Al Gore appears in commercial supporting Proposition 87.
Proposition 87 is an initiative appearing on the California ballot that is aimed at stopping California’s dependence on foreign oil. The goal is to cut oil usage by 25% over 10 years while also encouraging new technology that will help eliminate our oil dependancy. How do you think they are going to do this? Well, it’s a measure proposed by Democrats, so that should be your first big clue.
Yes, they will raise taxes. They will tax America oil companies. And the beat goes on.
The Left still clings to the notion that raising taxes does good things – that it encourages positive behavior. I don’t get it. This is capitalism and in such an economy raising taxes on the corporations only hurts the consumer. We’re already paying $3 a gallon for gas with OPEC threatening to cut production even more and these morons want to RAISE taxes on oil companies and thus make us pay MORE at the pump? I guess they can tell us "it's for your own good". And they somehow think this will stimulate research into alternative fuel sources?
Surely not even the people of California will fall for this nonsense. If the 90s proved anything, it’s that R&D is encouraged by lower taxes. The tech boom of that decade was a direct result of the corporate tax breaks from the Reagan era. The ensuing economic collapse of 2000-01 was a direct result of Clinton’s massive corporate tax-hike. Raising taxes on oil companies won’t hurt the oil companies and it won’t encourage more research. It will simply lead to HIGHER prices at the pump, likely industry job cuts and a more sluggish economy.
We ALREADY have the technology. Instead of taxing oil companies, how about building more nuclear power plants? How about setting up financial incentives to increase alcohol-based fuels or biofuels?
I’m all for eliminating our foreign oil dependence. But raising taxes and slowing down the economy is not the way to do it. Good intention, but very bad idea.
2 comments:
I've probably raised this point here, and if so, I apologize for repeating myself.
I support higher gas taxes because, to me, it is only fiscally responsible to do so. For several reasons. The most obvious three being:
1. We'll be forced to wean ourselves off of gas at some point because gas is a finite supply. Probably sooner rather than later, but definitely at some point. If we wait until we're forced to do so by an economy crash, it will be much more painful than if we begin the change right now.
2. I support paying for things as we go, not pushing costs off on future generations, the poor, the ill, the environment or others. Right now, our fossil fuel prices are artificially low because costs are being pushed off on others. As a matter of personal, societal and fiscal responsibility, higher gas taxes would be one way (not the only way) of trying to pay for things as we go.
3. Our fossil fuel-dependent society is damaging to too many. We don't allow Mr. A to throw his garbage into his neighbors yard, why do we allow Mr. A to throw his garbage into his neighbor's air, ground and water? The main difference between solid wastes and gas wastes is that gas wastes are toxic.
Artificially low? Judging by the way OPEC magically adjusts production I'd say prices are artificially high.
The problem is we wouldn't just pay more at the pump, we'd pay more every second of our lives. Everything from a gallon of milk to a hot shower would cost more. It would be a completely unfair tax and its incredibly short-sighted. There are BETTER ways to stop our foreign oil dependence. We shouldn't punish the consumer that's already paying too much as it is, thanks to OPEC's greed. The technology is there, all we have to do is open a few doors to allow it into the mainstream and then good ole free enterprise takes over.
The oil problem will correct itself as long as we leave the economy alone. There are already back orders on hybrid cars and farmers are lining up start mass producing ethanol-based fuels. If we tax oil, the economy grinds to a halt and it sets us back. It would be a very dumb move.
Post a Comment