Does the nation need a larger gas tax?

I don’t think they shouls do tht to the people in the us.

I would rather see gas rationing then an increase in gas tax. Do it like we did in the military overseas, where we bought coupon books for 400 liters per month for a subsidized amount, and if we used more than that we paid the price on the pump. Four hundred liters is a little more than 100 gallons and should satisfy most drivers. If not, then make it 150 gallons…just as long as those who use a lot of gas don’t drive up the price for those of us who don’t use too much.

a gas tax seems appropriate and is the only way that gas efficient cars
will dominate.

Best not to enact a higher gas tax until Exxon, etc., will voluntarily make gas available for less and trim their current obscene profits. If they’re reinvesting it in cheaper sources of oil to benefit everyone in the future, good, but show us. But you can bet they’re just getting richer while everyone else is getting poorer, and that’s pretty bad when it’s a necessity like gas.

Maybe everyone should give all of there money to the government and they can divide it up all equaly so every one has the same amount. Then we will all get rid of our cars and walk everywhere. Also we shall live in tents as not to burn natural gas to heat our houses and cause global warming.
Raising the gas tax would not have any other ecconomic impacts like inflation, that wouldn’t be forseen. Because transportation cost and taxes are just absorbed by business and never passed on to the “working families.”

Read this carefully before reacting, I am anti- tax, want smaller govt and am skeptical about global warming (it is happening, but not necessarily due to human activity, but that is another story).

What we need is less imported oil. This is a national security issue as well as huge burden on our economy. The biggest user of oil is gasoline.

The best policy is to increase the gas tax a lot and decrease income taxes an equal amount. If the average person gets taxed $1000 per year, have the average person receive a $1000 income tax reduction/earned income credit increase. Phase it in over many years starting a year from now. This allows people to make their vehicle choices and living decisions in advance of the higher taxes.

Those who use relatively less gas will get more in tax reductions than they pay extra for gas. They will be rewarded for driving fuel efficient vehicles, living close to where they work, etc.

Those who use more fuel will pay more, but large vehicles will still be available to those who need or want them. People who want to commute a long way still can (crazy, but that’s their choice). Choice is preserved, but users pay.

I only favor this approach if the income tax reductions equal the gas tax increases. This is not a govt revenue raiser – just shifting how we are taxed.

When gas prices spiked this summer, people responded by buying more fuel efficient cars, changing driving habits, etc. The result was a substantial decline in gas usage, and the dramatic drop in the price of crude oil and gasoline. (Supply and demand rules, as always.)

As soon as the price dropped, the mix of vehicles being purchased changed.

If we all knew the tax was going higher, we would demand fuel efficient vehicles. Not necessarily small ones, but those with variable cylinders, direct injection, 6+ speed transmissions, etc. that improve efficiency without giving up size or performance. All of these cost money, but we would pay for them to save on expensive fuel.

The answer to our energy woes is “all of the above. Yes, we need to drill here. We need more nuclear power badly. Wind and solar can meet a modest part of our power needs, but the wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine. They are not the solution, just a small part of it.

Put a meaningful tax on gasoline/oil, and the market will work wonders.

But the tax must be neutral, it must be 100% offset by a reduction in income taxes. Otherwise, forget it.

I think it’s time that tax payers in this Country start realizing that we are getting stepped on. We have to stop this brain washing that we’re getting from the government every time they need money. It’s time the tax payers form their OWN committee to determine how to appropriate tax money. We should have the right to vote on suggested government spending agendas. Our government must realize that they work for the tax payers! People need to step up and voice their opinions. DON’T BE AFRAID! Taxpayers….speak up, socialism is just around the corner. The cat and mouse game between each side of the floor (democrats/republicans) arguing, while on tax payers dollar, on how to spend the tax payers money is absurd.

Surely you must be joking! Lets give a dollar per gallon (hell make it two) to a government who gutted our social security system and has put us 10 trillion (soon to be 18 trillion) in debt. What makes you think this money would be spent to reduce our dependence on foreign oil or reduce emissions? America love it, or leave it, right? I served in the USMC from 70 through 72, I got chills up my spine as a kid when they played the national anthem, no more, I’m seriously country shopping, good luck to all you who believe in these bozos that have sold us the the Chinese.

This is so stupid to be discussing a tax on oil (fuel). Energy costs impact every retail product we purchase (let alone energy needs) so adding a tax will artificially raise the cost of everything – and I mean everything like we have just witnessed when oil shot up to $147 a barrel. That is absolutely the wrong thing to do period.

In a free market economy, let the market decide the price and stop giving the Federal & State governments opportunity to pry open your wallets, take YOUR MONEY, and waste it for themselves.

This global warming scare is a load of crap. If we do put more CO in the atmosphere, then agricultural life benefits and more vegetation grows all over the world. How about that – deserts turn back into growing regions. Yep, can think of a few places out there that need that very much.

And my friends the largest source of CO in the atmosphere is from water vapor and there is nothing you can do about that. Man made CO is so small it hardly counts.

I wish people would stop listening to the political green whacko’s who are spewing these lies and misinformation and actually go and read the facts and data for yourself. You will be surprised to learn that global warming is a political scare and not based on facts that the world is going to end.

Be a good steward of the earth, no problem there. Go off the deep end into the carbon footprint got to green crazy political hoax, no thank you.

I wish people would stop, collect real facts, and then THINK for themselves rather than following these so-called green leaders blindly and end up losing it all. God help us for being so stupid.

Not for a minute would I be in favor of increasing a gas tax. I’ve seen many opinions, but will offer mine as well. As a retired senior citizen on a very fixed income, I cannot absorb another tax. What, you say? There is a proposal to rebate that tax via reduced payroll taxes? Yeah, good idea. But remember, I don’t have any payroll taxes to reduce. So, that gas tax would come out of my pocket at 100%.

Buy a new fuel-efficient or electric vehicle? My 8 year old compact sedan is going to have to last a few years more. I can’t buy a new car now. I don’t have the money, no matter what green-proclivity I may have.

Don’t feel sorry for me? That’s fine. I didn’t express this to gain your pity. But, there are many other senior citizens just like me that will have to struggle with the impacts of any new gas tax. I don’t think any consideration was given for this situation, but seniors are just another category of poor or lower-income population.

So, in the middle of a cold, cold winter we are supposed to consider higher gas taxes which will make our per gallon cost equal to or greater than last summer (remember how that sucked?) so that the world will not get warmer. Perhaps we should consider the world’s population for a moment. With more of the earth’s surface in temperate zones there will be more food available and we will be able to feed more people. Hey, Wisconsin, want to have longer summers? This is all lame, make Al Gore more money scheme and the tax will only make the recession last longer. Thank God we elected Obama to fix us up. I hate think we’d be allowed to to think.

This is so interesting. And these ideas usually come from political leaders who do not have to pay for their own gas, drive in conveys of large SUV’s and fly around the country on private jets.

We pay for their transportation with our tax money. A high gas tax is something they inflict on the rest of us. So while they get driven around in their SUV, climb onboard their private yet and go home to the huge, air conditioned mansions with their heated pools, they can feel good about saving the planet.

When Al Gore lives in a one bedroom apartment and bicycles to work, then he can talk to me about my gasoline use!

I spent $,4000.00 on solar panels last year, in the Northern Ohio, if it snows on the panels they don’t work or gather the suns rays with just a little spect of snow or ice of the panel, they must be clean to collect the suns rays. If there is no sun for a day or day and half, you have to go back to electric company, which will charge you a fee of $120.00 start back up your service.

Clean Energy, what a frace!! Solar does not work in the northern states becasue of snow of them, cover one little area and the solar panels don’t work, and half the time there is not sun.

As goes for wind mill farms, they fans murder birds and in the winter time they can kill with ice being thrown from the fan blades.

Clean energy is not so clean.

Those new light bulbs with mercury break one and find out how sick you will get, call HAZMAT.

Solar is not so great and investment in the Northern States.

Clean Energy, what a frace!! Solar does not work in the northern states becasue of snow of them, cover one little area and the solar panels don’t work, and half the time there is not sun.

As goes for wind mill farms, they fans murder birds and in the winter time they can kill with ice being thrown from the fan blades.

Clean energy is not so clean.

Those new light bulbs with mercury break one and find out how sick you will get, call HAZMAT.

Gee, how much more taxs are we as U.S. citizens going to get. Allmost everything now is being taxed.

How is taxing CO2 and gas going to stop Global Warming, not to make Senators and congressman richer, on there green stock, they have in those companies, like Al Gore. $201,000,000.00 is how much he’s made so far on Global Warming, how much has Senators and Ms speaker made.

Mr. Obama, please stop the madness of Global Warming as long as the country is in a bad way, please do the right thing.

Global Warming is a fraud/frace.

WOW… a bunch of crap. And it seems that CNN or the writer of the story was in favor of it. I think it’s about time to enact a national vote on this sort of stuff. Our government has never had been able to do what the people want, they have always been able to push their agendas though and line their pockets. GIVE US A NATIONAL VOITING SYSTEM ON THESE ISSUES!!!!! NO MORE TAXES WITH OUT VOTES!

If they do this tax I swear I will freak out.

This is a true AMERICAN
I cannot believe that some people would be stupid enough as to advocate ANY TAX INCREASE WHATSOEVER. I don’t care what it is, taxes are high enough and state taxes are killing most of us, why does the federal government have to do it too? We are paying a fortune in state tax from everything from income to gasoline to clothes. Over 200 years ago this country FOUGHT & WON a war so we’d never have to be like the europeans again. Why are we trying to go back to being like them? I know that 8 in 10 were loyalists back during the revolution and washington was the most hated man of that time but it seems like it’s just like then. Us, the minority, must start a revolution. I’ll bet money on it that by 2010 there will be hundreds of thousands of people saying i miss george bush. In 1775 hundreds of thousands would’ve given anything to see Washington kidnapped and shipped back to England and hung for treason. Who would’ve ever thought. The same kind of legacy will endure for George Bush, he was one of the best presidents we ever had.

The only people in this country that want higher taxs are the RICH socialist that love Europe

I cannot believe that some people would be stupid enough as to advocate ANY TAX INCREASE WHATSOEVER. I don’t care what it is, taxes are high enough and state taxes are killing most of us, why does the federal government have to do it too? We are paying a fortune in state tax from everything from income to gasoline to clothes. Over 200 years ago this country FOUGHT & WON a war so we’d never have to be like the europeans again. Why are we trying to go back to being like them? I know that 8 in 10 were loyalists back during the revolution and washington was the most hated man of that time but it seems like it’s just like then. Us, the minority, must start a revolution. I’ll bet money on it that by 2010 there will be hundreds of thousands of people saying i miss george bush. In 1775 hundreds of thousands would’ve given anything to see Washington kidnapped and shipped back to England and hung for treason. Who would’ve ever thought. The same kind of legacy will endure for George Bush, he was one of the best presidents we ever had.

I just love reading these rich people that want to raise taxs. How come the U.S. Senators and congressmen have to find a new way to tax or impose a new way to take my hard earned money out of my and other poor americans pockets. Who??? out there wants to see food prices rise because of gas taxs, power utilities will rise, the price of costruction will rise, ect.

I dont’t live in Europe, i don’t care how they do things, we fought a war to get away form them, an these idoits want to be like them. FOOLS

CO2 tax is another way to get money out of our pockets, Global Wamring is a farce/fraud. The rich allways find a new way to get richer.

Don’t think Senators and congressmen will not find a way to put this money in there pockets.

The only ones that want to see a rise in gas taxs are the people that live in the big cities like NY, VT, CA all the liberal areas of the nation.

Liberals lives for taxs hikes, it makes them feel good to take other peoples money.!!!!!!!!!

Why? do these RICH senators and Congressmam allways want to event new ways to tax us. the poor and lower middle class allways take the buren of the new ways to make or take money out of our pokets. An also we are not Europe or japan if you like Europe so much go live there.??????

Absolutely not. Gas is already on the rise for no reason.

It’s really simple. Obama please give a scale for gas tax increases, $2 2009, $3 2010 and $4 from 2011.

Car talk said each 50c results in $300 Billion which should be used to create jobs in alternative energy, pay the deficit, healthcare etc..

This is how they do it in Europe..

Oh and build some high speed trains while we’re at it. What? France/Japan can figure out high speed trains but we, the USA can’t ? Come on..

YES we NEED a direct gasoline tax of $1 per gallon is survivable in the short run and has many benefits in the long run. It would initially cost my family $1600 per year at least. However, if gasoline is conserved and causes excess supply, then it will drive heating oil lower. It also makes electric and hybrids more economically feasible. The break-point for all-electric is about $3.80 per gallon for gas (lots of variables, but around there). It could also reduce the enormous deficit we are creating.

Tax gasoline not oil!! Gasoline is refined from oil and is not used to produce goods. Oil is used more in the direct production of goods. The only effect on the price of goods this will have is the logistics end. The price of oil will actually stay low if we tax gasolione because we will need less because of demand. Why not have those tax dollars going to our government to promote energy independence instead of Saudi Arabia? Think of the implications in the advancement in hybrid and electric vehicles when the increase in demand that this will generate will bring advances in battery technology. The price of these vehicles due to the volumes will come down dramatically. That means the same proportional change for a Chevy Volt as well as a Hybrid Chevy Tahoe. You will be able to drive your large vehicle if that is what you want. Why not have our auto industry benefit instead of the Europeans and Asian countries who are light years ahead of us because they have had this public policy in place for years. We pay the least amount for gasoline in the world outside of Saudi Arabia and some of the other oil rich countries. They love us for it because it strokes the demand that will allow them to own us one day.(They own most of our large banks now) Instead we make the same idiotic, stupid mistakes over and over. When oil hits $150 a barrel again (which is will) because of our insatiable appetite for large vehicles and the huge spending programs that the world economies are undertaking we will again be pissing and moaning about how expensive gas is and trying to figure out how we can continue to afford our gas guzzlers. Another thing that people do not realize is that we have limited refining capacity in the U.S. So you can pump all the oil you want but the ability to refine it into gasoline has changed marginally in 40 years (the last time a new refinery was built). No one wants one in their backyard because of environmental reasons. So the price of gas WILL go up regardless unless we lower the demand to meet the refining capacity. The short term pain will pay huge dividends. This just makes too much sense to not do it!! If we do not get smarter the next world war will be in the Middle East and we will be fighting it alone.

What a great idea. And then the goverment could tax the tax because no one is buying and funding road work.

Wake up and focus on the technology that’s out in front of you and stop trying to rip people off with more tax bandades. Once you get the tax in it never goes away it just keeps growing and growing and growing. The lower and middle income people get strapped finacially every time. WHY?

All you need to do is Invest in the new clean energy efficient technology like Plug in Hybrid, pure elctric cars and the like. Sure you won’t need the gas tax at all if all wake up and listen to the automotive intellectuals.

When are people going to realize that taxes are not to be used to perform social engineering. Taxes are nothing but a drain on the productivity of people and a weapon used by the people in power to gain more power. To be doled out to whoever begs the best. Everyone who agrees that this will help to reduce our carbon is in for a big surprise. The only thing a new tax will do is spent.

I think we do need to raise the prices…..tax or some other way. Tax would be good because that money could be used to fund alternatives.

The poor? The Middle Class? What does that have to do with anything? We live in a society where we think driving an automobile is a need. It’s not a need, it’s a luxury and the sooner we make changes and start realizing that the better. Most poor people can’t afford autos much anyway……..let alone the insurance and upkeep of them to keep and make them safe to drive. Middleclass (that is where I am at) people are waaaaay to spoiled beyond belief. They go buy some big home 25 plus miles out in the suburbs, then sit in traffic jams to get to work every day. That is just purely unsustainable and needs to be changed.

So many of you are too clouded by your current easy living lifestyles…..at the expense of our worlds limited resources and environment. Higher prices of gas seems to be the only way to force people like yourselves to make change. It’s sad that you are all so clouded and measures need to be put in place to force you people…….but selfishness, being naive, and laziness all seem to be too much of a factor in today’s American.

I hope prices do go back up….and soon. Whether it’s through taxes or higher demand raising the prices again….they need to go up to stay there so our country makes larges changes in how we do things……starting with the average every day person.

I commute by bicycle when I can. I walk to the grocery store, which is 2 blocks away. I live in an area where I have easy access to buses, bike lanes, stores that I need supplies from, and work. This way…..I don’t have to grab my car keys every time I walk out the door of my home.

Gas Tax NO Oil Tarrif Yes

We are at a critical time. America needs a game changer, if all we do is tax relief, deficit spend and print more money when this thing bottoms out, the world (holders of wealth) is going to give up on us and look east (far east) for better and more stable investment opportunities. Yes we can try to fix our health care system, educational system and rebuild our infrastructure (these are all moves in the right direction) but, where is the sacrifice? Unless we show the world that as a nation we are willing to make real sacrifices to save our economy it is probably all for naught. I believe that the root of our problem is that our country as a whole needs to get a job. We used to make a lot of things and sell them, now all we do borrow money, buy things, eat things and entertain ourselves. We spend billions on defense of our liberties yet we surrender those liberties to feel safer from the growing list of those who hate us, without those liberties there is not a lot about us left to love. We must change our focus from destroying things we don’t like to making things that help people.
The time is now for bold moves towards what we used to be, we must collectively put down the remote, get off the couch and get to work. If we were to show the world that we were serious about green energy and that to prove the point we would institute and $30.00 a barrel tariff on imported oil at a time when cheep oil is seen as the only silver lining to a horrible economic situation, people would take notice. (How much of that $4.50 a gallon oil last summer went towards helping rebuild your country?) Our country is addicted to foreign oil, green energy is the methadone we need to collectively get back to work. “Necessity is the mother of invention”, higher oil prices (with a large percentage of domestically retained revenue) would be the necessity that mothers the innovation of green technology. The downside would be primarily political, people who drive a lot would feel a big hit and scream bloody murder, let them. People who insist upon consuming large quantities of petroleum are exporting American wealth to those who neither admire, respect nor understand our country or our people. I know we will always need petroleum but until it becomes a small part of a bigger energy picture those who control the pump will have far too much influence in our future. An oil tariff is not a new tax on Americans, it is an economic weapon to be used against those who have enslaved us and will ultimately defeat us from within if we do nothing to stop them. If our leaders cannot see this and help us escape from the gallows we have been toiling to construct then Marx who said “The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.”will have been proven correct (Do we even make rope any more?).

First, human created global warming is not happening, if global warming is happening at all. The last 2 years have erased the 1 degree warming that Mr. Gore spoke of. And don’t bring up La Nina as the cause of our cooling and if it is, then human created global warming is a joke because human created global warming with all the CO2 should override anything nature does. The number one emitter of greenhouse gas is livestock, so if you believe humans are creating global warming and you are not a vegan, then you are a hippocrate. Second, the lowest common denominator in this whole CO2, oil shortage, food shortage, etc. is human over population. There are too many people on this planet competing for resources.

Gas tax or no gas tax, it is sad to see that many people do not understand the basic economic principle of supply and demand. Perhaps what we need first of all is better education.
I am for an increased gas tax versus CAFE standards and cap-and-trade (we inevitably will end up with one or the other), because it leaves more choice with the customer. If I want a Hummer, a higher gas tax won’t stop me from getting one (I can move closer to work to compensate), if I want to move out to the country, a gas tax again won’t stop me from doing that (I can compensate by buying a fuel-efficient car). An increased gas tax will leave us with the most flexibility, will be easier to administer, and I expect a reduction in my income tax.
As far as the right time, there never seems to be a right time. We missed the boat several times already, so we might as well start now. Waiting until the economy is better? That’s usually when everybody piles up debt, including our government. Waiting until we have advanced technologies? They won’t be developed until there is an economic incentive (higher gas prices) to do so. We can bring those on ourselves and prepare or wait for international demand or conflict to increase them and catch us unaware, as usual.

NO NEW TAXES–isn’t that what we were promised? The proposed oil/gas tax increase is not for the purpose of “curbing global warming”, only nature itself can do that. The reason for the “NEW TAX” is because Americans ARE already consuming less fuel due to the ridiculous gasoline prices we’ve experienced during the past year, resulting in the collection of less federal and state tax revenues. But remember, during the most recent $4+/gallon gas crises we constantly heard, “consume less fuel”.. well we did and now this is the reward? Personally, I will work to defeat any member of the Presidency, Senate and Congress, who approves this atrocity, during their next election term!

Another gas tax – NO. Gas is already taxed enough. Carbon tax or cap and trade means greater economic stress on who – the taxpayer and consumer. Anyone who thinks corporations pay tax without passing on the cost of the tax and accounting for and administering it internally is not thinking. I have been waiting, ever since gas prices fell to where they should have been all along, for the articles and support of why we NEED more taxes from gas. As if the money gets spent where congress says it will be as it al goes in the general fund and gets spent on who knows what. Give us all a break.

Why does everybody hate poor people so much? Honestly, who do you people who want this tax think it will hurt the most? Poor people… Also take into account that it will hit the middle class hard as well, thus removing money from more productive areas. Not only the fact that unemployment is rising quickly, and you have a recipe for stupidity…

And the idea of a general ‘carbon tax’ is just about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You do realize that carbon is pretty much everything, right? Carbon is the chemical basis for all known life… Maybe if you have more than 2 kids, you should get taxed… Or if you fart… or if your dog farts… yeah, we should definitely have more taxes!

No increased gas tax please. Sure the European nations have taxed gas to much for many decades that is is sold by the liter. Yes, they are socialists so everything is taxed heavily. OK, here’s the deal. A very high gas tax raises prices for all goods, magazines, package delivery for all consumers. Such gas tax can interfere with interstate commerce, something our government is so fond of. Lastly, in Montana for example, If one wants go get a good job in a large city, he/she might have to drive 50 to 100 miles one way to the job. Think about it, there are necessities in life. Fuel for the car is vital. At one time there was a hefty “excise tax” on tires. So drivers would defer buying new tires just a little longer thus endangering themselves and other motorists.

Hey, America if you want to reduce our dependence on foriegn oil and coal, how about letting us drill for oil in the United States, then we don’t have to give our money to terorist. Use our oil and coal money to fund social programs, medical, and give us back oil revenue like rebates like AK. We can sell our oil to other countries for a profit, and use the money to reduce taxs and use it for medical care and elderly care, school funding.

Lets put our oil money for great use. and technology will come about in the future. Why can’t we drill forour own oil and coal.

WHY?

Taxing gas is the fairest and most efficient way to reduce the consumption of oil, bring down pollution provided the tax revenues are plowed back into ptoviding tax credit s to pwople who purchase fuel efficeinet cars and use other fuel efficent technologies. We should not geive the money to corporations or researchers directly. When you establish a demand for high efficiency technologies the corporations will hire the researchers and compete for the market. It you tax SUVs then people whoe need on for just a few thounand mile a year are punished even though tey do not really waste that much fuel. Tax gas and it pay as you go. However, it’s reallyjust a savings plan that you draw on when yo buy your next – high edfficiency- vehicle- then you use so little gas you do not notice the tax so much. I twill also help the auto industry by stimulating demand.

Yes to a tax on GAS and YES to a tax on carbon. Coal produces lots of it unless its cleaner coal or burned using clean technologies. If you tax coal then you still have the carbon isses. Taxing gas brings down the use of gas and keeps oil cheap. If you tax oil directly then it to much like protectionism. The “tax” revenues should be earmarked for the promotion of fuel efficiant technologies, roads and all of the other things Obama is planning to spend money on. At least this way the benefactors pay for it.

