The idea of ex post facto laws pertains to committing an act that is subsequently deemed to be a crime (or penalties are steepened), not to grandfathering auto regulatory standards in old cars.

 

I don't understand why so many people want to be taxed at a higher rate. For the most part I'd rather have the government off my back instead of in my wallet.

 

I want to see others taxed high. That way they are kept down and subservient, and I have a competitive advantage over them.

 

I don't WANT to be taxed at a higher rate, but I am a gas tax "proponent" for two reasons:

1. IF you decide that we need an energy policy that somehow reduces our use of oil, a gas tax is the ONLY effective way. Every other way is stupid, wastes money, and is based on someone's personal agenda (anti-SUV,) not common sense or facts. I'm not saying "golly gee, I hope we get a higher gas tax," I'm saying "IF you decide that we need to reduce oil use, here's how to do it." I am not 100% sure that we need an artificial reason to reduce oil use (I think pure supply/demand and price will do it for us,) but as a pure intellectual exercise, a gas tax is the only way that makes sense to reduce gas use.

2. I want my freedom of choice. I happen to like sports cars. I also enjoy some SUVs. A gas tax is the best way to ensure those two things stay. Regulating types of cars, CAFE, carbon taxes, congestion tax, etc, all may conspire to directly or indirectly wipe out certain types/classes of vehicles. But a gas tax doesn't inherently restrict vehicle choice, and it encourages R&D, not just a goofy product mix. Rather than the gov't saying "you can only choose these types of vehicles" or "You can only drive XXX miles/month" they would be saying "Gas is now $X.XX/gal, build that into your budget and determine what vehicle best fits your needs." So I could continue to own a sports car and an SUV to drive when the need arises, but I might also chose to buy a cheap daily commuter. Compare that to the gov't making sports cars or SUVs much harder to attain through CAFE or other laws. I know which approach I prefer.

 

OK, since you are having trouble with the numbers. Consider the case of two commuters, my self and a friend of mine. The friend had a truck that got 15mpg. I had a car that got about 25. He drove 10 miles each way to work. I drove 25. Do the math. Who used more gas per year? But that's OK because my car got better mileage.

Is that dummed down enough for you?

 

i used to feel that way too... but when other's are kept down and subserviant, eventually they turn to violence against those they persume to have agained a competitive advantage on the backs of their dis-advantage...

now i then figured, maybe ill play a number's game and think i can have enough weapons to survive eventual anarchy, but i think id rather have less bullets coming at me cause one might hit the mark, than just having a bunch of bullets to fire back...


i agree with Stack that you need to tax the gas to reduce the depedence on oil, especially imported oil... but the nation is run by individuals who have spent trillions of dollars; either from taxes, borrowed, or freshly printed, over the last 50 years to ensure a steady and cheap stream of oil without environmental headaches... theyre not going to stop now...

 

What kind of idiot are you? Are you actually trying to maintain a logically consistent view on the subject? What BS. Stop posting until you learn not to think first!

Repeat after me. SUV is bad. It doesn

 

The great tragedy of homo sapiens is that those who are the least fit to survive breed the most.

 

rockville > ashamouel for making sense and proper application of basic logic.

 

Suppose they passed a $20,000 per vehicle tax on two seat cars because only cars that seat at least 5 people are considered "efficient". Are you OK with that?

The scariest phrase in the English language is, "Hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help". It is fascinating to see what a fabulous job our media and education system has done of teaching the sheeple that they should turn to the government every time they have a problem. If you feel you are undertaxed, then every time you buy a tank of gas, send $50 to state. Convince your friends to the same if you want, just stay out of my life.