Gas tax politics

We could hardly have a better issue than the gas tax debate to encapsulate, in near-caricature form, the different styles of these two formidable candidates. There's ruthless Hillary Clinton, the say-anything, do-anything-to-win candidate, shamelessly pandering while economist after economist slams her (and John McCain) for proposing a federal gas tax hiatus that they say is lousy policy. And there's Barack Obama, Adlai Stevenson reincarnated, who relates to eggheads in faculty lounges and newspaper editorial boards far better than working stiffs desperate for a little relief at the gas pump.

Democratic pollster Dave Beattie, who is not working for either campaign, said one reason the gas tax holiday is not more popular is because many voters have seen firsthand that such proposals produce little relief at the pump. "When you do something repeatedly and people don't see a change, they get skeptical,'' said Beattie, who is based in Jacksonville. "In Florida we've had a gas tax holiday, and I bet if you asked the average Floridian if they saved money I don't think they'd remember the gas tax holiday."

More here. Meanwhile Charlie Crist's failed push for a gas tax holiday get him on the New York Times front page today:

"It’s about trying to serve the people and trying to understand and have caring, compassionate hearts for what they’re dealing with at the kitchen table,” said Mr. Crist, a Republican. He added, “I’m supposed to respond to the people and try to make them happy.”

Comments

Mr. Crist, a Republican. He added, “I’m supposed to respond to the people and try to make them happy.”

Unfortunately making people happy isn't always in the public's best policy.

Yes doing what the majority (mob) wants is certainly not always the best policy.

That is why we are not a democracy, we are a representative republic.

You would think that a REPUBLICAN would know this, but Crist and McCain are no Republicans.

meanwhile, the bush/pierce crime family and the cheney family fortunes grow daily, since they all have HUGE INTERESTS IN OIL PROFITS!!

still havent had enough?

The Democrats have control of Congress...what is Nancy Pelosi's secret "common sense plan" to lower prices?

Can't wait to hear this...

Irresponsible policies of the BUSH administration and the GOP dominated Congress have resulted in a host of no-win problems for the US economy. The solution, according to these proven failures, is to promote feel-good measures like tax cuts and tax holidays which get votes but just further compound the problem. We're going to continue to experience these issues until someone bites the bullet and unmasks the corporate interests which are running this country into the ground, and acts to stop them.

9:30 and a Republic can only function effectively with wise and fair leaders. The REPUBLICANS have provided only foolish and greedy ones.

Time for a big change.

Unfortunately, neither party is offering credible assessments of the challenges we face or solutions for those issues. This nation is adrift, and Republicans and Democrats alike give us drivel and hope that American Idol is sufficiently distracting that we won't notice that curious feeling in our gut as we plunge over the cliff.

If America is going to continue to lead in this century, we first need to rouse ourselves from the junk-food and junk-idea inspired fugue state that grips our nation, courtesy in large part of the grinning morons that run our government. Why question the logic of fighting for oil in the Middle East when we can evaluate Barack Obama on his bowling skills? Hey, and let's spend a little more time debating our state song.

Wipe the drool from your chin, put down the Doritos, and wake up to the fact that we, and not the politicians, are going to have to solve these problems.

What would it take to remove oil from the commodities market? If that is even possible?

a world command economy. If we don't trade it, it will be traded in euros. That would destroy our economy

Cutting taxes is always good policy...Especially during an economic downturn, slowdown or recession (whatever we're "officially in").

I'll bet my bottom dollar that if all of the taxes being discussed were cut or even eliminated that government would continue to prosper and provide needed services to the public.

We don't need an "oil" policy, we need an "oil refining policy."

[Omega83]

11:21 if they don't pay for the roads form the gas tax, what revenue source would you suggest?

would you be willing to pay $5-$10 tolls to drive on certain roads?

11:22, well put!

11:28, dead-nuts-on!

11:21, stop blaming government for your vote. If you don't like the managers, fire them on Election day.

in 1973!!!!
we experienced the FIRST GAS CRISIS

over the years, big motors have sabotaged economy cars and electric cars

big oil has dawdled and dawled, while raking in OBSCENE PROFITS (see: bush/pierce crime family)

repiglicans from ronnie ray-gun thru the drunk have either tried to ABOLISH the dept of energy or otherwise made ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT to promote wise energy use or conservation in any and all manner

(please note, JACKASSES: anwar would provied about ONE YEAR'S oil for the u.s.a.!!!!, regardless of what your lying asshats tell us!!!)

HAS THE URGENCY GOTTEN YOUR ATTENTION YET, STUPID REPIGLICAN LEMMINGS??!!??

Ever since the Democrats have taken control in 2004, nothing has been done. And if we as American people do take control and elect an all Republican Congress and Senate, then maybe some items would start to be better for the American people. Gas prices come down, no more taxes. No more amnesty,send the illegal aliens back to where they come from. No more medical or welfare, food stamps for the illegal aliens, they have no rights here in the USA. And the sooner that the Republican Party comes back in charge, will the American People see these new changes.

11:35 you are a complete moron.

The only ones who sabotaged economy cars and electric cars, etc were those pesky consumers. No one wanted to buy that crap. Believe me, when there is money to be made in those types of vehicles, you will see more of them.

Those pesky consumers, though, still want to drive their SUVs and Trucks until it becomes economically unfeasible to do so.

I'll tell you what...you do what you want to do with your money, and i'll do what i want to do with my money. You stay out of my business and i'll stay out of yours.

On another note, ANWR is only part of the equation. If not for the environmental fascists, we would have more rigs in the Gulf and elsewhere. And as another poster said, we would have more refining capability.

All those different blends for different parts of the country cost money. Why not have one blend? Because of "environmentalists".