YES, YES AND YES to gas tax–should have been done long ago~!

A gas tax is the ONLY thing my Rush Limbau (spelling) loving father and his Obama voting economist/accountant son (yes – I know – an oxymoron) have consistently agreed on over the last 10 years.

NOW is the PERFECT time to do it. The “shock” of $4.00/gallon oil never would have occurred had we done it earlier. We would have been eased into it. The automakers would have planned on it, the transportation industry / truck rail would have adjusted for it, the utilities would have shifted to wind or ??? sooner.

Let’s see if “change” truly can come !! (I’m sort of doubting it already and it still isn’t even January 20th ….)

A gas tax. Another taxation without representation and look where it got us? Why not start at the psycobable bull that the oil companys are pushing. Billions spent on our future. Okay where is it?
Citco is a product of Pres Chaves and using that money to fund weapons against us and others. Maybe yet let our feable minded gov lose there free stuff they don’t pay for Houses,cars gaurding them with the secret service. Well if you didn’t screw up while in office you wouldn’t need to waste tax payers money. Gov needs to have a inama and really clean it’s self out and talk a good look at the crap there trying to sell. This is what i spent 20 years in the military defending???

A fairly large and proportional (e.g. 50% rather than 18c/gallon) tax seems to me the only way to prevent future bubbles in the price of oil. The proportional tax would increase the feedback which the demand has on oil prices and thus help to stabilize it. A flat tax would bad on the long term, as it would in part decouple the price of oil from the price of gas. The government could redistribute the money from this tax back to the population in forms of a stimulus package or an increased tax deduction per person on federal income taxes.

An important factor deciding the price of oil is its demand, which is extensively driven by the average price of gasoline in the US. If the US consumers can support a long term average price of, for example, 3$/gallon, would you prefer all of those money to go to OPEC or part to OPEC part to the US government (and possibly partly back in your pockets).

People who are opposed to a carbon tax are unwilling to secure the future of our nation. Conservation is the only way to reduce our foreign energy demands, and higher prices are the only reason people will conserve.

Taxing coal and oil is stupid, it raises the cost of everrything, food, clothes, ect. You know who wants to raise the tax on everything the greedy RICH. The Eco-weenies want to raise taxs on oil and coal, no for enviromental reasons, but for there shares in green product/industries and to impliment a new ways to tax and make money of the middle/poor class, why is gas on the commdies market 1.01 a gallon and gas at the gass station still $1.77 to 2.00 a gallon, greed. The policical machine don;t want to saae the planet they want a new way to tax us. redistribution of the wealth/Socialist America.

Global Warming, now called for convience Climate change is so that the RICH people of the world, and the rich in person can get richer, that from the poor and middle class and giveto the RICH like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, Al Gore and Obama. Destroy our nations economy and bring it down to Europeans economy. CO2 is a plant food and great for the forrest. Envro weenie are socialist/Commie, sound stupid but the truth. Al Gore is a no nothing eco weenie. Why tax something like coal and oil that is the basic stepal of our ecomony, don’t we in america allready pay enought taxs, we the poor and middle class are being turned into servates by the ones that want all the power, like US Senate and House. The ywant to make life as hard as possible for us. Take away our industrial base by using ECO laws, like in the 1970’s, Jimmy Carter is back. I don’t want to be a Government ROBOT. Please no!!

This is an extremely bad idea coupled with the downed economy and the Government deficient (Past and future). Here is an idea, let the free market work and stop the government from injecting itself into every hand out. Instead of a tax why don’t both Houses take a nice pay cut and use that money for an incentive for those smart enough to help fix our problems. slothful waste got us here, more of the same will not fix it.

Yes, not a tax on gasoline, but definately a tax on oil. Many of the problem/crises we are facing today are directly related to two major trends over at least the last three decades. One of these trends has been cheap oil. The other has been the strong dollar.

Global warming aside, cheap oil has led to enormous waste in the United States and incresing dependence on imports from unstable and hostile nations. This puts both our national defense and our economic health in the hands of people who don’t like us much. (by the way, much of the reason they don’t like us has to do with things we have done to ensure the continued flow of cheap oil i.e the Iraq war). At the same time cheap oil, manifesting itself as cheap transportation, and the strong dollar has been major factors contributing to the export of our manufacturing jobs.

The tax should be a direct tax levied on the production/import of oil rather than a carbon tax or cap and trade. This is because the damage done by cheap oil far exceeds the carbon emitted into the air. The revenues from the tax could be used to improve our crumbling infrastructure, develop alternative energy sources, and help transform our communities into places where people can live there lives and achieve their dreams without long commutes to work and witout long drives to school and shopping.

America Please stop believing the lies being broadcast by environmentalists and the media. The audacity of mankind to think we have the ability to change global cycles. The next major volcanic eruption will emit more “greenhouse gases” than mankind has produced in the last 100 years. Also the next coming ice age will cure this “global warming problem”. Taxes can not stop the cycles of the earth. Get over yourself, mankind.

I don’t agree with an across the board energy tax. until we find a viable alternative to coal that we are willing to allow (nuclear plants) then I see no reason to punish people with higher heating bills unless they have an alternative. I do believe we are missing the boat on gasoline taxes. Now is the time. There are alternatives like car pooling and public transportation that would soften the blow here. Now that gas is low it would be a perfect time to implement it since the pyschological blow would be low. I find it absolute ignorance that governement would lend money to the automotive companies and then mandate vehicles they produce when that might now be what their customers want. If you drive the demand for higher mileage cars with higher gasoline prices then they will get the volumes they need to be profitable and at the same time we drive our dependence off of foreign oil. In the mean time we can get some revenue in to pay for the 8 trillion we have already allocated to spending programs.

Do we really want to let Hugo Chavez, Putin, Nigeria, and the Middle East have so much power over us? Worried about the trade deficit? The #1 US import is oil. If we could get balanced in trade with China and stop importing oil, this crisis could have been averted.

Support our troops and our economy. Up the gas tax to pay for the $300B in tax cuts in the stimulus package.

You want a tax on gas and oil to stop global warming??? What a crock, if mankind is causing global warming then we should be able to stop it, oh yeah maybe we can all purchase a CARBON CRESIT from the fraud, Al Gore. More Taxes is never the answer, and the only people who will suffer is all the poor slugs that can’t afford to purchase one of the new roller skate size boxes that the battery runs out in no time and yeah that is good for the environment to load landfills with used batteries!! It is a joke and I hope you dems get what you voted for!!!

There was all this talk about plug-in hybrids, wind-power generation farms, and other energy conservation techniques while oil was at $140/barrel.

Naturally, all that is now out the window when oil drops back down. And when it goes back up (and it will at the first sign of the economies of the world righting themselves) we will be right back where we were in mid-2008. The difference this time is that another golden opportunity to “fix our fixation” on oil will be passed on by.

I do agree with some other people here that in the near future we cannot break ourselves 100% from oil. But we can greatly lessen our dependence on it.

Just a plug-in hybrid alone would actually make a big difference in the amount of oil consumed for transportation. Even though some power generation stations are burning oil for energy, burning that oil in a station and distributing it over the electric grid is far more efficient than burning that same oil (effectually gas) in your combustible engine.

Also, using an electric vehicle means that your car is powered by ANY form of generated electricity. So in the (hopefully) near-term future when we are using more renewable sources, many people will already have vehicles that are electric which can be powered by things other than just gas.

Overall, we are in deep trouble. I’m not even talking about global warming. There is only so much energy on this planet. We need to start harnessing other forms of it.

If you argue that a higher tax is crazy because it just means more money to spend by politicians, then you are in denial. This is a federal tax and congress does not need higher taxes to spend more. They will borrow more instead.

Our debt is over $10 trillion and increasing by $3.4 billion each day. http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

This debt is a shameful legacy to leave to our children. We need to change, starting now.

A larger gas tax is the right thing to do, but the timing is just wrong. Wait until this economic recession is over.

Such a price will shrink the demand and the price of oil before the tax falls to say $1.5. So instead of 2.65, you get 2.6

I mean you get 2.5 of course

“Second, such a tax is bound to shrink the demand for oil and so push the price down. So while the taxpayer gets back the gas tax through reduced payroll taxes, the price of oil falls and so the taxpayer pockets it too.”

Posted By Steve, Cedar lake Indiana: January 10, 2009 10:53 pm

It’s very simple and in fact it’s described in any standard textbook on micro-economics. Say you have 1.65 per gallon and you add another $1 in a gas tax. For starters, the price will hardly rise to 2.65. It should get to 2.15 with a loss split between the taxpayer and producer. But lets leave it aside. Such a price will shrink the demand and the price of oil before the tax falls to say $1.5. So instead of 2.65, you get 2.6. If a taxpayer was compensated for a gas tax by lowering payroll taxes then he wins .15 for each gallon.

You can see now what our future is with the Democrat’s in control.
Explain to me how someone on fixed income and Social Security can afford doubling their electric bill?
People that are in this article are living in a bubble like the housing market was in. They even don’t know how the other half has to live pay check to pay check. I believe they are about to find out (smile).
If we go back to a depression you won’t have to worry about carbon tax. Onlt the super rich will be driving cars. The rest will be like in China where you ride a bike everywhere.

“Second, such a tax is bound to shrink the demand for oil and so push the price down. So while the taxpayer gets back the gas tax through reduced payroll taxes, the price of oil falls and so the taxpayer pockets it too.”

This is yet another tremendous fallacy. A massive “gas tax” will drive down consumption and the price of oil. Exactly what benefit is it to me if the price of “oil” is driven down if the cost of gasoline and everything that cost increase touches is raised and passed on to me?

As to the plan laid out by Bill, Everett WA.. Credits are worthless to the vast majority of people. Especially those being discussed here. Take the energy efficiency and alternative energy credits already in place. I can get a $500 deduction in my taxes for installing a new furnace, putting in new windows.. A couple grand for a solar power/heat setup.. That’s fantastic. If I have the $5000+ to put a furnace in in the first place.. Or the $10k to put in new windows.. Or the $40k to do a solar setup. If I’m scraping by paycheck to paycheck those credits are less than worthless to me.

If I can barely afford to feed my Crown Vic, Pickup, Expedition, Tahoe, whatever.. with gasoline because of the high cost of gasoline exactly what good will a credit do me? Hey fantastic.. that $24k Prius is now only $20k.. Or that used Focus isn’t $15k it’s $10k.. Only problem being I scraped together pretty much every spare penny I had to get that $2k Crown Vic. And if you want me to finance that fuel efficient car remember that I now have to carry full coverage insurance on that car instead of the liability only that I had on the beater.

Unless you’re a Governmentally paid even swap out.. “Give us your beater and we’ll give you efficient vehicle “X” “Y” or “Z” free and clear”.. The exact same hurdles remain. Even bringing the costs down to $10k per car.. It may as well be a $500,000 car to people.

People need to accept the fact that we’re going to be using oil into the forseeable future. it is used for EVERYTHING. Even fuel only. Imagine what would happen if, tomorrow, The fed said.. “No more petro fuels can be sold in this country”. What would that effect?

Just off the top of my head.. Every form of transportation used by man in this country except for electric rail and a handful of pure electric cars. All transport of goods and food by Ship, air, truck and rail. Any and all construction of any kind. Everything from the largest ship, truck and train, to your lawnmower, snow blower and hedge trimmer.
So until you can replace each and every last item in use today that uses petro fuels with a new technology item we will be chained to oil. that’s only transportation and the ol’ internal combustion engine. that doesn’t even begin to touch on the millions of products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, plastics, etc etc ad infinitum that oil goes into making.

People who advocate these kinds of radical shifts simply and woefully underestimate the sheer scope of the issue at hand.

A modest increase now in the gas tax will hardly be felt compared to speculation driven price gyrations we’ve suffered over the past couple of years. The biggest benefit would be that the money will stay here rather than going to unstable oil dictatorship. A portion could be used to help fund Obama’s proposed infrastructure spending. Concerns like those expressed by Steve of Cedar Lake, IN or Mike of Levittown could be addressed by diverting a portion of the proceeds to a gas-guzzler buy-back program or home energy conservation programs. A credit could be extended to those who turn in their older ‘Crown Vic’ toward the purchase of newer, more fuel efficient models. Credits for home heating upgrades, weatherization, etc could also be part of the plan.

Higher prices will encourage conservation more efficiently than CAFE standards.

Global warming skeptics simply are in denial of the facts, but nevertheless they should be concerned with the national security and balance of trade issues that this proposal would also address.

One proposal calls for increasing the gas tax 1 cent per month for the next 48 months. This would allow people time to adjust while still generating the funds needed, and the economy will be growing again before much of an impact is felt at the gas pump.

That’s right! Kick us when we are down! Add cost onto people trying to get by! Need to let gas prices bring down other costs like food because the democrats will soon have us in double digit inflation just like during Jimmy Carter era.

An increase (I N C R E A S E) in the gasoline tax won’t cure the American economy nor will it cure the budgets of state governments. The more money the Federal and State governments get the more they spend on new projects or on existing projects. That’s a big part of why our country is in such bad shape now.
Here in Virginia, before the housing “bubble” started the State and local government budgets were pretty much stable moneywise.When the housing bubble started real-estate
values increased and so did real-estate tax revenues, but not because the real-estate tax rate increased. The real-estate tax revenues increased because the values of real-estate increased.
So Virginia and its local governments started spending like mad just because they were taking in more money. When the “bubble” burst Virginia and its local governments got caught with their pants down. Now they are scrambling to find new ways to increase their “spending” money.
It’s a fact of life that the more money that governments take in the more they spend on new projects or on existing projects.
If gas taxes were increased when gas prices are low, like now, but were reduced when gas prices got high that be a compromise.

Here’s to all you idiots who think raising gas taxes are a good thing. How about figuring what you think is fair in gas taxes on what you spend on gas and send the federal government a check. They would be glad to take it, make the memo say gas tax underpayment. Don’t force civilized people to pay higher gas taxes. If you want to eliminate SUV’s and gas guzzlers, put an excise tax on the sale of them at 50 to 100 percent of the purchase price. How about putting an import tariff on Chinese imports at 100 to 200 perceent to equalize production costs between countries and bring back jobs in the long run.
Posted By Trent, Frankfort

The thing is that you will be sending your checks somewhere anyway. As low gas prices are driving the demand up and OPEC is cutting production, the price will soon be back to $75 per barrel which the Saudi king thinks is a fair oil price. Now the US can hike the tax now pushing the price to an equivalent of $75 per barrel and then refund the taxpayers by means of cutting payroll and other taxes, or you will be soon sending your checks straight to the Arabs to help them subsidize their elevated birth rates. This is the reality.

An excise tax on SUV can do nothing for millions of these that are already roaming US roads. Gas tax is the only way to curb the demand. Never mind that as soon as people hear about an excise tax debated in Congress, there will be an avalanche of orders. People will simply buy them for three years in advance.

The true cost of petroleum products is not passed on directly to consumers. Costs related to tax breaks and other subsidies as well as the military costs related to access and transportation of oil are paid for by income taxes and government borrowings. It has been estimated that the true cost of gas is $10/gallon above what is charged at the pump.

I am surprised that CNN has omitted a very important detail. All editorials that called recently for a gas tax were basically talking about a revenue neutral tax swap. The idea is to cut the same amount in other taxes, payroll taxes are usually mentioned.

The taxpayer benefits from such a tax swap twice. First, while the taxpayer remains with the same amount of taxes, he can then buy a hybrid or just start driving less and avoid paying a gas tax. So he ends paying less taxes than before the tax swap.

Second, such a tax is bound to shrink the demand for oil and so push the price down. So while the taxpayer gets back the gas tax through reduced payroll taxes, the price of oil falls and so the taxpayer pockets it too.

Those interested can read Krauthammer’s excellent explanation of such a tax swap: The case for a net-zero gas tax

Here’s to all you idiots who think raising gas taxes are a good thing. How about figuring what you think is fair in gas taxes on what you spend on gas and send the federal government a check. They would be glad to take it, make the memo say gas tax underpayment. Don’t force civilized people to pay higher gas taxes. If you want to eliminate SUV’s and gas guzzlers, put an excise tax on the sale of them at 50 to 100 percent of the purchase price. How about putting an import tariff on Chinese imports at 100 to 200 perceent to equalize production costs between countries and bring back jobs in the long run.

Would a gas tax be a hardship? Sure it would, but it is worth it easily. Paying my mortgage is a hardship, but it’s the right thing to do. It should be easy to see the need to get off oil.

Going to war is a hardship, but we ednure it because we know we can not just sit there waiting to be killed. this is like war. If we deal with this problem it is not ideal and it will be a hardship, but waiting for it to grow into a major crisis for oue country is not acceptable. At least not to me. Maybe some of these keep my gas cheap guys are the same ones who don’t want to face terrorism head on either. Hiding in their little isolated world thinking we are not forced to deal with other people in the world if we ignore them.

Simple fact is we are headed for disaster if we stay dependent on oil like now. Back in the 70s we knwe this but everytime we get and nerve to break free they lower the price. They are like drug dealers keeping us hooked and we need to break free.

We need to do something to refelect the huge cost on our society due to our dependence in the oil. However we do this it will benefit everyone. Even those complaining. You do have to be in denial of the world around you not to see this. As other news I will paste in easily shows (one issue of many many issues with the dependence).

“Across Europe, dozens of people have been dying of hypothermia, and thousands have been shivering as temperatures plunge well below zero in a cold snap. Their misery has been compounded by a shut-off in natural gas from a pipeline that flows from Russia through Ukraine. This is the fourth winter in a row that they’ve suffered capricious games with their gas supplies.

The latest crisis might seem to have little to do with the United States. But it underscores the need for what most U.S. administrations talk about and fail to deliver: smart, long-term strategies for energy independence and diversity. Countries without them increasingly are vulnerable to the whims, bullying or petty problems of others.”

It is moronic to stay dependent on oil from these people. Simple solution is to make it expensive.

Let all the parasites who support and vote for these “enlightened” taxes and lawmakers lead the way. If the more than 50 percent of the citizens in this country who are convinced that they are incapable of managing their own lives and are dependent on the intellect of their chosen lawmakers to make their decisions for them buy into this man made global warming line of BS, let them lead the way. If you voted for a lawmaker who supports this absurd proposal, turn your heat off and recycle your cars. You are part of a misguided majority that can waste your lives pretending to “save the planet” and adjust the global thermostat, but don’t wast mine. The rest of us feel that the effects of a revolutionary war should last more than 230 years.

We do not need any higher taxes for anything!! We need less taxes and the abiltity to spend are own money on what we need. Supply and demand of a product should dicatate the price of a product including gas and that is excluding government taxation. As for Global Warming it is about as believeble as the EASTER BUNNY!! Wacko Liberal Nonsense!!

This still amazes me that people think this is a good idea or positive thing. Remember folks.. The automakers already make some of the most fuel efficient cars on the planet.. The only problem is that we’re not allowed to buy them in the US. Other environmentalists and Democrats have seen to it that they’ve been effectively banned and made illegal here. They’re called diesels.

Beyond that lets look at the second part of the problem.. the oft repeated fallacy that a gas tax will force people to get rid of their gas guzzlers and buy more efficient cars. This is flawed on many fronts. The primary point being that those who can afford to go out and just buy a new car aren’t going to do so because they already have money ad can afford to pay the higher prices. The second being that there are those of us out here who can’t afford a new car and your higher gas tax hits them in several places. First being they don’t have that old Crown Vic that was a police/cab with 200,000 miles on it because of the fashion statement it makes. They have it because they got it for under a couple grand. Now.. Put an exorbitant tax on gasoline. Demand for small cars goes up. Pushing them (new and used) out of the price range of people who are already tapped out. It also completely tanks the value of the current cars they own. So the people already struggling now have a car they can’t sell for any real money if at all.. the cars they could buy are priced out of their reach so they’re stuck with what they have. Great plan there. Screw the poor and middle class.

Oh.. and lets not forget that every single item we purchase, use, consume, wear, and unless you have your own farm, everything we eat is transported around using the same fossil fuels you want to tax. Guess who pays for that? Do we think that the businesses will just suck it up?
Bah! That couldn’t happen. It’s not like we’re not already paying for the ethanol fiasco.. $2-$3+ for a dozen eggs. $3 gallon for milk. Meat? Don’t even think about it. And lets not even look at fresh produce..
This is what has happened with the stellar plans already in place.. And people want to ADD to that?
like I said.. great plan ya got there.

Typical environmentalist BS. I know,let’s pass a tax on energy and penalize the taxpayers who have no choice but to use Oil for heating since that’s what was in the house when they bought it. Great idea! How about the government providing homeowners money to convert their old oil burner to a more efficient energy source?? They seem to be bailing everybody else out. Now, let’s talk about adding another tax so more homeowners can’t afford their houses anymore, GREAT IDEA!

I had been advocating higher gas tax since it was $3.5/gallon before it went up to $4/gallon. Of course it was infeasible at the time politically, but now it’s a great opportunity to slap it on, since people are already adjusted somewhat to $3.5/gallon.

$1.5/gallon tax will result in:
1. 1 trillion gas tax revenue with little pain
2. should use it to public transportation, dense urban development and alternative energy investment/research, or tax rebate of $3k/person, even to help out carmakers to invest in/retool to fuel effecient vehicle.s.
3. help disincentize people from using too much gas
4. help keep gas prices stable, instead of wild swings up and down.

What’s not to like? Please spread the idea.

No because it won’t be used for what is promised. Like the tolls on the Garden State Parkway in NJ, the tolls were supposed to pay of construction now the toll money is used for who knows what. Government needs less money and learn how to live on it like all citizen. I am tired of hearing there are budget shortfalls because property tax revenue was below forecast. Why is money being spent that we do not have? Isn’t that one of the basic rules of finance?

No! For goodness sake. I’d rather see a national sales tax on consumption other than gas. Besides many Americans live in rural areas, and commute- gas taxes will make farming and agriculture, consumer goods and services more expensive for all Americans. Not a good idea.

Gas prices in no way reflect the true monetary costs of our reliance on oil. It’s time to stop subsidizing oil consumption through artificially low taxes.

The War on Terror, the Iraq War, and the continuing piracy off the African coast are only some of the direct results of our dependence on foreign oil. Remember, Osama Bin Laden financed almost all of his attacks using oil revenue and Iran is funding its nuclear weapons development on oil revenue. Chavez in Venezuela is financing his proxy wars with Columbia using oil.

The cost of gas at the pump should be taxed in a way to support the extra security and military forces required to obtain it. If we were to add the true cost to the US of obtaining oil from OPEC, renewable energy and nuclear power would become very profitable.

Oil is absolutely evil. It’s bad for the environment, bad for national security, bad for international security, bad for the economy, and bad for general public health.

In a capitalistic society, consumption taxes are good, as long as they represent the total value of all resources required in producing a product. Oil has been subsidized for far too long. Frankly, the tax on oil based products should include all of the military spending, veterans benefits, homeland security, and public health costs of its use.

Once the price of oil reflects its true monetary cost to the country, the free market will come to the natural conclusion that alternative power sources are profitable. Then, alternative power can grow free of government control.

