Sean Kelly
Free Thinker
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Registered: Jan 2003
Local time: 05:46 PM
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 4292
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Someone just posted a link to this story in an automotive forum I'm in. They were pissing and moaning over the potential threat of having to pay another bill - but I see another threat below the surface.
States Mull Taxing Drivers By Mile
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... "I was paying about $500 a month," says [Jayson] Just.
So Just bought a fuel efficient hybrid and said goodbye to his gas-guzzling BMW.
And what kind of mileage does he get?
"The EPA estimate is 60 in the city, 51 on the highway," says Just.
And that saves him almost $300 a month in gas. It's great for Just but bad for the roads he's driving on, because he also pays a lot less in gasoline taxes which fund highway projects and road repairs. As more and more hybrids hit the road, cash-strapped states are warning of rough roads ahead. |
Okay, so let me get this spaghetti mess straight. So you're saying that the cost savings associated with higher fuel efficient vehicles which is the very thing that motivates buyers to consider purchasing them may be negated by a new law which penalizes them for buying less gas thereby reducing available funds to the state? What's next, a special shoe-disposal tax for people who choose to use sidewalks rather than incur the expenses associated with vehicular travel?
This is ludicrous.
The underlying threat I forespoke of is the removal of incentive for drivers to select alternative energy transportation options if they're not as fun to drive and just as costly. This would be a major setback in our long-term goals to have cleaner air.
Smile; It confuses people.  |
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02-15-2005 11:28 PM