Lastly, you mention oil company profits, but do you know what their profit margin is? Do you know WHAT a profit margin is. Did it occur to you that record PROFITS stem from record SALES? Their profits increase, but the profit margin remains the same as it was 20 years ago.

11:52 Obtuse Norquist hack, defending the indefensible again. Trying to spin away what everyone with a pair of eyes can obviously see for themselves.

11:52 - WELL SAID!! I second that!

(And third and forth and fifth, etc.) A majority of one. A real grassroots groundswell of public opinion in favor of unregulated corporate greed. Yeah right.

[Obvious]

i think we should increase the tax to 250% and use the money to fix our roads, build new schools, and forgive all federal student loans. You think a 600 dollar tax credit will stimulate the economy??? Try taking the 15 million people with student loans and giving them 200-800 per month!

HELLO!, 11.47:

THE NATION WAS LIBERATED FROM THE REPIGLICAN LIE AND GREED MACHINE IN THE 2006 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, NOT 2004!

NO WONDER WE R IN SUCH A FIX!!

11.52:

each and every statement was an repiglicanlemming LIE!!

THE PIGGLICANLEMMINGS CANT EVEN COUNT RIGHT!!

A 'gas tax holiday' is not the answer. And I'm amazed that it is even being discussed by people who should know better. Saving a few bucks over the course of a couple weeks is going to cost us dearly. And come on, does anybody truly believe that we'd even see a savings? As the price of gas continues to climb, any 'savings' that you might see will be obliterated. What a completely foolish idea from completely foolish people.

Great central planning agenda 12:30. The problem is the working people who actually create tangible things that result in wealth don't want you deciding what is best for them. You put forth your own effort and wealth toward doing the things you want to see accomplished. Leave the rest of us out of it because we didn't tell anyone to become overindebted,many school districts have declining student populations and new buildings will not make them teach or learn any better than they alreadly do not to mention if you raise the gas tax 250% there will not be any need for roads because no one except a few wealthy elitist will be able to afford to drive on them.

The fact is the tax (read profit) the Government is raking in with these high gas taxes is obscene. At least the oil companies actually do something to earn their money. The bureaucrats don't. So Cut Gas Taxes until it hurts, government bureaucrats and those that lobby them.

How should we pay for roads? General revenue. Why should my gas taxes serve to get your walking a-- goods to market, buses everywhere you don't want to walk etc. Then when everyone had a stake in the infrastructure there would be more pressure to improve it and not build bridges to nowhere etc.

1:12 More fascist Norquist garbage. Doesn't want you to collect any compensation when HIS corporation destroys your ANWR or your Gulf Coast Beaches, pollutes your water and air, fishes out your oceans, cuts down your national forests, mines your mountains. Hands off your money after he's turned it into his profit.

1:12

the gas taxed is priced to the gallon, not the dollar. It has not been raised since 1993.

General Revenue very much pays for roads. The Highway Trust Fund is in addition to.

Why should you pay for roads for others use? Do you not grocery shop? Do you not pick up drugs from your pharmacy? How does the food and meds get there? How do you get there? Are the roads congested getting you there?

The government makes more money on the sale of a gallon of gas than the oil companies do.

And it wasn't the government who had to put up the capital, do the actual work to get the oil out of the ground, refine it and transport it to your local gas station.

The government just sits back and collects its take. sort of like organized crime, only legal.

1:25 and the government uses it to benefit US citizens, if they're Democrats, or they waste it on wars and payoffs to the rich, if part of the GOP organized crime family.

You lefties still haven't answered the question on profit margins.

What do you think the profit margin to the oil company is on the sale of a gallon of gas in percent?

Multiple choice:
a. 15%
b. 25%
c. 10%
d. 50%

1:45 -

No the Democrats use it to by the votes of idiots like you who are all too willing to allow the government to control every aspect of your life.

1:51 My guess would be, you're the one who's bought and paid for.

[Mark]

10:18 am--One of the best posts ever on one of these boards. Bravo.

1:46 - the answer is C

[Omega83]

How do you think they "transport" it to the gas station? On public roads...

What revenue source pays for the maintenance of the roads that the heavy trucks transport on? The gas tax...

Get a f_ucking clue

4:25 PM

The answer is actually 8%. So none of the above is the correct answer.

[Clyde]

Will those of you who want to discuss this issue rationally please stop interrupting the mental masturbation??

[Adolf]

Yawoul!

[Goering]

Sieg Heil!

[Yamamoto]

Sumimasen!

[Tom]

I agree with 11:52 AM it is all volume and profits from side businesses that oil companies make money on. Consider all the rental income Shell oil gets from the gas station properties it owns on US 19. Then guesstimate how many properties it owns world wide? This is just a part of an oil company's income, oil companies make money in every aspect of its line of work, if it did not, it would have to pay someone else, so why not the oil company itself?
1:22 PM The State changes the amount it charges in gas taxes annually. OK, perhaps the State did not raise it this year, but it did last year! Pinellas County raised its gas tax last year.
We got a new one to consider. There is a person out there that wants Student Loans to be forgiven or something done with Student Loans! When does it end? We have people that want me to pay their Ad Valorem tax. People want me to pay their insurance premiums. Now we have someone that wants me to pay their Student Loan debt? I guess we can have the expense fall under Department of Children and Families and pay for it out of a new 1% sales tax.

[Tom]

The more I think about it, the more people want everyone to pay their fair share, equal amounts, the fair tax and stuff like that.........I think you guys are all Socialists, you all defected from Cuba, you are the second coming of Castro.

[Omega83]

If anyone does not want to pay gasoline taxes, then you should not be allowed to drive on public roads.

I am anti bad-tax, however there are some public benefits I enjoy, one being good roads. For that I am willing to pay taxes.

So, if you are going to damage our roads and are unwilling to pay to fix them, get the hell off...