However, in the short term, raising gas taxes is probably not a good idea, given the state of the economy. Delivering the harsh medicine is probably a good part of a stimulus bill that politicans will naturally use to bring pork home. Any stimulus bill needs to be built with automatic medicine, in the form of higher oil taxes, to pay for it and defense spending when the economy returns to normal.

Yes!

A gas tax is exactly what the United States needs, both to alter current inefficient behavior and to jumpstart domestic next-generation energy industries. More jobs in cutting edge industries is exactly what we need to get us out of this short-term pain we are currently experiencing. A gas tax, properly implemented, would result in huge and beneficial long-term investments that would make us all more prosperous. Examples of benefits include greater energy efficiency, improved energy independence, more competitive industries, and improved local communities.

From an economic standpoint, fuel prices are artificially low anyway, which actually encourages people to make choices that wouldn’t otherwise make sense (choices that depend on low energy prices).

There are so many good things that would come out of a properly implemented gas tax that the potential benefits far outweigh the potential costs. Ultimately, it’s a question of whether we want to use market forces to repair known problems with the system, or to leave those same forces (combined with perverse incentives and false price signals) to do their work and ultimately leave us all worse off.

A gas tax would be the end of the recession and the beginning of the largest depression of US history. You can already see the effects on the oil supplies right now. With so many people not working and not traveling to work, we are obviously not using much oil, and this doesn’t look like it is going to change quickly. Yes we need to invest in alternative fuels, but before long if things aren’t changed the US is going to be so dependant on the government for everything, we are nearing a period where it will be more cost effective to say at home than to attempt to work. Unemployment rising, cost of living rising or extremely over inflated in areas where it cannot be afforded, this is getting crazy…and we aren’t going to get out of it for a while, so, gas tax…come on…lets get real here.

As a libertarian, I dislike any tax.

However, like most libertarians – I am well educated and open minded. Can we agree it takes a million years to make oil… (it actually takes longer). Can we agree we’ve already consumed roughly 50% of the world’s oil supply (we’ve actually consumed more). Thus at our current rate of consumption – the world’s supply of oil WILL end in our grandchildren’s lifetimes, but with expected increases in consumption from China and India – the supply of oil will end in our children’s lifetimes. And the price of oil will only increase until that happens. Please pull your heads out of the sand and educate yourselves by checking out wikipedia for “peak oil”.

This is not an issue of freedom – its an issue of survival. Yes, our country was founded with a distaste for taxes, and we dumped tea in Boston Harbor in 1773 to prove it. But tea doesn’t take a MILLION years to make. If tea was going to disappear completely a hundred years later – I doubt those patriots would have dumped it in the harbor.

I’d much rather have gas be $5 a gallon (or better yet – $10/gallon!) and our govt get half of that and build nuke and renewable energy projects, than gas be $5 a gallon and Venezuela, Iran, and Russia get most of that in profit. Either way, Economics 101 proves that supply and demand will dictate the price, and that will soon be $5 a gallon in 1-2 yrs, and $10/gal soon thereafter.

I’m not a fan of France, but they generate 76% of their electricity with nuclear power. We create 20% of our electricity with nuclear power. Why? Because we are nieve, foolish, we subscribe to “NIMBY” (not in my backyard) and our litigious society increases the cost of a nuke plant to 15 billion dollars.

I’m serving my 14th year in the military and love all those who served in Iraq/Afghanistan – but imagine how many nuke plants – even at $15 billion a pop – we could have built instead of the trillion we will have spent in Iraq serving our “interests” in the middle east.

In thirty years, when gas costs $100 a gallon (not a barrel) because most of the usable world’s supply is used up – we’ll have wished we had a huge gas tax in 2009 when oil dropped to $2 a gallon.

Carbon tax?? Cap-and-Trade?? Global Warming?? Green House Gases?? NAFTA?? Is this another Madoff scam a la Congress? We’ve been paying more taxes year on year on year and the money has gone aglimmering as evidenced by the sorry state of our infrastructure at the same time Exxon, Aramco, et al have gotten richer than the Pharaohs of old. The solution, sell American taxpayer paid and maintained infrastructure to foreign corporations and still tax Americans to pay to maintain it while the profits leave the country. We have NAFTA outsorcing and moving business out of the country and bailed out banks, that it is said, won’t say where the money went – and criticize us for not “saving” so banks have more to lend and we aren’t spending enough to keep the economy going. Hello Govenrment, we’re BROKE. We have slap on the wrist admonishments for those who have scammed, stolen, and robbed us without a gun. American workers have seen wages cut in half and we have nearly 12 million out of work and losing their homes and shirts – and that doesn’t count the millions who have simply given up or are newly coming into the job market. Any tax revenue is spent on whatever whim our government, local, state and federal decided to spend it on. The only solution I see is to vote out Congress and send the third person walking down the street to take their place – we could hardly do worse!

Ok, while we are asking absurd questions, How about this one….
You can go ahead and impose this wonderful Gas Tax to “Help the Environment” only if everyone in the Government and CEO’s of the Oil and Automotive industry is willing to join the rest of the country and cut their wages to the national average of $40,000 a year (Before Taxes).

Better Yet…I Believe in “MADE IN AMERICA!” So Lets Close all the Borders, Bring our Military Home from Everywere, and Stop importing Everything, sure it’ll be tough for a little while but maybe then we’ll actually get something done in this country , Hell it might even make the Tree Huggers Happy to know we’d be concentrating on fixing our own Country.

We can cure alot of huge problems by increasing the gas tax. I am not talking about raising it a minute amount. 300-400% would be a good starting point. Sounds irrational, but look at the big picture. People will not be able to afford to drive their cars. This will cut down pollution and global warming. They will resort to walking or riding a bike, reducing obesity. Since we can’t drive, no tires will polute the landfills. We won’t have to change the oil, that will cut down on those pesky plastic bottles ending up in the landfills as well. Fewer traffic accidents. Wow!! I just might win the pulitzer for this theory!! Move over Al Gore!!

A 50% gas tax (as proposed to Congress) will kill the golden american consumer goose. It’s already in a coma as it is now. And the DOE & DOT clamoring for these new tax revenues already should move every voting American into writing to their senators/representatives.

The DOE was created in the 70s to develop a sound energy policy. Look at how well they’ve managed in the past 30 years. We have poured billions of dollars at the DOE in the name of “better energy policies” and we have poured billions of dollars at the DOT (in the form of a gas tax) in the name of “better transportation infrastructure”. Neither of these bloated departments have done what they’re supposed to do with all the money they’ve already been given.
Everyone I know has been hit hard in their money. We’re all holding onto to whatever we may have hoping to ride out this economic tsunami. This is absolutely the most irresponsible act try to dupe the american public into thinking a gas tax is needed. The gov’t is in this mess because they believed the american consumer would keep driving and driving. Even with “low” gas prices, people still don’t have much disposable income; as demonstrated by the abysmal holiday retail season.
Raising the gas tax is going to 50% is not going to help anyone.

Tax it, tax it, tax it, but make it a state tax. States can maintain services to its constituency, the states will not need federal funds, imputus to go to alternative fuels will spur R&D and solutions that will become salable to other world economies recaputing a balance of trade and create jobs. Our useage will decrease immediately on fosil fuels. If globle warming is a reality, the carbon footprint would be reduced not only here. but worldwide when we export the technology that was made in the USA. The states would receive a windfall that could be also used to supplement the cost of infrature costs and add jobs and generate not only state revenues but federal revenues.

gas tax can fill govt coffers, but will hit the already hurting jobless and reeling economy.
Maybe a gas tax after a couple of years when things start to pick up steam.

This is typical republican speak, let the poor guys and middle class share the burden.

Better Idea is fuel-economy tax .

That way no one will buy gas guzzlers (light trucks or SUVs). And the rich republican cronies wont buy their lamborginis and porches. Everyone gets the same raw deal.

NO!!! Europe has had high fuel costs/taxes for years and they are no further ahead in developing alternative fuel-use vehicles than we are. All the higher taxes create is more taxes and less money for food for our children and others working at minimun wages. This whole energy crisis was created by wacked out fruit cake yuppies that have a good job from donations from good people that believe the wacked out fruit cake yuppies. It is simple job security to run around screaming the sky is falling. I could donate money on my own if I really thought there was a problem. I believe this is more propaganda from the oil companies. They have almost destroyed our country by driving the price of oil up SO HIGH.
AND as far as “carbon footprint”, commerce puts out MUCH more than we do so stop the ships, trucks and trains.
Here is another thought, “If we don’t use it, some foreign country will anyway and not be concious of OR respect the emmisions standards” so we will be paying higher taxes and accomplish nothing because ALL the oil will be used by SOMEONE either us or a foreign country. If we don’t use it, then there will be more available for a foreign country that has no or lower emmision and the atmosphere will have more damage because of it. This would be created by raising the taxes.

Increase fuel tax gradually toward ~$2/gallon and rebate most of it back to individuals equally. Consumption will be reduced which will also help supress the cost of a barrel of oil. This will be good for the environment and reduce funding to terrorists. People who consume less than average will save money and those who use more than average will spend more money in this plan. Alternative will be

I’d rather pay 50 cents in a gas tax to the government to waste then send the 50 cents to some other country to fund their social programs or fund terrorism. People expect to much in this country and need to learn that you have to pay for what we have. Forget the recession, forget the weak congress, its good for the country in the long run and thats why the congress will never pass it. Nothing will change and we will just progress further down the path of self destruction, no matter what party is in power.

Absolutely! We are literally selling our country for the ability to drive large cars. Just think, if some of the increased tax went to high speed rail transit how much more efficient transportation would be between our large cities.

Yes! I want 40% unemployment..I would love $30 watermelons and grapefruit. Have you people gone mad?

Of course we should increase the cost of foriegn oil. It does not have to be all at once and should be fazed in over the next 5 years maybe but it is essential to not being overly dependent on unreliable sources for our energy.

Anyone who says we should keep oil artificially low (we subsidize it now) shold explain in full how we would remove our overdependence on foriegn oil. What’s your plan? Or shut it.

The Eurpoeans are finding out how good an idea it is to be overly dependent on foreign energy right now. Freezing to death while the Russians laugh. It’s flat out stupid.

Is there costs to making a difference? Sure there are but the alternatives are worse. Doing nothing and letting the market take it’s time is not a good option. Did not work well with Wall St. and wont work well here. We have to have a ten year plan and start implementing it. Or 5-10 years from now we will pay way more of a price.

Has nothing to do with warming, just common sense which some seem to lack here.

Absolutely not! I don’t have much money as it is. I have learned to be economical w/ my living. In 2008 I made a miserable $6000.00. I’ve had tremendous health issues to boot. All of you “yes men” can kiss my rear end. Maybe YOU should be forced to learn restraint like I had too. Your high gas tax would put me and other low incomes into total dispare!
And do you think a high gas tax would stop the greedy oil barons from raising gas prices every time they think they could get away with it? Not on your life!
Look at the British. They have an 85% gas tax on their fuel. Their govenment as usual are totally inept in being finacially responsible and keep bleeding the brits for more and more and more! ENOUGH ALREADY!

Gas tax? About $2 – $2.50 a gallon, but ONLY if we get rid of CAFE. CAFE is the villian in this travesty. CAFE is the reason for SUV’s, which are classified as trucks and so get a CAFE break. Automakers built them _instead_ of station wagons. People with large families need station wagons. If they can’t get ‘em, they buy SUVs. Use the proceeds to fix the infrastructure, and build a Nationwide high speed train network, because airlines are toast due to both fuel costs and global warming. You’re not going to get any electric jet aircraft, but electric high speed trains are plausible.

Not NO, but H—NO. Quit sending money to other countries as foreign aid and spend it here!

No new gas tax until there is an accounting of the billions they have collected during the last 10 years.

Show that it was spent wisely – then we will consider it.

Yeah! that’s a great idea! Why don’t we all just pool our money and give it all to the government? I bet it will solve all of our problems.. even magically remedy global warming.

Are you people stupid? I’m appalled by this generation of arrogance, ignorance. The Government is the problem. Did you ever consider why computer and biotechnology are so advanced and yet our transportation is an outdated relic from the 1930s? Why do you think the Government believes it’s OK to bail out a Bank that can’t balance it’s own books and they are doing it with our money, your money! Talk about Taxation without Representation! All those elected officials in the loop vote your pension and your 401K, but they are not subject to any of the laws that they vote on! What do they care? They have a big fat salary and cushy retirement. The Government did a fantastic job with the stock market. Why do we even have an SEC ? What a waste of tax dollars! Look at the Social Security. They can’t and won’t serve justice to Madoff. Frank Lorenzo stole pensions from hundreds of Eastern Airlines employees and got no more than a slap on the hand. It’s OK to be a white collar criminal in this country. We put people in prisons for marijuana possession where their very life is in the balance daily, and these white collar crooks get sentenced to a country club with guards after defrauding thousands of people and taking down a Global economy! We live in a country where an illegal alien shoots a cop nine times with a nine mm and gets a life sentence, smirking in the courtroom. We have border patrol agents in jail for shooting at a known and armed drug runner, illegal alien that initiated the shooting!

You people think that your smart enough to control the earth’s climate through Government legislation! Are you smarter than God? Though global warming is a fact, it’s cause cannot be proven to be pollution.
Here’s a fact:
This world went through an ice age, now it’s not. Hmm, guess that this planet has already experienced global warming long before any of us were conceived even thousands of years ago.

All that the Government is good at is taking hand outs and stripping us of our freedom. George Washington would be sickened to see how corrupt our government is.

P.S. Please all of you in Government, especially in the loop, do your self and those whom you pretend to represent good, and don’t call yourself a public servant.

One more thing as Americans we do not truly realize what we pay taxes on so here is a short list and I am sure others can come up with more:
Income
Telephone
Cell phone
gas
sales
County property tax
City property tax
School property tax
cable
some states Prescriptions

Larger Gas tax- Fine…make public transportation accessible. More taxes do not fix the infrastructure. More taxes allows the American government to have more pork belly projects and allows more money to blown. HMMM several cities and states are crying poverty. When times are good the government spends and spends and spends. Now that hard times are upon many of us, the answer is more taxes so the government can spend and spend and spend. Does this make any sense? I save more when times are good. Can the government do the same? The only people who NEED large vehicles are contractors, such as plumbers, electricians, builders etc. Vehicles that average less than 25 mpg should have a huge gas tax placed on the vehicle at the time of purchase unless the person or company is a plumber, contractor, or electrician licensed with the state…you get the picture.

gas taxes should be like toll roads – you have a choice, if you want the supposed and nebulous benefit, then pay for it. Those that dont want the supposed benefit, dont pay for it. – all you whackos that can afford to pay the taxes should not be allowed to dump your desires to pay more taxes on me !!!!!!!!!!

Liberals – STOP TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MY FREEDOMS.

This country is nothing more than a herd of sheep!! Just being lead to the slaughter! No we dont need another gas tax or any B.S. tax that some idiot that sets in an office all day just dreams up saying hey look i’ve found another way to robb more money off of our working middle class!!! Ask a farmer what he thinks about this B.S. tax!! I say all us farmers, and truckers ought to band together, and let this country starve for a little while! Then maybe that just might open some eyes! Oh well what am I thinking AMERICA died years ago!! We are nothing but a land occupied by Stupid liberals, ignorrant enviornmentalists, and sue happy A.C.L.U. cry baybies!!! I can truely say common sense is dead in america!!

Gas tax=longer recession. duh!
people won’t buy more efficient cars because gas is expensive, people will buy fuel efficient cars when carmakers make nice fuel efficient cars and people have money to spend. raising the gas tax now will just hurt people now and take away their disposable income. Not every person has the option of public transportation. How about a nice, fat bus pass tax!!
I lived in Europe for 3 years, if you think they have it figured out…MOVE!

Absolutely! We need it for our economic independence, so we don’t end up sending huge amounts of wealth to oil-producing regions (i.e. not us). Gas tax money can be used to make urgently needed infrastructure repairs and improvements – keeping that money HERE and circulating it here. With China and India upping car production, energy is going to be scarce and expensive – the less we have to import, the better off we are financially, politically, etc. Gas prices in the future will be based on a maximization of a society’s ability to pay (as it is for all scarce goods). A gas tax effectively keeps revenue here that would otherwise leave the country – and in the long term, increases only very slightly what price consumers will pay overall. High gas prices will change our behavior sooner (more likely) or later (not too much later). It is just a question of if we can educate enough people to make the decision that will be good for us instead of good for the oil producing economies.

To: steve, des moines
OMG, I think I love you, thank-you for your comments, I was begining to think I was the last American who wanted Freedom and Liberty for my Country.

TO:Erik, Chicago:
Well said you nailed it, and may I add cut Government spending and truely reduce taxes for a change.
Welcome to the Libertarian Party !

To:
Posted By Sacramento:
“It’s unconstitutional. For us to tax a specific industry violates the taxation without representation clause that our founding fathers fought strongly for when leaving Britain!

If we want to really do something about this, we need to cut our overhead costs. Cut the government salary’s…especially that of the leaders!

Enough is enough. Taxes are what is driving this Greek Orthodoxy to its knees. Prepare for massive overhauls or watch us fall faster than any empire.”
Well said, you hit the nail on the head! Welcome to the Libertarian Party!

A large energy tax would be one of the most destructive things Congress could pass right now. A recession is not a good time to pass large, regressive taxes on necessities.

Does the nation need a larger gas tax? Are you kidding me???? They can’t manage the money they have now! What good will it do giving them more money? Absolutely NOTHING!!!! This country is in serious trouble.

No carbon taxes! No Cap and Trade! Gorebull Warming is a hoax. Earth now has 10 full years since single year 1998 El Nino ‘warmth event’. The temperature trend is DOWN. Chicago forecast shows -20 deg F next week. Low usage on my personal A/C last Summer. Disclaimer: Never employed by a fossil/oil/energy company. Education-BS/MS from a top 5 University.

YES…it’s the most efficient way to change consumer behavior. They will buy more fuel efficient vehicles, thereby causing Detroit to focus on producing more fuel efficient vehicles. Additionally, it should drive demand for mass transit, further improving both our energy independence & the environment.

The Europeans are way ahead of us on this issue.

If need be, we can offer low income households further tax breaks to offset the pain.

Prove global warming is man made. Prove it. You can’t. You just keep repeating what Al Gore says. I believe Al started saying it right after he invented the internet.

I’m tired of hearing all this save the environment and global warming crap. Yes, we should keep our communities clean, we shouldn’t dump waste into river and we should try to reuse items whenever possilbe. We should however quit being idiots about all this and not shot ourselfs in the foot by raising taxes and limiting job oportunities when the economy is struggling. If you really believe in global warming go spend a couple of winters in the northern states along the canadian borders and get back to me. I have decided to do my part and quit recycling and start to pollute whenever possible in order to offset all the overly “green” sheep out there. What happened to common sense and individual thought in this country, I think I’ll move to mexico!
Have fun SHEEP, enjoy the koolaid!!!!!!!

Anytime we talk about adding an additional tax to something that is for many Americans as essential as a roof over their head we need to take a minute and breathe. Our economy is at the tipping point right now and increasing the burden on the very families that are struggling to keep their homes is just outright wrong.

I agree that we need to budget for the future and that alternative energy sources are a good thing but not for the extreme ideas that flood mainstream media. I believe that the way you intice people and companies to come up with ideas is by providing an incentive. It works in the corporate world why would it not work in the research field? If you were to offer tax cuts to individuals and companies that could prove they are investing say 25% of their profit line into research of alternative energy solutions I feel we would be suprised by the speed at which things are accomplished.

In regards to the “global warming” arguement I want people to stop and think a minute. Back in the 1970’s wasn’t the big fear that scientists claimed that we were headed for the next ice age? How is it that 30-40 years later we have gone from Wooly Mammoths and Saber toothed cats taking over to the other extreme of melting ice caps and warmer ocean temps? Doesn’t anyone else think this is a little crazy that the small percentage of “experts” can swing the majority of people’s opinions with very little effort?

Of Course!
All the people who think a carbon tax would “hurt consumers” should understand that it is easier to avoid a carbon tax than an income tax.
Anyone who dislikes employment taxes, or taxes that discourage savings, should advocate replacing the payroll tax with a carbon levy.
Anyone who blathers about “energy independence” without understanding how to achieve it, should support a policy that makes alternatives cost competitive while leaving the same amount of money in our pockets each year.
Anyone who wants to give away free drilling rights to oil companies, baby, should support a carbon tax, too.
And you highly intelligent scientists who offer verifiable proof that climate change is a hoax, well you shouldn’t even care because at least a carbon tax will keep Exxon happy!

SAAAYYY WHAT PHIL?!!
It is completely irrelevant if you believe in global warming or not (and I’d love to see where you anti-global warming folks are getting your data from). Even if global warming isn’t man made, we KNOW that the processing and usage of fossil fuels has environmental impacts. Those of us who live in valleys have seen the smog level increase and, consequentially, the air quality decrease due to the increased amount of factories being built and cars on the road.
As for you “free market or die” numbskulls complaining that alternative fuels cost too much, wouldn’t the “free market” assuage that? If there is a larger demand from consumers for alternative fuels; that would create more alt. fuel companies trying to cash in and would eventually drive prices down. It’s funny how so many of you free market people have obviously never taken basic economics.
Posted By Phil, San Jose, CA: January 9, 2009 2:16 pm

Pasted from

Phil:

I know you mean well by your post, but it is way off base. You can alternative fuel the hell out of our transportation system but the fact remains, combustion of ANY KIND, will create burned by-product (incl CO2) Unless you are pushing for electro-magnetics that will run on nothing more than solar, you are going to have to have combustion power to produce ANY alternative fuel. To even manufacture the electric infrastructure the deluded propose is going to require TONS of oil, coal and thermo-nuclear power to put in place; THEN, we can discuss going off fossil fuels. Until then, dream on; it is later than we all think.

I’d like to make another point on this topic. Someone said that high fuel prices will convince Americans who drive gas guzzlers to buy more efficient cars. Here’s something to think about: some of us can’t afford to buy a car, we’re stuck with what we’ve got because that’s all we can afford. So slamming us with a higher tax on fuel would just cause further problems, not create a solution.

A significant increase in carbon taxes (including gasoline tax) is required to correct clear market inefficiencies caused by the failure of current carbonpricing to take into account the huge external costs (pollution, war, global warming, traffic) created by carbon use

We need to phase the increase in now, while oil prices are low

Tax,tax,tax here goes the democrats and their social agenda. Add a tax like this and see your demise in 2 years in the house and senate and 4 years in the White House. Here’s an idea how about raising the cigarette tax to $20.00 per pack.

Absolutely!

We need to reflect the real cost of foriegn oil in the price of it! We have been subsidizing it to be lower and this is not the free market at all.

It has nothing to do with global warming either. If we had all the oil then we should push it, but we don’t and never will and we knew that in the 70s. So the #1 reason to refelct the real price of imported oil to comsumers is to get off foriegn oil period!!

If we are not going to get off foriegn oil then I say we create a oil subsidy tax and we include all the price of our wars for oil (easy 200-300 billion a year here), subsidy to oil companies (17 billion), price of political decisions we make due to being addicted to oil … could go way up and fast …. all added up. The real cost of gas would be I’m sure more like $10 a gallon.

