Here is another post on the survey done on our community. One issue dividing our ranks, the question,
“Should the gas tax be substantially raised?”
66% of our community said yes, 34% said no.
Here are some of the "No" responses:
1 It is regressive like grocery taxes.
2 In an economic climate where the poorest of our citizens will be the most
affected, it would be a catastrophic event, and would put more money in the
hands of politicians who have shown they can't be trusted with just about
anything.
3 Let the market determine the price of gasoline.
4 Better to encourage and educate about the value of plug in hybrid electric
vehicles.
5 It would discredit the new administration with too many Americans. While I
personally favor it, it would turn many against change.
6 Starve the Government, feed capitalism...
7 People are already having a tough time with gas prices and since it is
done on a state to state level, it would be hard to monitor.
8 Energy is the currency of nature so why tax something we need...tax the
things we don’t need like booze, cigarettes and cigars.
9 Government must become less friendly to the fossil fuel industries, i.e.,
its fossil fuel income -- both marginal and total -- must be reduced, not
increased.
10 We having and we are paying to much taxes and the govt they spending the
people money without control, and the EU must get the people vote for
Parliament to approved it not be approved by them by only few hundred that
what they should do
11 What for? The government should not be in the social engineering
business. Let the marketplace drive auto buyers to more efficient autos.
12 Socialism
Here are some of the "Yes" responses:
1 Because the market cost of gasoline does not reflect the true cost to
society of burring carbon based fuels.
2 Funding alternatives
3 Reduce demand, reduce price volatility, fund cleaner energy alternatives.
4 It should be raised to establish a price floor for gasoline that maintains
pressure to reduce oil use.
5 Both consumers and businesses need a strong and clear price signal.
Without that, investments and behavioral changes will be slow and
inconsistent -- or worse.
6 We're out of time.
7 To pay for new resource development
8 This is the most direct way to maintain our transportation infrastructure
9 Encourage conservation.
10 Reduce use and generate income - but it needs to be used for alternate
energy and not get co-opted.
11 The only way to motivate folks to look for alternative transportation
(such as the one we're proposing) is to get to their pocketbooks
12 A fair carbon tax is about $0.50 a gallon. If we are going to put a
carbon tax on other sources - it should be on gasoline too.
59% of people taking the survey felt the Energy Collective represented a collection of the best thinking on energy policy on the internet. The fact that our community has diverse opinions on issues like this is a strength.
Josh Gordon
www.Selling2.com