The naked face of government Share This:





The foregoing is prompted by a



The news item opens, Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The reason? So many people are driving fuel efficient cars that the resulting decline in gas sales poses "a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes." Oregon is one the "greenest" states in the Union -- by which I mean, it is among the first and loudest states to clamor for environmental measures. And, yet, such an epitomy of greenness is willing to pioneer the establishment of a policy that eliminates the financial incentive for buying fuel-efficient vehicles instead of gas-guzzlers.



People bought too much gasoline, so they wanted to raise gasoline taxes. Now people aren't buying enough, so they want to raise gasoline taxes. The constant: they want to raise taxes. Take away the rhetoric and what you have left is the bottom-line of government: a gun in the hands of those who want your money.



(For a discussion of Oregon, mileage taxes, granola-crunching, etc., see the thread Back to category overview Back to news overview Older News Newer News



Printer Friendly Wendy McElroy - Saturday 03 January 2009 - 05:27:27 - Permalink I am not naive about the thievery that is government but even I'm amazed at how blatant it has become. All of politics now revolves around the grab for power, for position, for money...mostly for money...and the grasping bastards lack sufficient shame to hire good PR agents. Or, perhaps, they no longer care. If the public just lets them redistribute unprecedented wealth from the hands of working people into those of the worthless rich through bailouts...well, maybe politicians are correct. Maybe there is no need to be anything less than blatant.The foregoing is prompted by a news item with the headline "Oregon looks at taxing mileage instead of gasoline." Here, the true face of the political process shines through the 'noble' masks it often wears in order to appear...if not attractive then, at least, acceptable.The news item opens, Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The reason? So many people are driving fuel efficient cars that the resulting decline in gas sales poses "a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes." Oregon is one the "greenest" states in the Union -- by which I mean, it is among the first and loudest states to clamor for environmental measures. And, yet, such an epitomy of greenness is willing to pioneer the establishment of a policy that eliminates the financial incentive for buying fuel-efficient vehicles instead of gas-guzzlers.People bought too much gasoline, so they wanted to raise gasoline taxes. Now people aren't buying enough, so they want to raise gasoline taxes. The constant: they want to raise taxes. Take away the rhetoric and what you have left is the bottom-line of government: a gun in the hands of those who want your money.(For a discussion of Oregon, mileage taxes, granola-crunching, etc., see the thread "They Hate Us for Our....Oppression" on this site's sister BB. You are most cordially invited to join...or just browse.)