That too high? You pay it now just in the form of deficit and taxes. Let’s reduce our taxes and stop spending any money in the middle east and following decisions based on folly for oil. Simple.

Want cheap oil then find it domestically. We do not need to tax gas we should tax oil not being produced in North America. Get off foriegn oil.

People who don’t get this to me are fools. Of course, they don’t se it. Just like a heroin addict can come up with reasons they should be left to shoot up (too difficult, dangerous to get off .. blah blah blah) I’m sure there are a ton of reasons we can come up with why we need to import cheap oil or we will die somehow. In the end the addict is kidding himself and everyone around them can see it. If you can’t see it and you are an American you are too addicted to now the difference. What happens if the Saudi’s, Venezuela, Russia, Iran all get pissed because of Isreal dropping a nuke on Iran. Say they just cut our supply. Then what? We become crippled in days after the reserve runs out? Does anyone really buy this as a good idea?? Very confusing how people still support this position.

It’s unconstitutional. For us to tax a specific industry violates the taxation without representation clause that our founding fathers fought strongly for when leaving Britain!

If we want to really do something about this, we need to cut our overhead costs. Cut the government salary’s…especially that of the leaders!

Enough is enough. Taxes are what is driving this Greek Orthodoxy to its knees. Prepare for massive overhauls or watch us fall faster than any empire.

those bozo’s want to tax zippers in our pants adding how much they make and more than likely we pay for their gas why not.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We should impeach any crazy politician
that tries to increase taxes. If you want to pay 70% in taxes move to Sweden. Remember the Depression!!!

Americans – we owe it to ourselves to do a little research here. Prove it to yourself – climate change was around before people and will be around after we’re gone. Water vapor makes up more than 95% of greenhouse gases and always has. Stop listening to the media and politicians, read a book, and realize that we are preferentially handicapping American industry based upon a theory (which is all that it will ever be). How many more jobs do we want to lose? Incidentally, the terrorism comments are correct; buying foreign oil is a bad idea. We should drill here because we can, and we can safely.

You have to be kidding me! This is a question being asked now, in the environment? This is absurd! That is the last thing this country even needs to be thinking about. How about, “How can we create more jobs?” or “How can we get tax paying citizens more of their money back in order to save and spend more and bring this country out of the recession?” Come on CNN wake up to what is going on out there.

WTH are people thinking? Firstly there is no provable connection between mankind and climate change. The fallacious argument states that the globe is warming and man is causing it. If you deny that man is causing it you must not believe that the climate can and does change. Ergo.. we show some proof that the climate is/has changed and that somehow proves everyone wrong who states that man isn’t the cause.

Next.. It is only the absolute height of arrogance that makes people think that man has any kind of sway over the global climate and, through sheer force of will and cash, control the weather and climate absolutely. What say we spend money towards adapting to the climate change that absolutely will come regardless of what man does?

Finally.. The thing that sends me into hysterical fits of laughter everytime.. the claims that the government should raise taxes and costs artificially on fossil fuels to price them OVER alternative fuels.. And when people claim that that would have disastrous economic effects the same liberals attack back with “As for you “free market or die” numbskulls complaining that alternative fuels cost too much, wouldn’t the “free market” assuage that?”.. Hellooooo.. When you have a government artificially interfering with the price of something and meddling in demands of X must be produced you have completely and utterly cut out ANY free market influence.

You see.. the way a free market works is that if people WANT something they will buy it. The goal is not to inflate the cost of “X” into the stratosphere to force people to buy “Y” which doesn’t have to do anything but wait for the Gubbment mandates and subsidies but rather have the Gubbment keep it’s face out and that will FORCE “Y” to innovate, adapt, refine and improve until it can compete legitimately with “X”..

Will you Liberal Tree huggers not be satisfied till you turn this country into another 3 Word Cess Pool. For every Person you find who believes in GW you can find another who doesn’t.
The only thing that will be accomplish is that the ones who can less afford the Tax will be the ones sitting in the cold and dark Homes.
But a lest all you New Englanders would be able to get read of the Poor as they will have to move to the South to Survive.

No

How would giving the government more money make alternative fuels any cheaper? We should level the playing field and remove any incentives for oil companies.
Furthermore, everyone here is missing the point when it comes to automobiles: Regardless of how cheap we can make “energy”, we currently don’t and will not have sufficient battery technology to have fully electric cars in the near future. Removing any current incentives for oil companies (and maybe shifting them to some sort of green tech) should level the playing field and let the cheapest and best technology win.

I love how the nebulous term, “alternative fuels” is always used. What exactly are the alternative fuels these folks are talking about. You will never get an answer. Because they do not exist.

Europe has had high gas prices for decades. They use fossil fuels to power their vehicles. That is not going to change for at least another 25 years. If you made the price $10 a gallon at the pump you still would not change that fact.

As for the secular religion of global warming. Two things to consider: If every vehicle disappeared tomorrow, carbon dioxide emissions would diminish by a measly 2%. Also, there is a lot of debate in the scientific community as to whether global warming is man made or can be stopped.

NO, the nation does not need a new tax during a recession. The people who will be hurt the most by this tax are the poor, through higher prices, and less opportunity.

The tax should be at the pump. The price of a gallon of gas should be at $3.50 now and should increase with the cost of living. This would serve two purposes. The tax could be used to pursue alternative fuel and the auto companies could concentrate on producing the cars people will want with gas prices minimized at $3.50 instead of trying to hit a moving target.

What we’ve seen is that telling us to drive more slowly, buy more fuel efficient cars and maintain them had no effect. Driving decreased when prices rose. SUV sales decreased when prices rose. If the government can tax energy and reduce taxes elsewhere, the net gain is an incentive to be more efficient without burdening the poor.

Make sure the tax is a percentage not a flat rate so as energy prices increase, the tax revenues increase as well.

We’ve got to come up with ways to cover the trillion dollar budget deficits anyway – why not a tax on the items such as gas that make us the most dependent on countries that not exactly our friends?

Add a big tax on fossil fuels and you’ll see the 21st Century version of the Great Depression. Of course, many of the socialist greenieweenies toiling away at their 9 buck an hour Starbucks jobs would love to see everyone driving ‘94 Geo Metros and scooters like they do. It’ll relieve their jealousy complexes. For business owners and the working class already struggling to pay for gas to get to work or to heat their homes, it would be devastating. You’d see double digit unemployment in no time, just like during the early 80’s when fuel prices skyrocketed.

If the greenie fuels can’t compete and come to market at current gas prices, then what good are they?

No,No,No We pay enough in Taxes,What we need is Accountability in fiscal spending.When the Congress all drives Smart cars,then let them tell US what to drive. Mass Transit works in Europe because all the countries are close together,cities are jamed up,streets are narrow,and life is quite different.Taxes will not stimulate the Economy they never have unless they were CUT.Have all who fly private planes,have Boats,and Fly back to their constituents monthly,pay an excise usage Tax. How much carbon does Nancy Pelosi create when she flys back to California Monthly?

Absolutely not!!!! We have already seen what high fuel prices have done to the economy from the pump to the grocery stores and every thing else inbetween. Instead of a higher fuel tax to support alternative energy R&D how about we get congress to stop wasting billions of dollars every year on their pet projects and divert that money to alternative energy R&D. The Boston Tea party idea sounds good to me as well.

We can add this tax now, while oil prices are cheap, and keep that money here in the U.S. or we can wait for the inevitable oil supply squeeze to drive prices up and send that money overseas. You choose.

Yes, lets do it… BUT… The tax money should be used toward investing in green technology energy projects and creating tax credits at a much higher level here. Fund DOL training grants to train a new workforce for these new technologies and voila.. We are on our way.

If it’s highly profitable to create wind, solar, geotherm and nuclear energy, who in their right mind would not A-go there and B-invest there?

Carbon is history and the past. We are at the tipping point of it’s use. We rely on electricity for 60% or more of our commerce. Our old grids won’t continue to support future demands and coal; although abundant, is NOT the future of energy.

The time is now….

Are you people insane? Give the government more money to waste? The pinheads in Washington with the private jets as well as the rich establishment only care about global warming as long as it does not affect them.I am all for getting off oil dependency from the orient, but any kind of tax, and please drop the word carbon tax, it is nauseating, needs to be measured considering the state of our economy.

I like my money and would prefer not to give the government more of what I’ve earned, thank you kindly. Does that make me greedy? Possibly. But the larger question is, why should we have faith in our government that already gives billions of dollars a year away in subsidies to oil companies to spend that money wisely?

Gas Tax !?! And just who will get to spend the largess? Good people, if you believe the politicians won’t find a way to pork up on it…you belong with all the people who have learned nothing from past history! As Santana said “Those who fail to remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.”

What we really need to get rid of is the “Perpetuals” in Congress and the Senate who have made a career of spending money we have…and don’t have! All the while avoiding the controversial decisions needed to stop the insanity.

And if you think environmetalists have the answers…ask youself: just how much Carbon could have been avoided by intelligent use of nuclear power here and elsewhere over the last 30 years, and for the next 30?

With the instability of gas prices and the dramatic need for development of alternative energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.), it all comes down to who you want to pay, terrorists and petrodictators who want to destroy us, or the U.S. government (to invest in our future)…

There is no way I could support something like this unless the legislation contained provisions that prohibited congress from using those tax funds for anything besides alternative energy development.

Congress guaranteed the future failure of the social security program when it authorized the use of funds that were dedicated to social security and moved them into the general fund. No wonder SS will be bankrupt by 2017!!!

Some one made an interesting comment. Why does a tax, supposedly to fund alternative energy sources, have to come from the energy source it is replacing (GAS). I think everyone, including me, just accepted that reasoning without questioning it’s logic. It is just another tax to support bloated government, masquerading as a noble gas tax to save the envirement or global warming nonsense. Another Ponzi Scheme

If done right, a big gas tax could serve several purposes.
First, it needs to be phased in, say $.25 a month, so there isn’t a major shock to everyone’s budget.
Second, the revenue collected could be earmarked for energy development and energy conservation projects. For example, folks can get tax credits for insulating their houses or replacing appliances that are old enough to be big energy drains.
Third, the tax can be raised or lowered to cushion major spikes or dips in energy prices. For example, if prices skyrocketed like last year, the tax could be lowered and then gradually increased so energy prices didn’t go up more than say 10% per month. The tax would gradually be increased again to its target level but we avoid the spike. If prices drop a lot, a temporary increase prevents the bottom from falling out of alternative energy development efforts.
Finally, it shows we have the commitment to doing something serious that looks towards the long term.

Ultimately, we need either a significant tax to keep transportation fuel at or above a floor price or a “cap and trade” approach. This is for three reasons: 1) economic – for the United States to lead in the new energy economy, new businesses need to have a contained risk envelope within which they can make the needed investments for new technologies. 2) geopolitical – the source of our current energy directly affects the security of the US and the world. 3) environmental – global warming is real. The problem is that the time cycles around our day-to-day consumption decisions are completely out of phase with the time cycles associated with global climate change. In other words, by the time the climate affects our day-to-day consumption decisions on an accumulated basis, it will be far too late.

Well, we definitely use toooooo much gas and something has to be done about it. I am not sure if pushing gas prices to 5-10 dollars a gallon will be the smart choice. Remember, we have no choice we have to drive. We do not live in Europe where you do not need a car to go to work. Our public transportation will never be as good as in the rest of the world. Even the poorest families have couple of cars to get to work or shopping. Having said that, I believe that by increasing gas prices so much we will hurt all but the richest and slam the brakes on economy. Big recession is guaranteed.

This type of tax would completely destroy our already devastated manufacturing industry (especially automobile). Plus, this tax would severely hamper the trucking industry which makes our country’s retail economy run as smoothly as it does.

I think a variable tax that holds the cost of gas at a certain price would be the most effective. That price should be based on desired consumption and should increase gradually year-to-year indefinitely. That is the only way to break the grip that oil has on us, provide a budgetable fuel expense, and maintain revenue for roads, etc. Even if our consumption is reduced to the equivalency of our production, the price is still controlled by the world market. We need to be oil free.

NO! If Congress would learn to budget themselves instead of spending on these “PET” projects we’d be better off. It’s just like the rest of us, “live within YOUR means”, that means a budget for the country. Congress themselves should have to learn to live on what they make without a raise for four years at least, if not more especially those who’ve been there forever (TERM LIMITS for the President means term limits for ALL of CONGRESS). I’m reminded of Kevin Kline in the movie Dave his accountant friend says if I ran my business like this I’d be out of business.

No!!! I love hearing people try to tell others what they need and don’t need. Sure, Guido who lives in his high rise condo in NYC doesn’t need a F350, but the farmer out in the midwest hauling cattle does. It’s rediculous to just think you can get rid of all these vehicles by adding a tax. Adding a tax to get the price of gas back over $4/gal is not going to miraculously keep people from driving gasoline vehicles, keep airlines from having flights, keep the postal service from delivering mail; and it’s not going to miraculously replace these items with “environmental friendly” ones. All it will do is inflate the price of oil to the consumer; just what we need in the middle of a recession. The earth is what, 4.5 billion years old? And were studying data over the last 100 years to claim that it is from humans. It is rediculous to claim that from 100 years of data, that humans are the cause of “global warming.” There is a different in “global warming” and “climate change.” I don’t think people have any concept of what percentage of the earth’s life that is.

An increased gas tax is an unnecessary penalty to consumers and more money for government to waste. A tax isn’t a solution it’s an excuse. We should address the issue on its merits which in this case are overwhelming.

Are they kidding? They finally have us driving less to decrease global warming and now they want to penalize us for that by raising gases taxes because they aren’t making enough revenue on gas taxes??? What did they expect to happen to revenues if we used less energy? I don’t think this was though through very well.

Sure, let’s go ahead and finish off the economy with what is essentially a VAT: a tax levied at every level of production, each time raw materials or finished goods are shipped from point A to point B. Sheer genius.

I’m with the person who suggested taxing the heck out of new cars that don’t get good mileage. If you want a Hummer or other such nonsense and am willing to pay the tax, yahoo, go for it. Don’t make the person earning minimum wage cut back on groceries so that they can afford to drive back and forth to work. Were all you gas tax fans sleeping when so many people had to cut back on their consumption, just to afford gas? Hello? See any impact that might have on say, worsening a recession?

While I agree behavior may be modified by taxing, let’s make sure we tax the right thing: low mpg vehicles, not fuel.

Yeah, that’s a good idea! Let’s increase the cost of getting to work, the grocery store, school, vacation, etc. You liberals haven’t completely sunk the economy yet, so this could conceivably push it over the edge.

Maybe you could have Barney Frank spearhead the necessary regulation. His regulations that forced banks to give money to anybody regardless of creditworthiness was a fantastic plan and almost worked in destroying the economy (the kicker was that he figured out how to stick the blame on the banks!). This should just finish the job!

Here’s the deal, plain and simple. MONEY CANNOT FIX GLOBAL WARMING. However, action can. Taxing everything is a poor plan to reduce carbon emissions. Everyone knows (especially the consumer) that anytime the government says “tax” it will be passed to the consumer. Big corporations won’t catch that bullet for anyone, they’ll pass it straight on to us. So how does it make sense, in the midst of a recession (possibly depression) to raise tax on a necessary commodity?!

Here’s how it makes sense, that is, how it makes sense to the government. Raising taxes on either carbon emissions or doing a cap-and-trade on equals new revenue for them. And they already take enough as it is with the income tax, sales tax, property tax, vehicle taxes, etc.

What needs to be done, with the current level of taxes, is massive alternative energy research and development. Forego all of these new and higher tax proposals and just DO IT. How do we pay for it? Well I think the government gets enough revenue from us already to more than pay for it, especially if the policians start making some more realistic salaries. Who here thinks that it is okay that the people who represent America can afford to have multiple homes and drive whatever they want when there are millions of people who are out of a job and can’t even pay rent on a place to live?!

Okay, I’ve said enough. NO NEW TAXES, NO HIGHER TAXES!

Screwing over working Americans and businesses large and small? Sure, sign me up for a gas tax!

The problem of course is people who are in “police beating poverty” and can not afford the prices even as they are now.

There is a simple answer to reducing oil consumption without dragging on the economy. If only the elected officials were smart enough to use the free market to their advantage.

First, add a $1.50 per gallon tax to all fuels that currently have federal tax. Second, put all that money in a pot (keep Congress away from it!!!) and once per quarter, divide the total up evenly and send a check to all registered tax payers.
This simple and relatively low cost solution redistributes money from those who consume more than average amounts of oil to those who consume less without taking any money out of the system.
Businesses that produce products will less oil will benefit. Local products will become relatively cheaper.
In the short and long run, consumption will be reduced.

We absolutely DON’T need a gas tax. Who are we kidding? Imposing a gas tax will not reduce greenhouse gases. We do need to find alternatives to fossil fuels, but using a tax to achieve it will almost certainly fail. We could begin to explore new energy sources right now. The government could generate interest with tax breaks. The government could offer incentives for producing fully electric or fuel cell cars. We just have to have the courage to stand up to the oil companies. No new gasoline taxes!

While a gas tax is great for people who truly believe in the apocolyptic powers of global warming, the fact is we cannot change to alternatives on a massive scale in a short period of time. More solutions need to be presented, but let the people who still drive their 1960’s Ford station wagon (owned since new) not have to suffer because of fear-based mania. Do the oil companies have their hands in politician’s pockets? Absolutely, but so do so-called “green” companies that hope to receive large subsidies from the taxpayer. A true solution needs to be founded in reality, find ways that appeal to everyone. Power companies that receive government subsidies should be the primary target. Promote alternatives offered at fuel stations and charge the heck out of everything. (Truly those that walk the walk of greening will pay any price if it saves the planet). If people are so concerned over carbon emissions, let them pay the $750 per month lease for an electric Mini.
But adding a tax will worse off. Recreational vehicle manufacturing has been dramatically hurt by the increase in gas prices. People were unable to go and explore this great nation, visiting the national parks, grandkids, etc., since it cost a month’s salary just to go across town. Impoverished people cannot afford to purchase a new hybrid and will suffer as a result of the tax. But has anyone asked what will happen to carbon emissions as we manufacture green vehicles to replace all the non-green vehicles since we are encouraging people to get rid of their gas guzzler through the gas tax?
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for alternative energy, but it should not be rammed down our throats by a delusional politicians playing to populism.

This is stupid. Why penalize the customer who can do little to change our energy sources? Government must enact change via infrastructure. There needs to alternatives to choose from before you can justify taxing gasoline for everyone. Keep in mind that hybrids still use gas. Should people stay away from gas-guzzlers? Sure, but there are better ways to do that than to penalize everyone for the mistakes of others. All that’s going to happen is that everyone is going to have less money to spend in an already terrible economy.

A carbon tax, as explained by Dan Rosenblum of the Carbon Tax Center, would be a tax on oil, natural gas, or coal levied at either the refinery, well head, or mine mouth.
To this last point, Rosenblum and other supporters say the carbon tax can be offset with tax breaks, like a reduction in the payroll tax.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/09/news/economy/carbon_tax/index.htm?postversion=2009010912
That way, they say, the government could discourage something it doesn’t want – pollution – and encourage something it does – working – through the tax code.
So the obvious question is, with this and all of the other burdens, like paying for the bailouts, being placed on workers, why is working more desirable than simply running one’s own business as a private contractor? At what point does working as someone elses employee become more or less safe than working for one’s self as people have done since before 1776 in this country? When the US became a country in 1776 most people worked as farmers or tradespeople or frontiersmen hunting and trapping. It was not until the industrial revolution and Ford’s assembly lines in factories and so on that people began working in large numbers for others. I know of nowhere that it is written that we can not go back to what works if this experiment in industry does not work.

if there is an alternative route to go, yes. don’t tax deisel fuel for trucks if that is the only fuel we offer for them, you are not helping the problem, if there is alternative fuel offered for the trucking industry, then yes tax oil for trucks ( example )

I can’t tell you how mad this makes me. Such a smoke screen to steal the tax payer money in a different vehicle. No pun intended. I, for one see that the working poor who put 20,000 mi. on their cars a year, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK, get the raw deal again. Those that are not working don’t need to drive that extensively– only to the store or dr.s. The rich can just cut out an expensive meal. How about the working poor that don’t get raises, have to work, and don’t receive government assisstance. We are enjoying a little peace now with lower oil rates in two areas. Gas to drive to work and gas or oil to heat our homes. NO GAS TAX.

Why is the answer always HIGHER TAXES and punishing people??? Cut spending and incent people. Let Americans be free. Is there any tax increase that a liberal thinks should be abolished?

I sure hope they don’t pass this stupid measure. I don’t want to be forced to pay more than I already do for electricity and gasoline because someone is worried about global warming and emissions. Let those that want the tax pay the tax, but leave my energy alone.

I’m fine with them eventually phasing out gas and fossil fuel dependency, but punishing us for Congress’ inability to let go of their dedication to big oil and allow new technologies to emerge is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. If anyone in my area even thinks of voting in favor of this measure, they can bet I will be voting to put them out of office.

Absolutely. It is the only way we as a country are going to get off the oil bandwagon. We went thru this mess in the ’70s but failed to do anything about it when gas prices came back down.

YES YES Y-E-S!!!!!

For several reasons. Even without the fossil fuel consumption contributing to global warming argument, it is obvious that our economy is incredibly dependent upon other producers. I thoroughly believe that the United States could go from the largest energy consumer to the largest producer. I also think increasing the gas tax (significantly over time) would be a step to move us in that direction. There are so many people who will argue that there do not need to be limits on our consumption, but no one can argue that we can produce this fuel to meet our demand. If gas is sitting at $40 a barrel (which I believe to be underpriced) it is not economically feasible to produce a liquid alternative (for transportation) that could compete. Think about it, if we cannot produce something economically feasible, then we will continue to depend upon countries that can. That maks sense right? Not a problem if we have a diversified economy and enough jobs in other areas. But too much of our economy is built on consumerism and is not sustainable without producing something. If we are dependent upon other countries to produce that means jobs there…not here. With this recession, all talk seems to be focused on what we can do to allieviate the problems now. A few years ago Cheney was quoted as saying that deficits don’t matter. I can’t see how anyone would agree with that, but it seems they might as no one will address how we are going to take care of the $10+ trillion in debt that we have. How in the next 20 years are we going to have $10+ trillion in surplus? I believe that the way we can get there is by becoming the leading energy producing nation of the world.
We have so many resources that we could use to turn into liquid fuels. Take corn for example. Have you seen planted corn? You have this huge thing coming out of the ground, you clear away the husks and get this tiny bit of yellow substance that we call “corn.” Then we turn it into syrup for food, eat it straight, make it into livestock feed or ferment it to put into our cars. But doesn’t that seem a bit inefficient? All that plant and such little return? What about the corn stover (husks, leaves, etc.)? It is made of carbohydrates that if treated correctly can be turned into alcohols that can be used as fuel for our cars. Well why isn’t this happening? The answer: economics. The technology is there, and as demand increases, the technology gets better, which will bring costs down. The problem is, there’s not much demand because companies have so much infrastructure and technology that they can drill into the ground to get oil for cheaper than they could produce these biofuels. A tax on gas would make these other technologies more attractive, which would cause a greater investment thus, bringing down costs in the long run as technology gets better.

