway the number of programs we use tax dollars to fund is so high, we cannot keep up. And the 'better' we live our lives (stop smoking, use less fuel, etc) the less taxes will be taken in and those HAVE to be replaced if the programs are all supposed to continue running. How do they propose to do that?<br /><br />Why of course, increasing taxes or creating entirely new tax schemes after 'pilot projects' show their successes. Well the UK has been one big long pilot project. Surely because of their 'success' in funding their road projects via gas tax, tax discs and MOT fees, we should just follow suit quickly and efficiently.<br /><br />The time WILL come. But I wonder how many people will complain and act surprised, even after supporting AGW etc etc for years on end?KGouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537080163900313558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848541039913019341.post-63406907882483047902010-01-04T11:57:40.679-07:002010-01-04T11:57:40.679-07:00I mileage tax is great if you're an urbanite w...I mileage tax is great if you're an urbanite who lives in the city. It's not so great if you live in the country though. I suspect this tax is more ideologically than practically driven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848541039913019341.post-26957121014416806192010-01-04T11:55:17.833-07:002010-01-04T11:55:17.833-07:00This is the catch 22 in all this reduce, reuse, re...This is the catch 22 in all this reduce, reuse, recycle movement. While the idea has great merit, the one entity that does not adhere to this philosophy is government. As a prime example: at one time cigarette taxes were low and since many people smoked the government could count on a certain amount of income. Then the number of people smoking dropped quite dramatically and the government revenues along with it. The government's answer was to raise the tax on the remaining smokers while defending the action by the false claim that this was aimed at further reducing the number of smokers and to discourage young people from acquiring the habit. Horse-hockey! The idea was to maintain the flow of revenue to the government coffers. What this has accomplished is to increase the level of illegal activity in the tobacco market and increase the number of teen smokers. When taxes become onerous people will find a way of avoiding them. I, for one, take advantage of any cheap contraband cigarettes I can get my hands on, and will continue to do so. I've been smoking for 55 years and no social-engineering bureaucrat is going to stop me.<br /><br />P.S. I do not recommend the practice to anyone. Smoking is a hazard to most people's health. (I've just been lucky, so far.)It is a costly, smelly, and disgusting habit...and that's its good points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com