The 50% gas tax increase is actually the GOOD news
January 5th, 2009
Alphecca points out this: Motorists’ habits spur call for tax increases:
WASHINGTON – Motorists are driving less and buying less gasoline, which means fuel taxes aren’t raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs.
A federal commission created by Congress to find a way to make up the growing revenue shortfall in the program that funds highway repairs and construction is talking about increasing federal gas and diesel taxes.
A roughly 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by the commission until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.
This isn’t great, of course. But the doozy in the story is actually buried down there a ways:
According to a draft of the financing commission’s recommendations, the nation needs to move to a new system that taxes motorists according to how much they use roads. While details have not been worked out, such a system would mean equipping every car and truck with a device that uses global positioning satellites and transponders to record how many miles the vehicle has been driven, and perhaps the type of roads and time of day.
I know that this idea of every vehicle with a built-in GPS seems unbelievable. But it isn’t.
It’s one of those “Be afraid. VERY afraid.” moments.
The GPS thing has to be fought tooth and nail by everyone with a pulse. (And if the rest of the Detroit voters could help out, it sure would be nice…)
However, Murdoc wonders if this is a game of “Scare them with the GPS thing so the tax increase doesn’t look so bad.”
Knowing Washington, it’s probably a game of “Scare them with the GPS thing so the tax increase doesn’t look so bad. Then, after the tax increase is in place, go ahead with the GPS thing too.”
UPDATE: What? Get more road money not by raising taxes but by cutting other federal spending? I don’t think that’s even allowed…
January 5th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
[...] While posting at GunPundit, I realized that the GPS thing might be the diversion to keep us from looking at the tax [...]
January 5th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Yep, raising transportation costs will do wonders for a faltering economy.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Another plan floated in the UK that seems to have crossed the Atlantic.
Does it occur to anyone in the .gov that it would take a massive amount of cash to implement such a plan- and then run it? I guess that doesn’t figure in their calculations.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:19 am
I am assuming you already heard about embedded GPS in bullet projectiles? It will track the flight path of each and every bullet you fire. This is a “sensible” gun regulation as it will help make sure that you only shoot at paper targets and don’t do any type of shooting that will contribute to global warming, like shooting at full soda cans. You’ll be mailed a bill based on the bullet flight path feet per month, so you’ll be best served to shoot at targets not more than 24 inches away. Extra charges will apply for use of bullets not made of recycled campaign signs.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Oops! Sorry! I guess my GPS system must have broke some time ago, officer! How was I to know it wasn’t functioning!
I DEFINITELY will NOT allow them to do that to any of my vehicles. It’s time to remind Congress about their tyranny.
chicopanther
January 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Bureaucrats and Politicians will always float this crap.
And then do the “I didn’t mean that” dance when the reaction is bad. The names of these retards needs to be exposed, and they need to not ever be allowed to advise again.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
[...] 6, 2009 by gunservatively “Big Brother” GPS coming to your car sooner than [...]
January 6th, 2010 at 5:24 am
good post on your blog post. I will probably come back soon.