But given the current economic climate, an increase in gas tax would need to be coupled with a slightly larger decrease in the other taxes than what is being proposed so that we’re not throwing more of a tax burden on an already fragile economy. I live in Houston and for the first time in my life, when gas was getting high (especially this past year but I first heard it after Katrina) you heard people talking about getting a smaller car. Realizing that maybe driving a hummer from downtown to the suburbs or a truck without ever actually hauling anything had its drawbacks. Suddenly buying a hybrid became a viable option to pay a little more initially that you would then be saving at the pump. And we actually reduced our demand!
Supply and demand is the name of the game. As demand goes up so will the cost. As the cost goes up, to some extent, down will go demand (though not as much for gas as other materials). In the long run, as more fuel-efficient/cost-efficient decisions are made the price of oil will go down with decreasing demand. Ideally if the gas tax increases year by year, it will be accompanied by a decrease in demand. The raw (untaxed) price of gas I doubt would decrease, but it would not increase as fast as it would otherwise. Meanwhile, companies (and yes, maybe the government and oil companies) are investing heavily in the type of fuels that we can actually produce here. More production…more jobs.
Yes it is a bold move, but regardless of which side of the aisle you fall on we can’t be happy with the fact that so much of what runs this country comes from Saudi Arabia and China and we would like to see more jobs here. This is going to take a movement to make it happen so think about it, read about it, talk to your friends about it, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this is one desperate measure I would like to see happen.

OH, What a brilliant idea at this stage of the game. Let’s see, if you believe the governmnet report 7.2% of the population is out of work when in reality it might be closer to 15%. People can’t afford things now so lets make it even harder because remember the cost is going to be passed along in everything else, food, clothing etc. etc. Global warming? this is the last thing we should be worried about right now folks, the country as we know it is on the verge of going out forever. You global warming folks might have to sit in the back of the bus for awhile unitl the more important problems are figured out.
And one other thing, Your going to do what with the money you collect from this tax? Have you looked at what your government is doing with the money that they already have? and you want to give them more? Perhaps its time for your therapy sessions. OH wait is that going to be paid by your free government health care program?

Ridiculous idea. What we need to do is shrink government and reduce the burden to tax payers rather than thinking of more ways to soak the population to support bigger government.

What we need to do is throw all these stimulus ideas and bailouts and tax increases in the trash and let the market deal with the problems, eventually the market will win anyway, and all we’re doing now is prolonging the inevitable.

The idea that we would now think of increasing the gasoline tax just because the price has fallen is ludicrous. What we need to do is get government out of the economy and let it function, if we don’t I don’t see a recovery for years.

The government can’t stimulate anything, all it can do is take from one source and give it to another, and that doesn’t create anything, but it can kill the private sector’s ability to create jobs.

Remember that when Pelosi stands up there and talks about job creation, it’s all a fallacy, it can’t happen effectively and efficiently if government gets involved. True economic growth comes from the private sector.

We need to go back to work and produce, and maybe then we’ll be able to dig our way out of this immense hole we’re in.

Wake up people, this is serious!

this is as stupid as it gets. we will hamstring our economy and middle class while china and india pass us by. is the goal of this to make america a third world nation ? because that is what this kind of thinking is going to get us.

Yes, a gas tax is the ideal way to steer us away from unhealthy overuse. It keeps the government out of the planning business of deciding which green technologies to support. Instead it just makes explicit the significant costs (in polution, and support for dangerous foreign regimes) that use of gasoline incurr. I’m also a fan of a carbon tax, which would affect gas a well as other fuels; but even with a carbon tax in place I would add a gas “surtax” to reflect the cost of propping up undemocratic terrorism-supporting governments.

No! Like it or not, we are entering a depression. A closed factory does not pollute. And when you are out of a job and don’t have money to buy gas your car stops polluting, too.

Of course we should increase fuel taxes dramatically. First of all, these taxes should be offset by reductions in income and payroll taxes so that the net tax burden of an individual only changes to the extent they are willing to reduce fuel consumption. Secondly, since standard market forces control the price at the pump, a large fuel tax increase will never equate to a penny-for-penny increase in the actual price of fuel paid by the consumer. The reduction in fuel consumption driven by the tax increase will result in an overall drop in fuel prices. The end result will be to save conscientious drivers money.

No, Why don’t the liberals and RICH like Ms Pelosi and Mr Reid, NV D, leave the poor people of this country alone, Al Gore Tax is only going to make the RICH, RICHER, CO2 is a plant food, and makes are trees greener, we
global warming is a fraud, to get more money out of us. No new or old taxs, leave gas and oil alone, until we get new better cars, which will be 10 years down the road.

YES, ABSOLUTELY! ESPECIALLY IN METROPOLITAN AREAS!

It is extremely important for the future of America’s infrastructure costs and quality of living in urban and suburban environments that gas prices are increased. It’s painful to me when I hear people living in metropolitan areas say “I do not have access to alternative modes of transportation where I live.” This is because those communities haven’t had the need to invest in public transit systems because it’s been too easy for people to fill up the tank and drive. This policy creates incredibly wasteful and unsustainable “parking-lot” and “strip-mall” communities. Raising gas prices is one step toward getting people thinking of other ways of getting around and restructuring their lifestyles (and improving America’s cities while they’re at it).

Raising gas taxes would be stupid and dangerous. People NEED gas to get to their jobs, or go out and do their shopping – we HAVE to buy gas. It makes no sense to punish people by raising prices on a necessity. You might say, “Well you should buy more efficient cars!” – because THAT’S a logical argument! Everyone in the nation can REALLY afford to go replace their car(s) with something brand new and “better” for the environment. And while we’re on the subject of new, higher-mileage cars, let’s discuss the idea of the electric car real quick: Good idea – a car with no emissions, Bad idea – a car stuffed full of lithium ion batteries. For one thing, if you drive an electric car that needs charging, you haven’t eliminated any emissions, you’ve just pushed them back up the line to the power plant that’s supplying you with electricity. And even if you’re driving a hybrid that uses the internal combustion engine to charge the batteries, you’re still sitting on a stack of very expensive, very heavy, and fairly short lived exotic-metal batteries. They’re adding weight to the car which makes it less efficient. There’s a high voltage line running through the car that adds an interesting danger for emergency personnel in the event that they have to cut you out of the car after an accident. Finally, when your battery pack goes caput (and it will), or when it’s time to scrap the car, what happens to those batteries? They’ll be EXTREMELY expensive to replace, and will cause quite a bit of pollution if thrown away. So way to save the planet there electric car owners!
Secondly the economy is in the crapper, and no one can spend any money to help it get back on its feet. A gas tax is only going to make it worse, as it not only takes money from the very people you need to stimulate and save the economy, but encourages them to stay home instead of going to the stores and restaurants that need saving. I recently talked to an Applebee’s employee who said that business dropped SIGNIFICANTLY when gas prices were up around $4/gal, and then picked up again when the prices dropped back to the $2/gal range. So that’s at least two strikes for a gas tax…punishment for doing something we HAVE to do, and damage to the institutions that employ people and keep out consumer-driven economy humming.
So now let’s take a look at the feasibility of alternative energy. I’m all for reducing our reliance on foreign oil. For some reason it seems like the only people that have any abundance of the stuff are either complete whack jobs that want us dead, or shady governments looking to reclaim the “glory days” of communism. So producing our own energy would be great. But there are a couple of problems. First off, you’re really only talking electricity. You can’t really replace natural gas without changing out a very large percentage of the furnaces, ranges, water heaters, etc in American homes. Very difficult, and not a great idea, especially considering we can’t even make the switch to digital television without the president-elect trying to delay the transition for the morons who’ve been living under rocks since 2005. So if we’re talking about generation of electricity, we currently do that with oil or coal (mostly). Nuclear plants are great, but they’re a P.R. nightmare, and what do you do with the glowing rods when you’re done? Not even Las Vegas wants them, and that place is big into glowing. Anyway, coal’s cheap, and we have lots of it right here in the United States. It’s easy to transport on trains, and the infrastructure is all set up already. There are even ways to clean up the smoke so all that billows out of the plants is a giant white cloud. Wonderful. I’m all for initiatives designed to update the power plants running on coal to make them as efficient and clean as possible. To replace the oil we’ve looked to solar, wind, and water power. Hydroelectric power generation is great, but you need a LOT of water and a great big dam. Expensive, damaging to the environment (at least immediately behind the dam) and not feasible everywhere. Solar power is another fun idea; unfortunately, the absolute VERY BEST solar panels out there are right around 40% efficient. And even if we improve on that number there’s just not that much energy you can suck out of sunlight. Plus, solar energy only really works WELL in places where it’s sunny most of the time. We have lots of desert in this country, but large chunks of it are reserved for military bases, and places like Phoenix;) And if you put a giant solar plant out in the middle of nowhere, you have to build the infrastructure to manage the power and get it onto the grid. Moving on, there’s wind power, which again, is a fun idea. But we’re finding that a lot of people don’t WANT a gigantic windmill (much less wind FARM) either in their back yards, or obstructing their view of the ocean. And again, windmills only work under certain conditions – it has to be WINDY! So none of these power sources (with the exception of hydroelectric) are really that reliable. Furthermore, Obama “plans” to raise our reliance on these renewable energy sources by an AMAZING percent in something like 3 years, when it takes longer than that to get a power plant BUILT. I’d sure like a hit of whatever he’s smoking! I have a very good friend that works for a company that builds solar power facilities, and they’re hurting just like everyone else…they’re way behind schedule and over budget-like every big project in every big company. The thing to remember here is that it’s private industry that’s going to be building these new renewable energy facilities, and they need a good economic climate to do what they do too, so if you raise taxes on something like gas and burden the average consumer, preventing him or her from spending their money elsewhere and limiting their disposable income, then the companies that are supposed to usher in the future of oil-independence will have no money to do it with.
On a side note, a very good (I think) idea that never gets talked about is refining the process for extracting oil from shale, which the U.S. has an abundance of. It too will run out eventually, but there’s enough shale-oil in the country to last us for quite some time, and once it’s extracted, we could continue to run the power plants we currently have without changing much of anything. No Oil-Hoarding Whack-Jobs + Reuse of Existing Infrastructure = Good Solution in my book. It would certainly buy us the time we needed to really develop all these alternative energy ideas. It’s not going to happen overnight. The reason we build such good internal combustion engines is that we’ve been doing it for a hundred years and understand the problem.
Getting back to gasoline – people have come up with several clever ideas there too…I’m all for adding 10% ethanol to gasoline, but E85 is nothing more than a science project. It takes too much energy to produce ethanol for each unit energy produced by burning it, and besides that, there’s not enough corn to both feed the world and run our cars. It’s just a bad idea. They’ve played around with other food oils and biomass, and who knows? Maybe there’ll be something there, but we’re going to need an awful lot of whatever “renewable resource” they decide to make fuel out of, so people need to consider that before jumping on these bandwagons.

So, in conclusion, raising gas taxes = Bad. Cleaning up current power plants = Good. But here’s an idea! How ’bout we stop “cutting” regular taxes when we’re terribly in debt? Tax cuts are great, but we always pay for them somewhere, and wouldn’t it really be better to just keep taxes where they are now and deal with a larger budget, rather than “cut” taxes for Joe Plumber and then impose a ridiculous tax on gasoline? It’s an idiotic shell game the government plays with us, and I’m sure we’re going to see it kicked into high gear with the democrats in control of the White House and congress. We don’t need the government to save the economy, we just need cool heads and time. It’ll come back, and when it does, whoever’s in power will take credit for it, which will be a huge load of bull, because it tends to take care of itself. All we get from the government are knee-jerk reactions (like gas taxes!) like bailing out companies that probably deserve to go bankrupt for poor management and high-risk behavior. No one learns any lessons when you hand them something. Holy crap this got long….Finally, to the people saying that this is a good time to raise gas taxes because prices are low relative to what we payed last year, I would like to remind you that the price of oil tends to follow the trend of the general market. The economy tanked, and oil got cheap. It’s demand-driven, yes, but a good economy means higher prices for all commodities, including oil, so when the market comes back – like it always does – so will gas prices. Do you really want to be paying $5 or $6/gallon to help the government pay for more little pet projects? Expecially when the vast majority of those projects are doomed to failure? I know I don’t. Everyone needs to step back, take a deep breath, and think things through before spouting off and whipping out new taxes.

To those who say “no” because they want a free market, realize the fossil fuel business doesn’t live in a free market. These companies are not held accountable for (1) huge security bills to keep the oil supply safe, (2) air pollution that kills thousands of Americans annually (1, 2, more), and (3) long term environmental damage. Instead the public pays for it when Uncle Sam comes calling. Instead we all donate to the industry and pay for these costs in the form of taxes. Instead the tax burden should be shift where it belongs — on the industry and its goods. The so-called free market isn’t always what it appears to be.

Climate change is not being denied…its source is…20 years ago it was CFCs putting holes in the ozone layer…then it turns out they were always there…just opening and closing. I belive cleaner fuels are needed but to push a tax just because you believe someone can develop magic beans is ridiculous. give incentives for development…don’t tax the people who have to commute to work for a living…BTW…most of the money taken from the current gas tax does not go to roads and highways but to other pork-barrel project, The gov’t should use the $$$ it is currently receiving to develop new fuels…

Yes. Absolutely. The revenues must be used to directly combat the negative effetions of fossil fuel consumption however. Should be used to invest in renewable domestic energy and to fix our aging infrastructure.

Won’t happen though. Democrats can’t get it done because it would impact their base too much. Only way is to have credits for low income individuals.

Absolutely. Not using petroleum or any imported fuels is the safest and most economically reliable option our country has had since the original oil crisis in the early 1970’s.

It is very simple. Once we’re not packing up all our money for petroleum from other countries, we can put all that money back to work here in our own country!

A tax increase of $1.50/gal is needed immediately, with the tax rising every 5 years for 30 years to a final tax of $8/gal, and it would then be tied to rate of inflation for increases every year.

It will crush demand for petroleum based fuels while paying for research and development of alternative fuels and technologies. Ideally the new methods of powering the future is sustainable, viable, and beneficial to all Americans. Also our country, our planet and the economy.

No cap n’ trade; it’s another Wall Street scheme; carbon tax is the way.

We need to raise tax revenue to beef up Social Security, provide health care (expand MediCare), and start rebuilding the economy after 8 years of Bush devastation. A carbon tax will do this nicely. Price it in $$$ per ton of carbon in the fuel: oil, gas, and coal. Make sure it is on the barrel (at the wellhead, refinery, port, pipeline, or mine) so that the suppliers (including OPEC) are paying it, not on the gallon, where the customers would pay. They oil companies may try to pass it along, but the supply chain often absorbs half or more of this type of tax. It will quickly generate LOTS of tax, helping to close the budget deficit, and conservation, cutting imports and helping to close the trade deficit. Plus, we get a better health care and retirement system. Let’s do it now.

Typical Liberal thinking. We know what is best for you so we are going to tax you to make you do it.

Then they get the money to spend it programs that do not work. Who would this tax affect most? The poor and middle class working class.

Oh, but Obama and his ilk will say, “don’t worry, we’ll help you.” and another Socialist program will be created to try to do something but will fail as usual.

It is very much like Charlie Brown from a Charlie Brown Christmas. “Everything I touch gets ruined.” That about sums up our government.

Most definitely.
It’s the only way to keep American’s from going back to their old habits.
Much of this tax revenue should be spent on enhancing public transportation systems (light rail, high-speed rail, extended subway systems). We shouldn’t need the same amount of tax money to maintain roads that less people are driving on. I would love nothing more than to ditch my car, but I don’t have an alternative.

We need a tax on all oil imported from abroad. And a tax on any coal burning plant that produces any carbon emissions at all, with exponential increase in tax along a linear increase in emissions. To do otherwise means that any shortage in oil supply means an exponential increase in revenue for oil producing countries, or any shift to electric powered vehicles will result in an increase in carbon emmisions at the power plants respectively. The arguments for open markets are dead, as is examplified by the financial crisis we are currently suffering.
The argument that global warming is not a reality, well I have some fine oceanfront property I’m willing to sell to you at an extreme discount. The comments against this idea because you don’t like new taxes just goes to show that when it comes to the big issues, Americans are just too small minded to get it together.

Yes, we need to tax fossil fuels to increase demand for cleaner energy. Americans for the most part are not very educated and the ones who believe that all the scientific evidence pointing to global warming is a myth are the same ones who believe some dude walked on water and rose from the dead 2000 years ago. Unfortunately, because of this -some adults have to step in and force the dumb people to change for the better of the country. We need to look towards the future and long-term effects and realize that cleaner energy is a must and we are so far behind where we should be already.

A gas tax to reduce consumption and put our sights on alternative energy? We should have been putting taxes towards alternative energy years ago.BUt our taxes go towards non-essentials for most Americans. A gas tax would put more hurt on the low and middle class and most likely would not go towards alternative energy. People should not have to hurt for something good to get done. We (the U.S.) have never had any foresight, what so ever. Reactionary, we are. But to act without a reason has really never been our forte. Especially when the all mighty dollar for our big corporations are involved. I could go on but I have to get to work so I can pay my taxes.

Yes.

If we were not on the verge of armageddon that yea it might be a good time for an energy tax.
If this happens now it can very well be the straw that breaks the camels back.

I have been saying this for years but it will never happen, the Oil companies still control the majority of the Republicans in congress through campaign donations and various other avenues of graft. They also control some Dems in big Oil states like AK and TX.
Their aim is to tie up the system and maintain the ststus quo which benefits them financially in the long run.
A smart gas tax would rid us of wasteful SUVs, stimulate growth in clean energy, and reduce our need to send so much $$ to terrorist supporting gov’ts in the Middle East (See Saudi Arabia).
It is laughable that people still think climate change is a farce. I guess people used to think the earth was flat and the moon landing was a hoax as well so it is not all that surprising

Yes, pass high carbon taxes now, to start in a year or two and be phased in. Gasoline alone is not sufficient. Advertise heavily that you have done so, starting now. Front load efficiency incentives for cars, homes, appliances, etc, starting now.

This way you’re spending money now to stimulate the economy; you have both a carrot and stick to change people’s habits but are starting with the carrot. They know the stick is looming out there somewhere but it doesn’t directly affect them now when they can least afford it. Most people and companies can’t make these changes immediately, but this would encourage more energy efficient choices starting now, giving a reasonable time for that to happen (with growing penalties for delays).

I have no problem with a gas tax if the money used will go towards cleaner fuels. Its not somuch the global warming that people say can’t be proven, but what is so wrong with have cleaner fuel alternatives that are widely used? At least it will cut down on pollution and ruining the environment, like mining for coal does. We don’t need to use coal and oil if cleaner, healthier options are there for the taking. Lets abuse the Sun’s power and the Earth’s wind for our benefit and leave the oil and natural gas in the ground where it belongs. Take from above and leave what’s below.

Yes, it is the quickest, easiest method with the least amount of bureaucracy and the biggest impact on capturing the externalities associated with burning fossil fuels

It is completely irrelevant if you believe in global warming or not (and I’d love to see where you anti-global warming folks are getting your data from). Even if global warming isn’t man made, we KNOW that the processing and usage of fossil fuels has environmental impacts. Those of us who live in valleys have seen the smog level increase and, consequentially, the air quality decrease due to the increased amount of factories being built and cars on the road.

As for you “free market or die” numbskulls complaining that alternative fuels cost too much, wouldn’t the “free market” assuage that? If there is a larger demand from consumers for alternative fuels; that would create more alt. fuel companies trying to cash in and would eventually drive prices down. It’s funny how so many of you free market people have obviously never taken basic economics.

Ok, fossil fuels are not going to last forever, and some new energy source needs to be developed to replace them. The problem is that there are no “one size fits all” fuel to replace oil. Yea, you can generate electricity with thousands of windmills or acres of solar panels. But this won’t work for mobile transportation needs. And until a readily available portable fuel can be developed and the infrastructure put into place to deliver it, running up the cost of the current fuels will only cripple the American economy. Fuels costs are absorbed in practically every good or service we consume. The costs of all these things will rise, which will result in decreased demand. That decreased demand is what’s largely responsible for the economic crisis we’re already in. Nothing like throwing gasoline on the fire. Also as the costs of energy increase, it will hit the lower income people the hardest. The rich will dig deaper in their pockets and continue to use fuel as they’ve always had, while the poor and middle income people will be forced to cut back, and in many cases, forced to give up their “American Dream” lifestyles in the name of artificial energy inflation. I drive a fixed number of miles to work every day. I have to pay the price regardless of what it is. So I will compensate for the increased fuel cost by not buying something else. And many other people are in the same situation. So with so many people not buying other goods, what will that do to manufacturing, sales, and other related jobs?

All this because of the stillful choreography of Al Gore and his band of “Chicken Little” group-think scientists who have inflated the severity of global (luke) warming. Practically every week, another scientist or piece of data is exposed which calls into question whether global warming is as alarming as the alarmists have claimed, or even if the phenomenon is anything more than the natural cyclic climatic change that this planet has gone through since its inception.

It would surely be a shame to completely tank the U.S. (and in turn the world’s) economy based on an inaccurate fear. Alternative energy research should continue full speed ahead. But until there’s a product ready to roll out, it doesn’t make much sense to cripple the lifestyles of millions of Americans.

When people talk about open market competition, it’s clear they don’t understand the players here.

Oil production is largely controlled by a cartel called OPEC. They set the price, and we pay it. If they want to kill off any emerging alternative energy initiatives, they set the price very low. That’s what they did in the 70’s to kill ethanol, and again in the late 90’s to kill electric cars. Now that the U.S. has a government that seems to embrace alternative energy, they’re doing it again. Why am I not surprised?

We need to take back control of oil prices. Setting a minimum price on oil of $65 / barrel would help this a lot.

A DEPRESSION is what we will get if Government ( in it’s infinite wisdom)put more costs (Fuel Tax) on everyone and everything. Now is not the time to conduct a great social experment.

do we need a gas tax?it depends if you as a liberal.they have great ideas of how to spend our monye. maybe they will do us a favor and give us a tax break to offset it. they should get a real job and learn what it means to “earn” money.

As long as the middle class is being robbed into poverty by high gas prices and high gas taxes the economy will continue to go down. Keep gas prices below 1 dollar per gallon and the economy will pick back up again. I am tired of making 80k per year and spending it all on gas so I can make it to work every day. tired of watching TV cause there is no money for anything else. It is the same old story. THe rich get richer and the working class get poorer. All we have to thank is Government and big business The middle class are the real slaves.

Absolutely, although the global warming arguments are secondary in my opinion. Currently the low petroleum usage is enough to keep the OPEC countries at less than the income they need to continue with things like exploring nuclear proliferation.
Unfortunately, short sighted Americans are already “buying big”, idling their cars to warm them up and otherwise have gone back to their incredibly wasteful energy habits. The only way to kill our dependence on foreign oil is to kill the demand. It is very unfortunate that the gas prices didn’t stay at $4.00/gallon long enough for every American that drives to choose a vehicle that gives decent economy. So, I say tax immediately to the $4.25/gallon level until reduced American oil usage destroys OPEC. Then let the market determine the prices.

No you dummies,

Lets see, the economy is suffering, peoplw are losing their jobs, consumer confidence is low, the government will grow wildy, and trillion dollar budget short falls…yeah lets raise gas taxes you fools. But even if you want to forget that for now….lets just give all our libery to the government and let the tree hugging, enviromental nut jobs dictate to us how to live…what we can eat (thats coming next you drones), what we drive, how our thermostats can be set, just to list a few. So, there are to many special interest groups wanting to control us. People wake up and open your eyes. We need less control from government not more.

