Americans overwhelmingly against gas tax
22 percent of Americans would buy a hybrid to help the environmentTalk to most auto executives about fuel economy and most of them say the same thing. Without higher gas prices most Americans just don't care. Cupholders are more important. Thus, many of these executives have claimed that without a gas tax, the idea of significantly increasing American fuel economy is a far-fetched idea.
Unfortunately, a new Rasmussen poll has found that 81 percent of Americans are completely opposed to the idea of a gas tax. In fact, only 8 percent of Americans would support a gas tax and the rest are undecided.
The poll also seems to suggest that most Americans will not buy hybrid cars until prices come down much further or gas prices rise significantly.
Labels: fuel economy, gas tax, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:06 AM
13 Comments:
So instead of a gas tax, we'll have cap and trade. Cap and trade is a tax on domestic production. How much carbon does it allocate to a Chinese manufactured car. That car uses some percent of recycled steel. Recycled vs new uses vastly different amounts of energy. And was that energy coal or Methane...
It's easier to export all energy using industries and blame them for the CO2. The same thing applies to computer server farms.
Sometimes one has to have the courage to do unpopular things. In this case thru my eyes a 'gas tax' is the most fair system imaginable. We already tax vehicles based on weight (license plate/vehicle registrations)dont we ?
Well those that use the most gas, would also pay the most tax, as they pollute/use the most, just like everything else in life.
I would also agree to for ME to be 'taxed' by letting the truckers and carriers add on their additional costs for same, to the 'public' in order to stay in business. I would be willing to pay for to keep those guys in business as long as the 'pass on' is fair and reasonable.
i also would not mind paying the gas tax.
john - i've seen some data on how cap&trade will increase gas prices, and it might have a very small effect overall on prices. on the downside, it could increase the cost of coal powered electricity for instance. combined the two might make plug-in vehicles even less appealing to Americans. that's one of my worries.
ultimately, i think the simplicity of the gas tax makes it very compelling. it's utterly transparent.
nonetheless, it doesn't really matter. it's just not going to happen.
Unfortunately this article is right on the money.
As a group, Americans want to be independent of foreign oil, but as individuals, Americans are unwilling to do what it takes to get there.
There is one one way to make change happen. Lead by example...
If folks like us to set the example, one by one, we'll win them over.......
I prefer a carbon neutral synfuel mandate rather than a gas tax. A certain percentage of gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel should be composed of carbon neutral synthetic fuels which are usually more expensive that petroleum based fuels. Thes higher prices would add more incentive to buy plug-in-hybrids.
A fuel tax could then be placed on all fuels that do not meet the government mandated percentage of carbon neutral synfuels.
http://newpapyrusmagazine.blogspot.com/1999/01/synfuels-and-price-of-oil.html
i like the optimism, smurf. i hope that's enough, but i listen to guys like mike jackson of autonation - people with decades of industry experience - and i believe that a much more drastic set of actions are required.
marcel - isn't the outcome of your mandate still similar to a gas tax? if so, wouldn't consumers - and voters - balk at that proposal as well?
ultimately, isn't america in a catch-22? are we smart enough to see our way through this crisis? to have the vision needed to leap forward?
i don't think so, at least not as "the people". and, without the people, can america really move forward?
Dahcredyns, while most consumers are against a gas tax, other polls have shown that consumers would utilize cleaner fuels that helped the environment even if it cost more.
Most consumers want more than just being taxed, they want us to move away from the petroleum fuel economy-- if possible. And they are afraid that the higher gas tax will just disappear into a black hole instead of helping us kick the petroleum habit.
The only way people in this country will learn is to feel pain. The lack of morality and non-existent social responsibility of Americans is astounding. Truly astounding.
Where did such a lack of personal responsibility and arrogance creep into this society?
marcel-
the research i've seen still shows that Americans, and the british by the way, are willing to do very little if it costs more, whether it be clean fuels or alternative technologies. similarly, over 80 percent of americans would buy a hybrid if it only cost a little more than a regular car. i think payback has to be recovered in two years or less is the rough number.
a gas tax couldn't just disappear into a black hole because the increase in price itself would force change. my argument would be to reinforce that change with tax credits for the buyers of more fuel efficient vehicles. likewise, the higher priced oil-fuels would make alt fuels more price competitive.
noz -
it's all about freedom, right? freedom from responsibility. still, many, many americans don't live that way, so there is hope. moreover, younger people, according to polls, are more interested in gas taxes, global warming, etc.
Indigo Incarnates
I'd take a gas tax over a mileage tax any day. Some control-freak in Congress wants to make all drivers install GPS trackers in their cars so that the government can tax per mile driven. Can it get any more intrusive?!
there is some good logic behind the mileage tax, but it is too intrusive. and, i'd also prefer a gas tax. regardless, it doesn't seem as if either plan has a chance. for now it seems its cap and trade or nothing. i hope that's enough but i think its going to move the auto industry too slowly.
Perhaps charging people for blocks of mileage would be better..like prepaid phones or a car lease.
Essentially you pay per 10 miles or 100 miles, etc...
I don't think there's anything wrong with that. And as far as intrusiveness goes, lets get real....there are so many things that are already intrusive....DMV smog checks?
But if it helps the environment...I'm all for it. Too many people out don't care enough and need to be forced to care.
soon, however, noz, then insurance companies and the tax man, etc., etc., will find some excuse to use this data against consumers, at least that's the fear.
does the government really need that much insight into our personal lives?
moreover, wouldn't something like a gas tax be more easily implemented and transparent?
still, i think this is a moot point for now.
i guess the real focus should be on whether cap and trade can address this issue well enough.
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