Yes, absolutely!

Raise the tax on gas and diesel by 25 cents per gallon, for each of the next 10 years.

We don’t need higher gas taxes. Already enough people cannot afford to heat their homes and put gas in their cars. What are they doing with the taxes that they are already receiving? Not fixing the roads.

Absoluely NOT! Why hurt the consumer more?
Add a 50% surcharge to the price of any vehicle that does not exceed, say 25MPG. Tha should remove the vast majority of the huge gas guzzlers from the roadways, and gas stations.
Those who would pity the Big Three for their losses when sales of humongo-mobiles stops, should consider the fact that the management of those companies knew long ago that fuel costs would soar. They also made the concious descision to rely on those vehicles, instead of building usable, smaller vehicles such as those from Europe or the far east.
They made their bed, let them sleep in it.
I have, for the past 40 years, purchased fuel efficient vehicles: let others finally follow suite.

Who are we fooling if we thing gas is going to stay that the present price? The price of fuel as control of our wallets and how we spend to provide for ourselves and familes.
Sure rise taxes on oil and anything else you want. The ones you really hurt ar those make $8 $9 an hour. Companies cut cost, meaning people and jobs.
Thing is, Someone, has to ahve to guts in Washington to declare free of oils in 5-8-10 years?
It won’t happen, as all in Washington are sleeping with the enemy.
This encludes the newest addition to the white house.
Why is more taxes the answer to some? lets hurt the poor even more.

No we don’t. Only the fake global warming crowd would support this. Why tax the middle class to death over faulty science.

Absolutely. We drive WAY too much and have vehicles that are 4 times the size then we need. Also, people are overweight, unhealthy, and lazy. Walk or ride a bike. You (and the environment)need it.

I would support a higher fule tax as in Europ if America had the high speed rail system and public transit systems Europ has in place today.
I don’t see any of the supporters of higher fule tax taking public transportation into consideration before perposing to burden the American public with another tax we don’t need.

The Rockefeller effect. If renewable energy ever threatens gasoline or oil, they will always lower the price temporarily to run the new competition out of business. It only costs around $4 a barrel to produce oil. I would recommend a floor for fossil fuel prices, if the market prices go below the floor, then it will be a tax; if over the floor, then the market determines the price.

Yes – we consume more gas than any other country in the world. And, pay the least for it. Bridges are falling down – roads are a mess – let the people who use them PAY for them. Frankly, the gas tax should be about $4 per gallon.

US is too dependent on foreign oil to avoid fuel tax. High gas tax have made Europe far les vulnerable to high oil prices.

Yes,
Not only will it help with global warming but will keep the oil money here in the USA , Americans will pay $4 maybe $5 per gallon for gas. How the price got there does not matter. so intead of sending it to the middle east,send it to Uncle Sam

We absolutely need additional gas tax, and now is the time, while prices are low.

Last spring, my company was looking into ways to allow more people to work from home, helping to coordinate carpools, etc. Now that gas is cheap again, no one cares.

Our roads and bridges are crumbling, and our budget deficit of 1T (not including Obama’s economic stimulus plan) doesn’t help things. The pay-for-use approach that a gas tax would provide makes sense, and would help create infrastructure jobs, allow other federal tax dollars to be spent elsewhere, and would continue to encourage people to look at their energy consumption habits.

If we double the gas tax now, the money will stay within our borders and will grow our economy. If we don’t, gas prices will still shoot up the $4 range later this year, except the incremental increase will go to oil producing nations instead.

NO-NO It was hard enough with gas prices over $4.00..now that i can go to work without thinking i might have to scrimp on food just to make a living ,some one in goverment ,who thsi will not affect things we need a tax. they all have a cars ,that we pay for by our taxes.

Why make increase a tax on energy? How is that going to speed up the use of alternative fuels? Oh wait, it’s not. It’ll simply transfer from producer to consumer. If the tax raises the price of a gallon of gas by $1, the oil company will simply raise the normal price of gas to say… $3 or more and tack on that extra dollar of tax. They’ll still see their record profits every year whether we like it or not. Also it’s really not a good idea to increase taxes during a recession. The economy is already horrible with high prices. Why make it worse? We’ve had years to develop alternative fuels and the truth is that we’re no closer to them now than when we started. What a joke.

Sure…right after China steps up to the plate and does so too.

No. Not yet.

We just went through this. Gas topped $4 a gallon. All the demanding for alternative fuels got us nowhere, because there _are_ no commercially viable alternative fuels. Develop the energy alternatives FIRST. THEN go ahead and tax gasoline to compel folks to switch to alternative fuels. Or announce that gasoline tax increases will go into effect in 2014 (for example), to push the development of alternative fuels and have something ready for people to switch to when gas prices do shoot up.

We need to set a minimum gasoline price with the difference between market value and the minimum price being a tax paid to a fund earmarked specifically for research development and infrastructure costs of alternative energies, combined with a similarly-earmarked built-in windfall profits tax payable by oil companies whenever the market price of gasoline exceeds the national minimum price.

sure! add a gas tax – add a HUGE gas tax – then watch what is left of the economy tank within months!

sometimes i wonder if correspondents who write these articles ever learned basic addidtion, like 2 + 2 = …

the extortionary rise in gas prices in the last year are directly tied to the global economic meltdown – so, instead of worrying about “forcing” the world to stop using fossil fuels – worry about the major crisis another great(er) depression will cause the global economy.

everything is interconnected – everything is relative.

how about connecting the dots before proposing idiotic “solutions” that will finish off what is left of the economic structure in this and every other country.

This is nothing more than a poor tax, just like all of the other taxes designed to change or modify behavior of the working American Citizen, nothing more than another prohibition law.
I already pay more than 50% of my gross income in taxes, living here in NY State the land of taxes. Hmm that would make a nice license plate statement huh?
But I digress, what we need is a reduction in Big (brother) Government spending. If you want people to use less gasoline and coal, than provide an alternative that is just as cost effective. Another tax on the people who can not even find employment, keep their homes, and are starving? Good plan for the wealthy, but not the citizens who have to survive in the real world.

Yes we do.
Let’s put the climate change debate aside for the moment and realize that gas itself is a finite resource. I’ve heard figures that say we’ll run out in 50 years, so you can imagine what the law of supply and demand will do to the price of gas over the next few decades. So although it’s cheap now, the cost is going to be trending upwards, like it or not. And I seriously doubt the goverment is going to get into the business of *subsidizing* gas when that time comes.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and we’re probably not going to hit on a real solution to the problem until things start getting uncomfortable. So why not get the discomfort started as gradually as we can? If we increase the gas tax by perhaps a penny or two per week for the next year or two — a gas price increase that most of us would percieve as relatively normal anyway — you’ll work your way up to $1 in taxes in no time, and it will give the government a lot more room to maneuver when the idea of gas tax holidays comes up again, or to offset the price spike from the next gulf hurricane.

No!

How can thay even consider a gas tax when people are already broke! As a school teacher with a daily commute of 86 miles I simply can’t afford it. Why not just stab the economy in the heart and get it over with….

Absolutely, yes

When oil prices are higher, no taxes are needed to promote alternatives.

I propose setting a minimum price on oil of $65 / barrel. If the price is below that, raise import tariffs just enough to meet the minimum price. If world oil prices are above $65 / barrel, the import tariffs are lifted.

When gas was over $4 this summer, articles were coming out about how people were having to decide whether to eat or drive to work.

I understand the need for alternate energy, but crippling peoples ability to simply survive is not the way to do it.

Yes, but it needs to be tied into this stimulas program with a clear timetable and goal, say, we will be 80% oil independant in transportation in 8 years and the tax will never allow gasoline to be below X dollars a gallon. Funds will then be put into a NASA type organization that will lead basic research and development of new fuels, batteries, hydrogen production and storage, solar…..so that the money doesn’t get washed into ear marks that build and fund things we don’t need in this new era of less than plenty. The savings in the trade deficit would be enormous, it would give businesses clear indications of what energy costs will be and can invest and develop business plans to work in the new environment and we will get over it because almost every place else in the world pays a price for fuel and they get along just fine…they can even afford to go to the doctor, which we can’t. We need to once again plan and work towards for the future.

Where have you been the last 12 months? Vacationing with AIG’s CEO’s? Higher gas prices raises prices on EVERYTHING… did we not see that over the summer? HELLO! Everything that gets hauled over the road (which is everything) and uses some sort of fuel to engage a drive shaft will rise in prices; groceries, electronics, clothing, etc…. Let’s not put yet another burdon on the average American. Tax the bigger companies on their unnecessary incomes. They don’t need 20,000 sq ft homes, when the rest of us are waiting for our paychecks to clear to fill up our tanks! The government needs to get over this whole “let’s just tax people” nonsense and actually use their ivy league diplomas and figure something out. Or maybe if it’s not written in a textbook they don’t know how to figure it out… I don’t know. Personally, I’m sick and disgusted by it. The incentive of discovering such a breakthrough to divorce ourselves from oil all together is a big enough reward.

WE ARE NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S PERSONAL PIGGY BANK! ENOUGH ALREADY!!

We absolutely need a gas tax, for three reasons. First, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil; second, to give the auto companies the certainty they need to shift to more fuel-efficient cars; and third, to slow down global warming.

First, reducing use of gasoline means reducing the use of oil, which means sending less money to the Middle East, where it gets funneled to terrorists.

Second, setting a floor on gas prices – like most of Europe has done, and like Japan has done – allows the auto makers to plan ahead for high gas prices and sell more fuel-efficient cars. Instead, we have the uncertainty of the free market, where gas prices move from $4.50/gallon to $1.75/gallon in the span of six months. By the time the auto companies were able to shift their production lines from SUVs to fuel-efficient cars to respond to high gas prices, demand for SUVs was up again. A price floor, in the form of a gas tax, will help put the Big 3 back on their feet.

Third, the earth is getting warmer from increased CO2 in the atmosphere. Nine of the ten warmest years on record have been in the last ten years; the Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets are melting faster than ever, and the Arctic will be ice-free in only a few years; and the greenhouse effect of CO2 in the atmosphere has been firmly established since the 19th century. Anybody who claims that the science is uncertain isn’t paying attention or doesn’t know how science works. Reducing gasoline use helps solve this problem. But really, even if you don’t believe the earth is getting warmer and humans are the cause, aren’t the first two reasons good enough?

We do not need to add a gas tax.
Yes, prices are low…temporarily. But as soon as the Economy recovers we will have the same supply and demand issue that brought you $4.50/gal gas.
Gas going up to that price alone will spur inovation for Green fuels.

The European model for gas tax will not work in the US. Europe’s population is massed in more dense areas where mass transit makes a real impact. That is NOT the case in the US.

I am all for increasing MPG standards for new cars and trucks…drastically.
If you want to add a gas guzzler premium at Vehicle registration time, fine. These increases target the problem directly. The Fuel tax will devistate the transportation and travel industry,just push up prices on Everything else and send inflation through the roof.

(1) Tax at state level on the engine size – not fuel; the fuel tax will punish everyone.
(2) Stop tax dollars being given to everyone who claims to be developing ‘alternative energy.’ This is ‘my money’ and if I want to support your view of the future; your legitimate endeavours should be available (listed) on one of the US stock markets to attract my money into your ‘for profit’ business and make your finances public.

Yes, but let’s go a step further. Why not a gas tax to the less fuel efficient vehicles? I drive a truck, I have too, but I get aggravated to think I am paying a higher fuel price due to shortage, or what not and people all around me are driving SUV’s that get 15, 13 even 9 mpg. If you’re able to buy that luxury vehicle like a hummer or any other vehicle that gets less then 20 mpg, then you should be able to pay for the fuel. Cut the tax for commercial vehicles like those who deliver products and raise a tax for those who cart around the one child in the back seat of a vehicle that is so large the lady driving it hits three cars just trying to park.

Let’s keep it simple!

If you drive 20,000 miles per year and have a car that gets 20 mpg you buy 1,00 gallons of gas per year.

When gas was $4/gallon you were spending $4,000 per year and $2,000 per year at $2/gallon.

Now if I offered you an insurance policy for $250/year (25 cent per gallon tAx)to keep your gas payments at $2,000 per year rather than $4,000/yr would’nt you buy it?

(And the $250 stays in your country for your fellow citizens.)

There are no guarranties, but it seams like a good investment to me.

There are some people that know the cost of everthing and the value of nothing.

We absolutely need a higher gas tax. But, instead of government deciding what to fund with the revenue, it should be refunded back to taxpayers and consumers by reducing or eliminating income or other taxes for lower tax brackets. That way budgets for average people will be effectively unchanged and the new tax won’t be regressive. The best minds in industry will deliver more fuel-efficient cars and houses without government deciding how once the economics are such that people need to use less energy.

I support a carbon tax to ensure that Americans’ hard-earned dollars stay here in the US rather than flow out of this country to oil-producing states such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuala, and (even)Canada. Moreover, those who object to such a tax might want to consider the de facto taxes we already pay to support various overseas military engagements to protect our energy security needs/

No we do not need anymore taxes, this is just the governments way to get taxes from us, as they cut taxes. With one hand they give and with the other they keep taking.

There will never be a better time! I’ve cut way down on driving and don’t miss it! No more joyriding. No more useless trips. I plan now and save all sorts of money. I now think “economy,” “environment.” Crying need for tax revenue! Support ppublic transportation. A rapid transit system from Mobile to New Orleans tying all the little communities of the Gulf Coast together would be wonderful!

OF COURSE we need a huge gas tax!!

this will solve our 2 main problems- dependence on oil and the arrogance of american drivers.

i am all for being taxed more for bad things- cigarettes, alcohol, soda, gas. if people can’t make smart decisions on their own, they should pay for it.

HELL NO.

Try developing cheaper, more desirable alternatives which people and businesses can use instead of destroying our economy at the alter of climatology.

One other thing, your story fails because it refuses to quantify “many” in an effort to create a faux mass movement.

To Robert O’ Donnel:
It’s not a misconception. Republicans have run this country for the last 8 years and look where we are now — at the bottom of the barrel. Look at Madoff; look at Paulson; look at AIG; look at all the corporations and banks and CEOs (they’re all conservatives). They and our government (republicans) put us in this mess. Misconception. I don’t think so.

Yes. Whether it’s a gas tax or carbon tax, it’s the most logical method of shifting America’s energy sources from the polluting, limited coal and oil to the cleaner, renewable sources that will be needed to maintain our societal growth in the future. I’d rather pay the relatively little more now than much much more in ten years if we keep putting off the inevitable.

Yes, it is time to link the external costs of fossil fuels to their source. It would be good to restrict the use of the carbon tax funds to the effects of the carbon: disaster relief. Look at the weather! At this point you can’t drive directly from Portland to Seattle. Plant and animal species are moving their habitats. The damage is occurring. Since we have to pay the piper, shouldn’t we collect the money.

The purpose of our elected officials is not to just get re-elected. Sometimes it is their duty to commit political suicide.

All I can say are you crazy.

YES! We should have started jacking up the gas tax in the 70’s when we had our first oil issues. We would have been well on our way to energy independence. A gas tax would not only help develop alternative power, and the jobs that go with them, but would reduce our trade imbalance, and improve our national security. YES!!!

NO, There are some people who can barley pay their light bill now and they want to raise it $70.00 dollars a month. The dumbing down of america is at it’s peak.

I agree with a higher fuel tax. It would be an incentive for consumers to make wiser driving and purchasing choices and for automakers to build better vehicles. The money could be used to help keep up the ground transportation infrastructure and for research grants for improved technology. It will also ultimately keep more American $$ in the U.S. instead of going into the pockets of oil producing nations that don’t like us.

I have to laugh at all the comments by
right wing nuts here who dismiss climate
change as a myth.
They remind me of the DODO bird and the
floor painter who paints himself into a
corner and wonders”how did that happen”?

The problem with naysayers is that by
the time they recognize “its sure a heck of a lot warmer now, isn’t it” is
that it’s too late to do anything
about it.

Duh.

If it helps keep poor people off the road we should raise the gas tax to around $10 per gallon. My commute to work would shrink by about 15 minutes each way, leaving time to polish my gas guzzling BMW and respond to more of these cool web questions.

“Does the nation need a larger gas tax?” is poorly worded because it is actually asking two quite unrelated questions:
1) Should the people who use gas (carbon) pay for all of its environmental and military costs (answer is of course yes), and
2) Does the nation need higher taxes
(answer is debatable)

I therefore suggest that CNN ask a more focussed question:
“Should we tax carbon instead of work?”

As a small businessman in central illinois, rural, i have come to the conclusion that the goverment is going to do what they want. You or myself cant even vote ignorance out. So add the taxes and break us down some more. I just charge accordingly to what energy is. fuel, electricity, and transportation.

Yes – I think a hefty tax (perhaps on a sliding scale to keep the final price at the pump near say $3/gallon or so) would be a valuable way to put a damper on demand and help wean us off fossil fuels for transportation – and thus “reduce our dependence on foreign oil controlled by our enemies”, as the pro-drilling crowd argues, with this benefit appearing almost overnight, as we saw when gas was priced at the $4/gallon level.

High gas taxes have existed for many years in Europe. This has greatly reduced the prevalence of gas guzzlers there, and has contributed to far better mass transit than exists in this country (as well as arguably better roadway infrastructure than we currently have).

As others have suggested, different scales for diesel vs gasoline or for consumer vs commercial use can be used to relieve pressure on commerce (trucking, airlines, etc.) without greatly reducing the overall benefit of reducing demand.

Yes a gas tax is needed to fund alternate energy and encourage alternate energy both for stationary and mobile appliations. Keep gas at $3.00/gal.

If oil is cheap then all other approaches are uncompletitive and die.

The Envioronmentalist that are encouraging this, simply have no economic intellect. High gas prices have greatly helped create our current economic situation. When people have to spend high percentages of their disposable income on fuel, the economy suffers greatly. Such a tax puts the burden on the average consumer. The burden needs to be placed where it belongs on the petroleum and automotive industries who have suppressed technological development in this area to maximize their own greedy profitability. The recent $4 gas prices resulted in nearly $40 Billion per quarter in profits for Exon alone. Their is no mass transit in most of our countries towns and cities and people simply have no alternatives. Creating a larger poverty base in our country IS NOT the answer to this issue.

Unfortunately we do. We simply cannot go on exporting billions of dollars to oil-producing countries who support terrorism around the world. This is not even about global warming, a much-debated subject on this column. This is about producing clean energy and domestic security. This tax should be on a sliding scale, such that it reduces when oil prices go up. The government must commit to use the funds to reduce the federal deficit, instead of spending the money on new social programs. The regressive nature of this tax would hurt the poor and middle class most so some form of tax releif for them is needed. A “cap and trade” plan is a joke – it produces no change in behavior long term. Polluters keep on polluting, they just have to pay for it – and they will. Hollywood bigshots are perfect examples of this – they fly their private planes everywhere and buy some carbon credits to offset their carbon footprint. Big deal! What they really need to do is fly commercial and actually reduce the pollution they generate.

The only way to have a “free and open market” for fossil fuels is to have a significantly larger gas tax. The current pricing structure does not reflect the true cost of fossil fuels -increased pollution and associated health impacts, outflow of capital to regimes supporting terror, large military to defend supply routes and deal with a terror threat funded essentially with our money, etc. Without these costs included in the price of a tank of gas, we are effectively giving an unfair subsidy to the oil industry. If we truly priced fossil fuel by its “full system cost” (i.e.–the cost society pays for all aspects of acquiring the product, dealing with its side effects, etc.), you would rapidly see that renewable energy is already cheaper. The only reason society continues to act as if fossil fuel is “efficient” is because we allow ourselves to be misled by oil, auto, and other special interests who want to preserve what effectively are subsidies to their industries. It is a sick joke to hear them scream “free trade” and really mean that they want us to pay separately for health impacts, etc. that are caused by their products.

It’s far from a no-brainer as another poster mentioned. I am tired of the goverment trying to control our actions with taxes. We need the FairTax now.

If we do not have higher gasoline prices we will not develop alternatives, it’s as simple as that. If a tax is the fastest way to get higher gasoline prices then so be it.

I really don’t know what to say to those that deny global climate change. Just do a simple experiment: fill one container full of carbon dioxide and another with “normal” air, set them outside and do a series of temperature measurements over a couple of days. It is no mystery.

Yes, the cost of motor transport fuel
needs to be kept high by what ever means
necessary in order to continually apply
positive pressure as a tool to keep the
American public demanding more economical and fuel efficient transportation vehicles. We also need
some sort of tax disincentive on energy use in other areas such as electricity and natural gas usage.
We also need to come up with an
incentive system to spur more rapid
growth in “green technology” in order
to spur the engineering and production
of more efficient appliances and homes.

A No-Brainer “yes”. For Geopolitical, Homeland Security, Environmental and to promote Transportation and Electrical efficiency. 100 years from now (if humanity survives) history will wonder at how we wasted petroleum burning it for energy. How about predictable stepped increase (+25 cents for 4 years) to phase in a $1 a gallon increase?

Sure! Impose a ridiculous tax such as this… But abolish the federal income tax and all state taxes.

Utter hogwash… What brainiac came up with that idea?

Hey, maybe next they’ll start taxing the wind at so many cents per MPH so they can get rich on wind power. Hmmm… Maybe I need to go into politics so I can become a millionaire.

Why increase the tax on gas when the economy is all ready on the low end. Instead of making something more expensive, help out the other alternatives with more tax credits to develop the products needed.
Yes, when gas went up, people dumped their big SUVs that were status symbols for something more realistic. That was the people that could afford to trade their vehicle that just lost thousands of dollars in value. For the others that need the vehicle to carry their 5 kids, and didn’t have the extra income to trade a worthless vehicle for a minivan, they were stuck with the gas guzzler.

I am an average middle class american. Having gone through the gas lines in the 70’s and what happened last summer, I believe that increasing the tax on fuels HAS to be done. We will never, as a country, free ourselves from OPEC and others without it. Raising the tax by at least $1 per gallon will hurt a lot of people, including myself, but I would much rather have the money from the tax go towards increasing out alternative energy sources, increasing the mpg in the vehicles we drive, improving mass transit and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.

Yes, definitely, a gasoline tax is needed to discourage unnecessary consumption. Oh, and by the way, they can apply a gasoline tax without taxing heating oil, nobody heats their house with gasoline.

Yes! Absolutely!

How are we going to transition to greater efficiency and better fuels without a gas and carbon tax. HOWEVER, in return, CAFE regulations should be ended if a $1 or $2 a gallon tax is imposed on gas. With that tax, the free market will rationally function toward more efficient cars.

Absolutely. We need to tax gas and invest in alternative fuels. There is no way the US will ever produce enough oil to become independent of imports. AS long as we import oil, we will be supporting Chavez in Venezuela, oppressive middle eastern regimes and death squads in Nigeria.

All good reasons to move away from oil.

Yes we do. The proceeds should be spent in three areas. First to fund research in topics that may lead to reduced consumption of petroleum via increased efficiency or use of alternative natural resources. Second as venture capital for businesses developing products and services that either use petroleum more efficiently or provide alternatives to using petroleum. Third, on infrastructure to support alternative modes of transportation.

We need to set a floor on gasoline prices that makes investment in renewal energy cost effective/profitable. It needs to be a variable tax. So if a barrel of oil is 50 dollars add 100 dollars tax. If a barrel cost 130 dollars add 20 dollars.
The real cost of oil maybe as high as 480 dollars a barrel according to Matthew Simmons our top energy analyst so a variable increase to 150 dollars a barrel is a mild reaction to the energy crisis we now face.

Hmmmmm. the economy is bad, unemployment is up with thousands more with their heads on the chopping block. hey I have an idea…with so many unemployed they must be looking farther away from home to find jobs… that means they need to drive farther, or maybe they already found new work but it is farther from home than their last job, as such increasing their fuel use… lets add a tax now so it will cost people more to find, or go to their new jobs that may be a tad more of a commute!

Seriously people if you have been laid off as I was last year, and you had to commute to your new job farther than you did for your old job as I do, seems to me that a gas tax right now would be the absolute stupidest thing that our country could do to bolster the economy and lower the jobless rate!

There are better ways to develop alternative fuels! If we desire to reduce consumption of gas, establish a mileage requirement and ban all vehicles that do not comply-just like the safety requirements. This will not raise the cost of heating the home.

Why do?? The RICH in this contry allways have to find more ways to take money out of the pockets of the middle class and like myself the poor people
of this country, GLOBAL WARMINg and CLIMATE CHANGE are a farce, for the Congress and Senate in the united States to take more taxs out of our pockets, CO2 Tax and Cap-Trade are another way to give American and Americans Industry money and power to other coutries, and bring america to to the Socialism of other countries. Why does U.S. Sentors and U.S. Rep, like Harry Reid,NV and Ms Pelosi hate this counrty so, Why is congress so greedy for money, and taxs, for there own self interest. United States Socialism of American is where we are going, That our money any Al Gore Fraud way they can.

This should have been done years ago. Let’s forget the global climate change argument. The costs of road maintenance, traffic mgmt, health insurance (accidents), defense, as well as the other pollutants (pm-10, SOX, NOX) are being subsidized by those who choose not to drive (and yes, I somehow manage to work everday). I see no problem with those using the resource actually paying for it.

Higher taxes? Are you kidding me??

Sadly, but absolutely, we need a higher energy tax. As the $4 plus gas showed us this past year, prices can double quickly and the market cannot keep pace with the demand. We need to be proactive if only to prevent our economy being controlled by small countries that despise us. Our future depends upon it, and the American automakers clearly will not do anything without a short term profit. Have we forgotten 9/11 so soon?

Cap and Trade is a farce perpetrated on the public by Al Gore to create a new business (which he runs) based on fear. He refused to join the Obama administration (was it because to do so he would have to step down from his lucrative position that is tied to making money on environmental fear?) and be part of the solution.

The environmental nut-bags refuse to allow new Nuclear plant construction (no greenhouse gasses), and they block wind and wave as being unsightly.

I personally would support a $1.00 per gallon tax on oil if there was any way to guarantee that it would be spent on alternative development. However, just as congress steals from the highway fund every year (and our highways are falling apart), they would steal from the energy fund.

You can’t win for losing in this country.

sure raise it as hi as u can in about another 2 or 3 years nobody will be able to live in this country anyway the us within the next 5 years will cease to excist as we know it now anyway

Yes, that would go to the heart of consumer demand decisions. We saw last summer how quickly higher gas prices affected behaviour. Regulating on the supply end will have no impact, CAFE standards have had unintended consequences. And it is KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid. This should have been done in the 70s, we never would have seen the SUV and truck popularity if people had to face a true cost of fuel decision. We need a courageous move from Washington to get this done, but cowardice got us here. It’s time for leadership and a real energy policy.

The best way to increase revenue from gas taxes is to stop charging it by the gallon and begin charging by the dollar. If the current tax is 50 cents/gallon thhen it would be 50 cents a gallon no matter how much a gallon costs. If we made the tax 25 cents on the dollar it would start as a tax decrease at $1.80 a gallon. But as soon as the price goes beyond $2.00 a gallon it becomes an increase.

If we make this change now the next time gas goes up instead of a decrease in tax revenue there would be an increase. As we saw this fall when gas goes high people stop wasting it. The resulting decrease in demand causes the price to fall.

Most definitely! Today’s low energy prices are lulling us into a false sense of security. A one dollar/gallon increase in the federal gasoline tax would raise over $100 billion/year. This would help offset the stimulus spending and ensure alternative energy costs are more competitive. If oil prices should suddenly spike again, we could reduce the tax.

I would strongly disagree with the gas tax; instead the Gov’t should allow all homeowners (Primary Residents) to modify their mortgages without any preconditions. In addition, we should cut peoples home rentals as well and by doing so this will help to alleviate the hardship and stabilize our economy, because we did not put ourselves in this mess but the Gov’t and the financial institutions did.

Yes the rich don’t care because it really does not affect them and the poor who (can) but don’t work don’t care as long they get there free stuff. But the middle class will pay as well as the lower honest working class who are trying to get ahead but now instead of quicking a break and maybe some breathing room “smart” people are calling for a gas tax. H*** NO we don’t need a gas tax. As for global warming get with the times it is now called climate change why because how do you explain global warming to the people that are seeing record snow falls so we do a little mis-direction and call it climate change.

Global warming is a myth. environmentalists like to ignore the facts, such as the planet has been actually cooling in the last ten years. the last thing we need during this recession is higher taxes. this will only act to squeeze the poor and middle class further. if you really want a level playing field in the energy industry, how about freedom for a change? stop corporate welfare to the energy companies. if the price of oil comes up substantially, the market will demand alternatives. letting some idiot bureaucrats make these decisions will only make the problem worse.

No!!! The government is already taxing us to death. Adding another tax just gives them more money to waste on their pet projects. I am tired of them wanting to tax everything we do. It’s about time for another Boston Tea Party.

The average driver does not consider the total expense of owning a car: gasoline, gas tax, insurance, car note, taxes (part of your income tax!) going toward highway construction, maintenance, patrol enforcement, emergency services, planning…the list goes on. When you compare the total cost per driver (and non-driver) to mass transit, the scales are a bit more balanced. Let’s increase the gas tax so that the average driver uses an alternative mode of transportation (or at least desires one), so that the extra tax funds go toward construction of decent mass transit (not busways) and alternative fuel development, and so that our local governments learn to guide growth in a manner that is not automobile-dependant. As Americans, we always need the stick and the carrot, not just the carrot. A tax credit for buying a hybrid is only a part of the solution.

For those who are arguing free market/cost based comparisons, we can’t have the debate till the actual real cost of fossil fuels is factored in ( pollution, health, additional defense spending to secure supplies ) ….. the cost of fossil fuels is already artificially low.
If nothing else, a carbon tax would start to make the true cost of fossil fuels more explicit

If they made the hybrid cars cheap enough or as cheap as gas models most of us including me would switch over. I would have no problem then with a higher gas tax. However, hybrids are up to 10K+ more expensive than gas cars. Economically it doesn’t make sense. If they do raise the tax on gas and don’t reduce the cost of hybrid cars then we are all forced to pay more for cars and the gas. It’s a catch 22 situation.
This would also affect gas supplied to airlines and truckers so those prices would go up to.

The second post about “global warming debate” is obviously an ex-tobacco lobbyist paid to troll for climate change and seed doubt.

In Canada, one of our political parties tried to fight an election on carbon tax and got decimated. Taxes are obviously not popular, but the world is counting on the US to do the right thing. On the other hand, how do you hit the off-shore carbon spewers? How much oil and coal does it take to produce steel in China and ship it to the US? Tax it at the ports?

It might not be a good idea this year because of the state of the economy, but in the next year or two we are going to need to start paying down the debt we are running up now. It will have the positive effect of a push toward alternative energies and paying down our debt.

Again!!?? Do these idiots realize how much people are struggling? Why do we keep talking about this? Our taxes are too high as it is. Whether you call it income tax, carbon tax, or whatever, it is still another tax. It affects the poor, middle class and rich alike. So what good is it to say that we are going to reduce taxes on the middle class if you just add a higher tax somewhere else? It’s just a big shell game invented by people who want to have control over others, both politicians and these phonies that say they are concerned about the environment.

Let the market control itself. Everytime the government interferes, we are worse off than before. I believe the majority of people will do the right thing in the long run. Obviously, those who want government control over everything believe people have few rights to make any good decisions for themselves or people are too stupid to make good decisions.

Then, let’s talk about the Constitution of the United States. It does not allow the federal government to go beyond the few things it mentions such as defense, patents, a postal system, etc. To go beyond that is a violation of law although Washington has usurped authority and ignored the Constitution for many years. It cannot regulate air. To add a carbon tax is not only illegal but foolish. That type of law would allow them to do almost anything.

Hopefully, we will have people in the future that will think and love liberty. We obviously have none in Washington now.

For decades, we have been funding state supporters of terrorism via the largest transfer of wealth in history from the U.S. to Arab oil producing countries. This has funded 9/11, London underground attacks, Bali Indonesia restaurant attacks, and countless others. Halting our dependence on foreign oil from sponsors of terrorism is an utmost national security imperative. A gas tax, making price of gas $8 to $10/gallon, as it is in Europe, would be the best way to accomplish this. An added bonus is we would be leaving a cleaner, cooler planet to our kids. All gas tax revenue could be spent on public transport, green energy initiatives (solar, wind and others yet undiscovered), and subsidy for legitimate transportation (highway trucks etc). Tax policy should be a means to shape public behavior. Wasteful use of foreign oil and gas should be curbed, and funding of green initiatives could put our country at the forefront of the next great global industry: clean energy. If we don’t do it, others (Euro zone, Japan, China, India) will become world leaders and leave the U.S. in the dust, dependent upon foreign technology imports. Dont we want to be the leaders?

I see socializm on the rise again. Some one made a comment to increase gas tax, that way we reduce teen casual driving, lower teen deaths, etc.
Why not just raise the age to obtain a license. I am tired of hearing Global warming, prove it with facts, not opinions. And if anyone thinks we Americans are not trying to come up with better solutions to reduce gas, you are not too bright, and you need to quite listening to evornmentalists.

Only if the taxes are used exclusively to create an alternative to the use of polluting forms of energy.

Yes. The UK uses 1/2 of the oil per person that the US uses, but drivers actually average marginally more miles per year driven than US drivers (source: the AA, the British version of AAA). Their gas is twice as expensive, but they use half as much, thus reducing their dependence on middle eastern oil and still managing to get around. A little pain at the pumps now is better than a lot later. If the tax was reinvested into alt energy development, it would also create jobs while reducing oil consumption – and with over 2 million jobs lost this year, any job creation seems like a good idea to me.

I don’t spend many days driving around the state because fuel is now less. Why do people think that by charging more, I will drive less. I think the problem is that I’m using a 1-ton vehicle to move a 190 lb person. Detroit needs to take the billions of dollars that the taxpayers gave them, and rethink the automobile.

A large tax is a terrible idea it didn’t wotk on smokers it won’t work here. It will only hurt the middle class something the USA has become very good at.

Would love to see what all those “NO” folks out there are driving. It’s amazing how the prices fell and the SUVs, Hummers and Dualie pick ups have crammed our roads again out of nowhere. I realize they can’t sell, let alone give away those ego boosting tanks, but wouldn’t they at least consider that it’s many of those monster trucks/SUVs that will bring $4.00 a gallon full circle come the month of May!?! It’s just another show of the inconsiderate self centered greed and behavior that America is known so well for worldwide.
It’s the same reason we shouldn’t reward those auto makers for feeding the wants instead of helping to create a culture of conservation. But they gotta get those $10MM bonuses and chartered flights to pickup a goodie from Cartier. The auto makers have proven they can build vehicles, even ego boosting super SUVs with some sense of decent MPG in mind, the real question is will it still be cool to drive one when when gas is at $2.00 instead of $4 bucks.
TAX AWAY. If it doesn’t keep people from cutting back, nothing else will (other than $5/gallon driven by OPEC and Venezuela). We’re all going to pay one way or another.

Emphatically yes! This is the best way to control consumption of fossil fuels and bridge the budget deficit. It is simple and has the intended results squarely in mind. The guys who says that the science isn’t certain must be living in Bushville. The mean temps are not down over the past decade. We are warming the sphere and going broke sending our money to people that hate us. Let’s fix it now!

A gasoline tax is a simple way for the state to engineer more socially benefical behavior. Higher tax would create pressure to reduce oil consumption. The benefits of reduced oil consumption are many.
– reduce oil imports to balance trade
– reduce carbon emissions
– reduce global warming (OK, it may be debatable)
People did change habits to conserve fuel when it was $4. Now that the pressure is off, higher consumption is creeping back in.

I have to side with Tom Friedman on this one. He has advocated a large gas tax since 9/11 for political reasons. At $80 a barrel or more, Putin can play his games, Iran can subsidize food for their own people and prop up Hezbollah and Hamas, and Chavez can carry on his juvenile rants. Oil under $40 a barrel and they all starve.

I think that global warming is real, but may have both human and natural components. The ’snows of Kilamanjaro’ are all but gone. But we have to use the price of oil as a weapon just as our enemies have done so. Whatever keeps oil below $40 should be done.

No! Does anyone understand how absurd this sounds? The government already taxes our consumption and it hasn’t produced any results. They already collect billions in gas tax and it gets spent on other programs. We should be relying on entreprenuers and green companies to come up with the magic elixir.

Yes, but not for the reason given. Cap and trade can deal with any carbon emission limits and is needed for the Koyoto Treaty to work.

Why the federal gas tax should be doubled to fifty cents from 25 cents is the need to maintain existing interstate routes with declining bridge safety, unwanted urban within town traffic, and in a situation where actual miles driven is declining and fuel economy increasing. It will ultimately be necessary to even tax electric cars energy use, but not in the near future.

A well functioning Interstate Highway System is crucial to the logistics involved in National Defense, and a matter to long haul truckers of being able to make a living without having heart attacks, strokes and road rage.

Stop and go carbon emissions are much higher than those of cars and trucks traveling at designed speed almost constantly.

More gas tax could be used to replace bridges many of which are below standard along early Interstate constructed routes. One span of I-5 over the Columbia River for example rests on timbers from before the Interstate Highway System started.

I would also like to see new Interstate links that bypass cities except for perhaps highway to highway connections with adequate entry ramp lengths should traffic back up.

Interstate Highways were never supposed to become within city road replacements. The System was given birth by President Eisenhower for militarily important cargo after seeing how much the Autobans in Germany helped Hitler’s military. It connected all the major military bases for the sake of rapid troop and material movement across continental distances. Use of the majority of the funds to improve urban roadways was never an original intent or a wise use of the federal gas tax, but it is political hard to stop thus requiring a tax increase.

Now, instead of express traffic from coast to coast we have bumper to bumper rush hours in most major cities that if anything delay interstate traffic, especially during rush hours. That original system is supplemented by toll roads–even allowing states to place tolls on already constructed U. S. Interstate Highways. A tax is a cleaner solution.

A trip currently even just between Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA is bogged down by slow traffic in each city along the route, particularly in traffic between Olympia, WA, and North of Seattle, WA, with Interstate corridor development. The same thing is true Between many other closely linked major cities, such as Denver to Pueblo in Colorado and Fort Worth to Dallas traffic in Texas.

Not enough space here to debate global warming (by the way though, whatever happened to the coming Ice Age I was always being warned about in the 1970’s?), but wasn’t it President Obama who just a couple of months ago was telling us all how terrible it was that we were driving all these big gas-guzzling SUV’s and polluting the environment? Now that demand (and hence the price) for oil has dropped dramatically as people reduce their consumption, the politicians are upset that they’re not getting all the tax revenue they want and therefore they’re simply trying another approach. I say “NO” to their new tax scheme and that they should learn to get by with less (same as me).

It is unbelieveable that we havnt used this form of energy control and new energy development.
Government must be brave enough to stand up to Big Oil, UAW, Auto makers, etc. to fix this problem.

Yes! Big tax on gas will slow down the big SUV”s or they will pay the most taxes.

We need to cut our use of fossil fules in ALL ways, not just gasoline. We also need to cut our use of burning coal for electricity. Raising the Gas Tax is a strange way to get us going in the right direction. President-Elect Obama has indicated that the right approach is higher efficiency in cars and trucks; increasing wind farms, solar power and natural gas usage and nuclear power and using technology to create products that are much more efficient than currently on the market. Focusing on a Gas Tax Hike is a far-sighted and misguided approach to greening up our use of energy. And lastly, it is the last thing this country needs during the worst economic crises in generations.

Absolutely! Our government should have done this in 1973 or in 1983. Better now than postpone it again. We should be paying at least 70% of what Europeans pay for gasoline and other fossil fuels (In May 2008 Europe was paying $9.00 USD/US gal.) Carbon tax is the way to go. This will create the incentive for inventors and entrepreneurs to provide cleaner alternative fuels and technology with a minimum of bureaucracy; it will also free us from the tyranny of oil-patch countries. Finally, finally this idea is being discussed. Unpopular? Of course. Political suicide? These are very scary times. We need courage and leadership. We need a substantial carbon tax. We need it now.

Do you seriously think taxing petroleum, coal, or any other non-green energy resource will push companies to move onto greener fuels? Who ends up paying the tax in the end? The consumers. The companies will happily pay the additional tax then pass it on to us.

If the government truly wants to help, the following steps should be taken:
* Congressmen, lobbyists, etc will need to stop taking handouts from Big Oil and other such companies.
* Keep Big Oil from buying green technologies to merely kill them off.
* Impose tax breaks for companies that use green technologies or are heavily investing in green research.
* Offer rebates for consumers purchasing green products: automobiles, wind turbines, solar panels, etc.

I realize there are already tax breaks for some of this. They obviously aren’t enough of a break or more homes would have solar panels on the roof and a wind turbine in the back yard.

Don’t punish consumers by increasing the cost of ‘cheap fuels’ just to help alternatives emerge. Sure, gas and oil prices are currently low. What happens when a tax is added and petroleum skyrockets back to where it was just a few months ago? Consumers will then be stuck spending even more. As much as we’d like it to be, gas won’t be this cheap forever.

In a word, YES!

If a gas tax is applied it should be according to the size of the car/engine as they do in Europe. Larger cars and SUVs consume more than say a Honda Civic and should pay more in taxes. Something could also be applied at the time of vehicle registration (I think they do this in Ireland).

Absolutely. The recent spike in gas prices illustrated that a higher price will (and is probably the only thing that will) drive large numbers of Americans away from SUVs, megatrucks, and other similar gas wasting, polluting vehicles. Further, a higher price would better reflect the “true” price to everyone and our planet of America’s dependence on gasoline.

Let me see, we pay on average a 35% income and business taxes, sales taxes, property taxes , capital gains taxes, estate taxes, death taxes and we still have no money. How in the world do you think paying more taxes will help reduce an inveisible gas that makes up less than 1/10th of 1% of the atmosphere? How gullible do you have to be to believe that global warming is cause by anything other than that big ball of fire in the sky and that paying taxes is patriotic. Wake up.

Yes, because of course giving the government more money always works out best for everyone, right?

Only fools with more money than sense would suggest this.

Absolutely not. Will the government use the tax revenue to provide a free Prius to all those poor people who scrape a living off the land with their trucks and tractors?

And a tax of 10% may not be much when the gas is $1.50, but it will hurt hard when it goes back up to $4. You think that the airlines are sticking it to you now with all the fees? just wait and see.

One other person also suggested a variable tax, which could be lowered in times of market volatility. That’s a great idea that I also share.

Higher prices are not only a way to conserve and use less oil — they are a way to wean us off of foreign oil. If we can stop sending our money to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia, we’d be a lot better off.

Raise the tax on gas and lower the income tax. Make it budget neutral. Over time people will drive less, live closer to their jobs and buy more efficient vehicles and keep more money in their wallet.

Who pays for the more money in our wallet? The Russians, Saudis, etc who will be makeing less selling oil to us.

I would support a carbon tax offset by an income tax reduction. Some of the increased revenue should go toward mass transit improvements and tax credits for energy efficiency improvements. For the lower income brackets there would have to be programs to help pay increased heat and electric bills. We should do it now while gasoline prices are low, before everyone gets comfortable with driving their gas-hog SUVs again.

Not only do we need a larger gas tax, but a national sales tax of at least 1%. That way everyone, including illegals pay intothe system

I think taxing gas is the right answer. As we saw when gas was $4.00+ a gallon, miles driven dropped and people started seriously considering buying smaller more fuel efficient cars — it makes good sense for the long term — higher gas prices encourages people to make smarter decisions – can I carpool to work?, how can I combine errands so I’m not driving all over town?, maybe you decide to live closer to work (a novel idea) — I think it would be a smart thing to do. We failed to learn from the shortages in the 1970’s and low gas prices have fueled (pardon the pun) bad habits — gas guzzling cars and trucks, suburban sprawl, increased traffic, poor adoption of light rail and mass transit, the list goes on…….

When gasoline was 4.00 a gallon, the politicans wanted a higher tax to reduce usage and help drive down prices. Now gasoline is cheaper, the politicians want higher gas taxes. Any fool who thinks the Pol are looking out for us, stand in line to buy a bridge. Want to fund alternate energy research? How about taxing the Senate and Congress for every word they say? That would raise billions in a few hours

Yes we do. Need to get the prices up in order for the average consumer to demand alternative forms of energy. In order to get alternative forms cheaper and more efficient we will need more engineers working towards this. In the long run it will create more job for the US and we can establish ourselves as the global leader in these new technologies and also rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign energy sources. We could ensure ourselves as a world power by making these new innovations. A tax is the first step to force our energy companies to make these changes.

Although I am generally not a fan of regressive taxes, this seems to be a total no-brainer if we are serious about reducing dependence on foreigh oil. Phasing it in over 5 to 10 years would give people time to adapt their behavior and companies to phase in more efficient ways of converting fossil fuels to energy in response.

No, we don’t need a gas tax. I prefer fair and open market competition to determine the cheapest energy source. As a compromise I would be in favor of eliminating any current incentives given to oil companies and shifting those incentives to clean energy sources. that makes the most practical sense.

When are these journalists going to get it? There is no such thing as Global Warming. Therefore the need for an increased gas tax is unfounded and would just be another way for the federal government to waste our money. The Carbon Footprint tax is a joke. And applying a Cap and Trade plan would be devastating to our already fragile economy.

Robert W. Bassett
Steger, IL

No!
Congress can not spend billions and trillions of dollars by raising taxes or creating new taxes. This is a ploy used many times by some in congress, they say in campaining that they will not “raise” taxes. Then when they get into office they create “new” taxes and say see we did not “raise” taxes.

This may not be politicly correct but if congress and the new president want to fund all these new programs, they should cut old programs.

Yes we need at least a dollar a gallon added now with 10% increase built in yearly forever. A program could be set up like food stamps for the people that need help. Then the government has to put the money to use on fixing highways and bridges and creating mass transit and subsidizing conservation and clean energy infrastructure. This will stop us from sending our money to the people that hate us. This is national defense and economy issue. Also start up a strategic economic petroleum reserve. Fill it when oil is very cheap and sell it when oil is very expensive. Act like we have brains.

The idea that we need to artifically make fossil fuels more expensive to socially engineer people to switch to more costly forms of energy based on an unproven theory of man-made global warming is ridiculuous.

Just as they cannot prove that man is having any effect on global temperatures, they cannot prove that any of these alternative energy schemes will have any effect on “cooling off” the environment either.

All prosperity flows from increasing productivity. Substituting higher cost energy for lower cost energy due to scaremongering is moving in the opposite direction.

Absolutely not!

The high energy prices of last summer were, in my opinion, part of the perfect storm that worked to deepen and continue the current economic downturn.

Normal consumers are now seeing some relief in energy prices, which may free money to help lessen the stranglehold on household budgets.

I don’t drive (much) for pleasure. 95% of my driving is normal back-and-forth to work, grocery, etc. I car pool when it works out to be able to do so, but due to work schedules, distance, etc. it isn’t always an option. I don’t live in an area where public transportation is a viable option, so I must drive. Last year’s gasoline prices caused my family’s saving rate to drop dramatically, forced us to re-prioritize bills, and – at the end – put us in a severe budget crunch! Now, four months later, we are just becoming able to reverse those trends. To impose a hefty tax on gasoline just means that I must once again cut back elsewhere in order to be able to afford to get to and from work.

I think the majority of Americans are in a situation similar to mine. If the government wants to continue the depression and return us to the days of a “Misery Factor”, then enact a tax. Otherwise, stay out of Americans’ wallets!

We have seen how higher prices can reduce demand and then lower the price of gasoline. Now lets keep the price and demand low by adding a graduated tax on gasoline.

Add 25 cents per gallon this year and for the next 5 years add 15 cents every additional year. In six years we will have a 1 dollar per gallon tax that can be used to invest in other more prudent energy systems.

The six year period gives manufacturers and consumers time to switch technoligies, consume existing vehicles and change bad ineficient habits.

The URGENT reasons for doing this are:

National defense, keeping money here rather than giving it to hostile nations.

Economic stimulous, since we will be keeping all the existing oil dollars here, we will have more money to spread around in the US.
What a boost to our trade deficit!

Cleaner environment from less co2 emissions.

To those who say it is too expensive or hurts the poor, I respond by asking, would you rather send your son’s and daughter’s to war over oil or invest in the future of our country and world?

Why is it we always find the money to go to war, but never have the money to invest in the future? Let’s declare war on pollution and the trade deficit.

As a federal tax, absolutely no! However, if the densely populated states want to impose a tax on themselves, that would be fine. Let New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, and so forth address their own emissions, highway concerns, safety, etc. on their own, not through some sort of federal tax. States are far more accountable at spending money, supervising programs as well as addressing their citizens concerns than the federal government plus the states have to balance their budgets! A federal carbon tax will decimate rural America penalizing these citizens for the sins of the nation’s urban areas. We must allow our nation to operate as the founders intended with far less federal control of citizen’s lives, let each state raise their taxes on their own.

Most people whom want to increase the “Gasoline Tax” don’t live in rural American where you have to drive a minimun of 20 miles to go to a doctor, 10 miles to go to the grocery store, and 15 miles to the nearest school. Also, in rural America the income is alot less but we still pay our share of the income tax and don’t get the benefits of large city living. I thought when Obama was running for office it was all about lowering taxes. Also, if you listen to the majority of people in the sceince community you will find that global warming is really just a cycle of our planet. I say “NO” and “HELL NO” to any tax increase.

Yes. I lived in Europe where fuel typically costs 3 to 4 times as much as in the US. The consequence? Cars are smaller and models that exceed 50 mpg are common. Without the stimulous to the economics of travel in this country, the car makers will never be able to justify the extra expense of high efficiency vehicles. There has to be a barrier put in the way of continued reliance on large, low efficiency gasoline vehicles. The earlier reader won’t have to quit his job, he’ll just have to buy a 50 mpg diesel – at least until the fuel cell is ready.

I think there is often a misconception that conservatives seek to serve the wealthy while liberals are somehow the champions of the middle class and the poor. You will probably not find a single conservative, including myself who would support this initiative. I am a physician, and will be able to afford these increases, and – like most americans – it will not make me drive to work less or stop heating my house. What it will do is cause those hit hardest by the recession, who lost their jobs or their retirement, who live on a fixed income, even college students living on loans to go even deeper into debt or even worse, have less money for food or prescription medication on account of their heating bill. So, it will be those of the least financial resources, those who likely voted for the democratic representatives who would support such a measure, who will be hurt the worst. If policy makers want to offer society cheaper, greener energy solutions that will make the world a better place, we will all eagerly accept them. But I find it absolutely repulsive to penalize Americans for using the only energy options available to them. I certainly cannot choose whether by electricity comes from coal or nuclear energy, let alone choose to buy power from nuclear energy sources because the price of coal went up. Right now, low fuel prices are one of the few things keeping this recession from financially destroying more Americans, old and young. Come up with something better, quit making people’s lives harder because it fits an economic model. I don’t think the economists or academics who would invent such a policy will be too greatly affected by increased fuel prices either.

Yes, we need higher fuel taxes. When gas was $4, people dumped their SUVs, which is a great thing. People only became energy conscience when it hit their pocketbook. They had no problems with their fuel guzzling SUV beforehand. Increase the gas tax and invest in infrastructure.

What we needed for many years now was a gas guzzler tax. A full 50% of the cost of a vehicle would be added to the price of a vehicle. Starting out with the Hummer, Escalade, F-150’s and the like.

Absolutely, the true cost of our energy use needs to be reflected in the type of energy used. Those that have the highest environmental impact need to have the highest taxes. The market will then naturally shift its demand toward the least costly alternatives and away from the most costly and impactful forms of energy. We should only tax the consumption of these products but also the extraction. Rather then subizdizing with tax payer dollars the extraction of our natural resources for profit by private companies.

Exxon likes the tax scenerio because it believes it wouldn’t have to pay the bill like it would with cap and trade. This is the reason we need tax the extraction of resources.

Tax extraction and tax consumption, based on the environmental impact of the extraction and use of a resource. Renewable and cleaner forms of energy will lead the way as the true cost energy becomes more apparent.

Absolutely – pile that tax on – we need to strongly discourage oil/coal/gasoline consumption.

The price of those things are going to rise dramatically anyway over the next few years (don’t let the current slump in prices delude you) – we may as well get ahead of the curve.

Route the money collected to R&D on alternative energy technology.

We’re already paying taxes on gasoline to Iran/Saudi Arabia etc…… let’s pay the taxes and use the money here in the US instead.

There was an article in Time magazine recently that outlined the benefits of imposing a larger tax on oil. I think that this could be benefitial, but it would have to be done very carefully. With oil below $50 per barrel, in theory there could be a tax in which the govt received the difference between the market price and, say, $75 (or $100 or whatever) per barrel, and then used this money ($25 per barrel in this case) to create a fund that would be able to extend interest free loans to existing (and profitable) alternative energy companies.

These perks should only be given to those companies that have proven they can make a return on the investment, however.

this probably will never happen. Also, there are way to many variables to factor into this analysis. I’m guessing the (very large and powerful) oil and gas industry won’t appriciate being taxed even more than they already are… not to mention that OPEC may just cut production until the market price of oil reaches the level of taxation, so OPEC gets the $$ and not the US govt…

Cheap energy in it’s current form can not help the U.S.A. become more independent, and more environmentally sound. Just as cheap booze won’t help an alcoholic stop drinking.

But using that last example, simply taxing booze more won’t stop them from drinking, either…

In our country’s case, we need more viable options. Taxation may be a way to boost near term investment in these alternatives, but the long term success of these industries is a matter of supply and demand.

We as a nation are demanding MUCH more energy than we can supply ourselves, and if this relationship is really going to change, a tax on imported oil is not going to be the catalyst.

As long as OPEC and other producing nations have a unilateral ability to control both availability and pricing, we as consumers on the demand side, need a way to effect and reduce demand, no better way than a huge tax.

N

Of course we don’t need more taxes! The damned government already robs American citizens of 40% of the GDP, and then proceeds to waste most of that on an idiotic war and “entitlements” based on the notion that it’s somehow right to force some people to pay other peoples’ bills.

What low gas prices are you talking about ? The gas hit briefly hit $1.50 and is already on the way up. Stop screwing the middle class with these stupid comments. There is no cheap gas. The $4 gas already tanked the economy, what else do we want ? Greater depression ?

Despite the media’s efforts to portray the global warming debate as over, a significant number of climatologists still do not believe that the science is settled enough to make public policy decisions based on it. The global mean temperature has been going down for the last 10 years, and recent studies indicate that it may continue to decline for the next 10. Hampering the economy with a large tax on an essential commodity to address a phantom problem is a bad idea.

I would like to see a hefty gas tax, in the 25% range applied immediately, while prices are low.

However, I would restrict it to gasoline, not diesel, so as not to hurt commercial transport, or have a separate smaller tax on diesel as they do in Europe.

You could put an upper cap on it – say $1/gallon so it doesn’t become too burdensome if/when gas rises back above the $4/gallon it reached in 2008.

However, I would like to see the windfall invested in Obama’s green energy initiative specially around the automotive industry, e.g. developing US-designed and built battery technology for electric vehicles.

We know it will take a major investment to make these technologies happen, and investment won’t happen so long as gas is cheap, so taxation here kills two birds with one stone.

No, we do not need an increase in the Gas tax. Federal and state governments are pushing for an increase now only because gas prices are lower than they have been for awhile. They know that the oil cartels are trying like mad to push oil prices back up to $100 a barrel and gas prices back up $3 – $4 a gasllon. When that happens they would a tough time raising the gas tax.

Let’s make it voluntary. Everyone who believes this is a good idea, send a check for 10% of your fuel bill to the IRS each month. The rest of us will send our portion to charity where it might actually do some good.

YES. Both state and federal gas taxes should increase no less than 5 cents/gal and more appropriately 10 cents/gas per year for the next 10 years. Money collected at the fed level should go toward $7k to $10k rebates on high efficiency, natural gas, electric and hybrid cars. This will also help alleviate Detroit’s problem and provide incentives for the consumer to change. Bottom line: Keep the energy production in the US and improve efficiency. BOTH create economic activity and working capital….and jobs. Note: We are just coming off of a $1-2.00 “tax” we just paid to foreign suppliers.

Absolutely. We should make it at least a dollar a gallon in order to keep those gas guzzlers off the road. People have started driving them again now that the prices are down, so I saw keep them high as long as possible!

Sure, lets tax the middle class out of existance. The only reason things are not falling apart faster is that relatively cheap gas is proving some cusion to the destruction of our economy.

Matt wrote:

Before we ask if we need to give the government more money by paying an increased tax on gas, tell me just how much the government reduced the gas tax when it was $4.00 a gallon and people were suffering to try and make ends meet!

Matt, McCain tried to play that game during the campaign, and failed at it. We can’t reduce the gas tax noticeably, because we don’t currently pay a noticeable gas tax. The Federal gas tax is about $0.18/gallon. At $4/gallon, eliminating the gas tax entirely would have reduced the price of gas by less than 5%, at most, and there’s no evidence that the oil companies would have passed that reduction on to consumers in any case.

Cutting the gas tax was a silly idea, given that the tax is almost nonexistent in the first place.

No. While attractive now during a low gas price period, the price will certainly be manipulated into the $4 territory again this summer, if not before. So a higher gas tax will add to consumer pain and help prolong the recession.

Remember, analysts will once again come up with their litany of “reasons” to explain away collusion… “Arbor Day driving season,” “instability in the Middle East,” (my favorite, as if it’s ever been stable), “Chinese demand,” etc. And why does the money for alternative energy have to come from something that it will replace, almost as a penalty for using the option available to us now? Fund alternative energy from the vast untapped wealth of churches/cults, etc.; let’s start by having them pay their fair share of property taxes.

Absolutely. We should do both a carbon tax and cap & trade. We need to kill what is left of America’s economy now before it begins to rebound. I see no better way than to subsidize businesses (wind & solar) that can’t possibly compete with coal, NG and nuclear for powering America. Ask yourself this, can it be any stupider of an idea than ethanol? Thanks congress, you idiots.

Yes. In addition to forcing and accelerating the development of alternative energy, the tax dollars can go to US instead of going to the Middle East in the future when the prices eventually get back to $4 a gallon and above. This is certainly going to happen (again) if we don’t reduce demand by raising the price through taxation and finding alternatives ASAP. We certainly could use the tax money to help pay off the huge national debt we will be building to address the current recession. So it makes sense economically as well as environmentally. “Pay US now, or pay the Saudis later.”

How about this…..HELL NO….we have enough taxes and fees….try NEW YORK STATE…bout time for another Boston Tea Party….soon! TAKE BACK AMERICA from Washington and Congress.

george rochester, ny

Revenue from more gas taxes will go into government programs that will never go away. When we stop using gas, they’ll still need the money. So they’ll tax the wind. Is everyone really that blind?

Why dont we imose a tax on our elected officials who fail to get the job done instead? Maybe they will respond to that, rather than pushing these rediculous ideas into law and forcing the public to suffer.

Yes. Peak Oil is not a theory anymore. Oil production started falling following the peak of discoveries of the new oil fields in 80s.
Large $2/gallon fully refundable gas tax will not affect people income but will encourage them to dump theirs Pilots and RAV4s in exchange of small cars like BMW 1 series and Ford Fiesta.

Yes. Anyone who doesn’t understand this just needs to learn more about economics. Because part of the tax, like all taxes, will be paid by suppliers (both foreign and domestic), the increase in government revenue from the gas tax will be greater than the amount that is paid by consumers. Thus, the increase in the gas tax can be used to fund a LARGER tax cut for US consumers. It’s a win-win situation.

The only things standing in the way of this important legislation are cowardice in Congress and media which seem to have lost their ability to critically examine such issues before turning them over to professional screamers.

Are you kidding me? Americans were paying upwards of $4 per gallon of gas just a few months ago, now people want to impose a tax hike… incentives should be given for moving to more efficient and cleaner alternatives, not penalties for using gas. And who will decide the tax? The feds, state or both? I like not having to pay $100 a week to fill up my gas tank. Why. Tax and spend liberals are alredy at it, and Obama hasn’t even taken office yet.

NO. The “supporters” calling for a hefty tax on gas and coal because “fossil fuels are just too cheap…” have remarkably short memories. As the global recession subsides, demand will return, and oil prices will climb again.

Emerging economies will put us back in the position of demand outstripping supply, and we’ll be behind the 8-ball again in bleeding capital to countries with oil, and having less money here to develop new sources of energy.

1.) Drill now. I’m fed up hearing politicians claim “that’s not a solution”. It damn well is one component of a comprehensive strategy to increase short term supplies for current energy sources.
2.) In parallel we must be developing new sources of energy.

#2 without #1 will put us in the position of paying increasing prices for current energy sources over time.

#1 without #2 leaves us in the stone age, and ultimately in the dark.

We need a major tax of fuels. When prices rose we begin to use less, we begin to develop alternatives, we became smarter. Lower fuel prices we become less smart, begin to use more and rely upon availablity more. Just the way it works. Use the increase to fund development of new fuels and alternatives plus pay on federal tax deficet.

unless we want a deeper recession or a Deppression

Yes. I would argue that we are paying it anyway with our money and lives in our continued involvement in the middle east because of oil. A simple tax on Gasoline over time would encourage new technologies, change how people drive, change how people live, change how houses are build, where they are build, …etc. There’s a reason why cars in Japan average over 40mpg and in Europe over 30mpg. There’s a reason why most big cities outside USA has public transportation, and people walk, bike, motorcycle,…etc instead of driving an SUV everywhere.

Sure, just keep driving nails in the coffin! With the state the economy is in and record job losses it takes a registered idiot to even utter the idea of increasing taxes! But then again, we have a lot of idiots in Washington when the Senate voted to increase their overpaid salaries by another 5%!

the american people are finally getting a break on gas prices and now you want to have a gas tax!! what happens when the price of gas goes up again. i guess the government won’t be happy until they take my whole pay check…………

I am a very far right leaning person, but I want a good affordable plug-in electric car and until gas is around $10 a gallon it won’t happen so please raise it on gas and diesel

Absolutely not. It is the height of arrogance to presume that a few individuals in government know better than the whole of America.

Allow the free market to reflect the actual cost of the resource and stop trying to manipulate the economy.

“Need?” That’s sometimes a slippery word.

“Would benefit from?” Yes.

Our traditional funding sources for transportation infrastructure are inadequate. An increase in gas taxes could provide badly-needed revenue for infrastructure and strategic energy development. We need to take up a national strategy that reduces our dependence on oil, and a gas tax is a natural funding source for this purpose, because a successful transition away from oil would also reduce the revenues from the gas tax increase.

In the short term, an increase in gas taxes will help to damp out the kinds of big price swings we’ve seen lately. If we do nothing while prices are low, demand will spike, and prices will swing wildly up again; if we raise the gas tax now, demand will spike less, the consequent price upswing will be reduced, and the market will stabilize a bit. The revenue a gas tax increase would yield is of less value than the stabilizing effect it would have on the market.

Yes! Had we done it 30 years ago, we would not be in the mess we are in now.

Absolutely, totally, YES. We use so much wastefully. This would encourage conservation.

I think we should tax crude oil as follows: starting in April 2009 put a $1.00 per barrel tax on crude. Each money increase it until after 100 months it is $100 per barrel. This slow increase gives people time to change their ways. The money can be used for good purposes

Yes. It’s the only way Americans will conserve.

No. The talk of adding tax on fuel to help stop global warming is just a ruse to get the people to accept it. In reality it’s just a way for Congress to get more of the peoples money to spend

NO, Gas is high enough.

Economics 101 says tax what you want to discourage….

Burning fossil fuels has negative effects on the public…ranging from soot to acid rain to potentially global warming.

Earning income is generally considered a good thing.

Therefore, anyone who ever passed Economics 101 would say replace the income tax with a carbon tax.

Yes! We do need a large tax on gasoline, first to offset some of the spending increase that are part of the recovery package, two, it will decrease consumption and reduce pollution, thus become a part of the greening, three it could in turn be used to support public transportation and further decrease our dependence on the foriegn oil.

Yes. 70% of energy consumption are in transportation. However, a tax on all oil and gas, both foreign and domestic, would be a more equitable tax with equal distribution across all economic spectrums. If you want to discourage oil consumption, tax it. And we should end all import tariffs on ethanol and all subsidies of alternative fuels, because, the reality is, the distribution and government support is based on political power and patronage, not practicality or market forces. Government sponsored research, yes, subsidy to farmers to grow corn, no.

Hell no, it’s the only break I get. It use to cost $70 to fill up now it’s $28 and I have three cars. That saves me $42 per car x 3=$126 per week or $126 x 4=$504 per mo. I make $55K and have a kid in college. F~*k global warming.

Yes
Implementation is key, a phased in approach helps soften the impact. For example, 10 cent increase phased in over the next 5 years averaging 2 cents a year. The consumer can then make decisions on how they are going to consume for their everyday tasks. The bottom line, we need to change our consumption and as seen lately raising the costs does just that.

I am all for cleaner fuels and saving the planet…and this does sound like a good idea, you know fund the clean energy budget with taxes that reduce the use of fossil fuels. The short-term would be painful, but we (demand for technology) would adapt to this. Keeping oil (especially imported via tariffs) at a price point (the tax would be adjusted over time to keep this price point the same until we don’t need the tax anymore) makes good sense

Before we ask if we need to give the government more money by paying an increased tax on gas, tell me just how much the government reduced the gas tax when it was $4.00 a gallon and people were suffering to try and make ends meet!

Yes — the current low energy prices are an opportunity that should be taken advantage of. Market energy prices do not adequately reflect costs associated with securing energy from unstable parts of the world. Nor do they reflect long term energy and environmental risks. This is a case of market failure, and its appropriate for the government to step in and correct the market price. As imperfect as it is, an energy or carbon tax is one of the least destructive ways of making such a correction.

Typically, raising the price on something does reduce demand for the casual consumer. However, gas/oil isn’t something casually consumed as a general rule. Most people drive when they need to – not just to drive. Most people heat their house to stay warm, not just to use heating oil. Raising gas tax would hurt the majority consumer. But if the money raised by the gas tax is directed back to the consumer (via tax breaks, money, increase mass transit, etc), it might be a little different story.

I’mm sorry to have to agree with this logic – not because of global warming, however. A substantial increase of a federal gasoline tax [stop calling gasoline gas, please!] would go far to reduce teen vehicular deaths, reduce driving miles in general, thereby reducing pollution that also includes millions of tons of rubber dust.

No, no additional taxes or mechanisms that are taxes in all but name.

The best way to throw the economy into a deeper recession is to add more taxes.

The country does not need a gas tax. There is built in demand for gas in this country because most Americans have a 30 minute commute or longer to work each day. $4/gallon gas did not make me quit my job. I still had to use the same amount of gas then as I do now. A gas tax would punish us “dummies” who play by the rules and show up for work every day. As usual, pundits and politicians want to find a way to get the regular working folks to pay for it all. We are tired of paying for the lazy poor folks who won’t work no matter how much our government spends on them, and the rich who can afford not to work.

Yes, something to put gas over $3 a gallon again. Have all the tax revenue go towards mass-transit improvements and renovation. Or have a gas tax and combine it with an income tax reduction. That way people will still have their money, but will be less inclined to spend it on buying/filling a Hummer or Ford F5000.

Yes. I believe Americans will not conserve energy unless forced to by higher prices. This would enable aggressive research and development of alternative energy sources along with providing much needed funds to repair and replace crumbling infrastructure.

The carbon we emit into the atmosphere has mostly been “free” for producers — not accounting for the cost to the environment and the climate. We have realized that we need to pay for this “externality” — the only question is now.

Meanwhile the volatility of oil prices has made it more difficult to plan for rationa development. A rational and variable gasoline tax could help — a tax which is higher when oil prices are low and decreases if there are any future speculative rises like the recent one. This would also help by not encouraging irresponsible auto habits when gas prices are low — buying an unneeded big SUV on the hope that prices will never rise again.

That is completely criminal to even suggest a thing!!!! Global warming is a scam! Taxes would further damage our Global economy! High oil prices whether generated by demand, supply, taxes, or fees is highly toxic to domestic and international business.

Absolutely. Without we have the boom and bust that makes oil producing nations rich — we start to invest and get serious when oil is high but when it busts we abandon these initiatives and then the whole cycle starts over again. Plus it could be an effective “use tax” to fix our infrastructure problems.

yes, something to put gas over $3 a gallon again. Have all the tax revenue go towards mass-transit improvements and renovation. Or have a gas tax and combine it with an income tax reduction. That way people will still have their money, but will be less inclined to spend it on buying a Hummer or Ford F5000.

It was these higher energy cost that put the “average” American into the position they are in. The average American is the ones who control this country and the market with their spending or not spending. All these ‘tax credits’ and benefits promised will be completely wiped out by this tax. (in whatever form)

When is someone in Washington going to fight for the “average” American. Obviously not anytime soon.

Absolutely. Increase gas tax gradually over two years until the tax hits $ 2.00 a gallon. Tax all imported oil $100 a barrel.

Absolutely not. Global warming (as your news agency is unwilling to report on) is not nearly as big of an issue as you’re reporting it is, nor can it be merely ’stopped’ by taxing fuel or initiating carbon taxes or cap-in-trade. You want to kill the economy? That’s the way to do it.