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The cheap oil dividend (BARF)
The Baltimore Sun ^ | December 31, 2014 | Baltimore Sun

Posted on 01/01/2015 8:10:51 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

hether one observed Christmas or Hanukkah — or any other seasonal festivity — there was a nice little gift included for the drivers of this nation. Gasoline prices, in case anyone hasn't noticed, are down, way down. The average price of a gallon of unleaded in Maryland by Christmas week was in the neighborhood of $2.53, according to AAA, and there were some stations in the Baltimore area selling it for as little as $2.22. lRelated The cheap oil dividend

One year ago, average gasoline prices were about $1 per gallon higher, which means a typical fill-up is saving drivers $15-$20 a pop. That's a significant dividend, and government officials are predicting the trend will continue in 2015, making cheaper gas an unexpected economic stimulus that translates into hundreds of dollars per household.

Not every community emerges as a winner in this development. Oil-driven economies in places like Texas, North Dakota and Alaska are taking a hit. It's also a problem if it causes Americans to shed their Priuses and return to their gas-guzzling, greenhouse-gas-spewing ways.

But for the most part, it's good news. Lower gas prices likely helped fuel rapid third quarter U.S. economic growth, a 5 percent boost in the gross domestic product which was the best recorded in 11 years. They are also one reason why the stock market performed so well in the last quarter, the Dow topping the 18,000 mark for the first time on Dec. 23.

Such bargain gasoline prices offer a tremendous opportunity for this country to boost neglected transportation infrastructure, which has fallen embarrassingly behind countries like China...

(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: barf; climatechange; congress; energy; gasoline; gastax; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; highwayfund; highwayfunding; infrastructure; liberals; tax; taxhike; transportation

1 posted on 01/01/2015 8:10:52 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Abundy; Albion Wilde; AlwaysFree; AnnaSASsyFR; bayliving; BFM; Bigg Red; cindy-true-supporter; ...

From Pravda on the Patapsco.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!


2 posted on 01/01/2015 8:11:41 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

State-owned media supporting the interests of their masters.


3 posted on 01/01/2015 8:13:55 PM PST by Steely Tom (Thank you for self-censoring.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

hether = Whether.

The article started with one of those big-arse characters that you can’t copy — in this case, a big-arse “W”.


4 posted on 01/01/2015 8:26:14 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

You just knew that when oil and gas took a drop in price, the libs would start screaming for higher taxes


5 posted on 01/01/2015 8:30:14 PM PST by Figment
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Socialist drivel.


6 posted on 01/01/2015 8:31:59 PM PST by Blue Collar Christian (quod est Latine morositate)
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To: Figment

I don’t necessarily disagree with a gas tax increase, but this editorial is so oily and condescending, that it needs to be spread far and wide, so that people can see how these editorial writers obviously look down their noses at us.


7 posted on 01/01/2015 9:01:57 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Yup, gummit must jump on anything to grow the socialist web.


8 posted on 01/01/2015 9:11:06 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The tax increases, both federal and state, will no more be earmarked for infrastructure upgrades than current fuel taxes are


9 posted on 01/01/2015 9:20:34 PM PST by Figment
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I do necessarily disagree with a gas tax increase. In 2009 people were calling for a temporary moratorium on gas taxes but the powers that be would have no part of it. That would have been an immediate stimulus but they couldn’t direct it to their preferred people. If they used it for it’s intended purpose it would be one thing but they don’t. It is nothing more than a slush fund.


10 posted on 01/01/2015 9:22:15 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

You need some infrastructure updated in your state?

Raise your state gas tax.

I’ll help pay for infrastructure in my state, and you do the same in yours.

We would be better off if maintenance of federal highways was turned over to the states and we abolished the federal gas tax. That would lower taxes and raise efficiency. It would also stop the federal govt from using tax revenue for social engineering.

The govt closer to the people better serves the people.


11 posted on 01/01/2015 9:48:48 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (Life is good.)
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To: SaxxonWoods
Raise your state gas tax.

We (Maryland) already did. I opposed that increase, because our wonderfully corrupt government spends a large portion of the revenues on mass transit and plugging budget holes.

12 posted on 01/01/2015 10:00:11 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

AND much of the price of gas.. and even Energy is taxes..


13 posted on 01/01/2015 10:43:56 PM PST by hosepipe (" This propaganda has been edited (specifically) to include some fully orbed hyperbole.. ")
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

So lets hike gas taxes so we can give the money to labor unions to “fix” our “crumbling infrastructure”.

I have a better idea. How about the coward or cowards who refuse to put their names to this editorial give me their houses and all their money? Because you know, share the wealth.

Brotherclucking pigs.


14 posted on 01/01/2015 11:49:44 PM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Such bargain gasoline prices offer a tremendous opportunity for this country to boost neglected transportation infrastructure, which has fallen embarrassingly behind countries like China

Oh yes comrade, we must tax the people more so we can spend more money to make our country more like a Communist country.

We as a people and a country have very little in common with that Communist Hell Hole and we shouldn’t want to.

The author I assume is advocating mass transit (they always do). Mass transit does not work in this country for a variety of reasons but mostly because this is an affluent country. The people here prefer personal transportation because of the choices it offers. Leave when you want to, return when you want to, and make unscheduled stops and detours if you want to.

Even most of the “poor” in this country have personal cars. Except for the major cities in this country we do not use mass transit and even in the cities the only reason they use mass transit is because the congestion of the city makes it too expensive or too inconvenient to own a car.

Mass transit is an expensive and most unnecessary boondoggle intended mostly to funnel tax money to Democratic Party cronies.

15 posted on 01/02/2015 12:34:56 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Figment

Game, set, match!

Yep, you nailed it.

If our taxes were doubled right now, in five years, do you think the left would want to lower them to give us some relief, or raise them for more government spending.

You obviously know the answer, but some folks on this thread sure don’t.

Folks, get a grip. We’re overtaxes to the point of absurdity.

NO NEW TAXES!

Get it?

In fact, it’s time for an out and out tax revolt.

Federal income tax
State income tax
State sales taxes
City taxes
Property taxes
Liquor taxes
Cigarette taxes
Gasoline taxes
Utility taxes
Taxes to pay for services for the lazy
Taxes to pay for people with disabilities
Toll roads
Toll bridges
License fees, employment related
Vehicle license fees
Driver’s license fees

Just damn folks, “I don’t necessarily mind new taxes...” Is that what I read?

Honest to ..., wake the hell up.


16 posted on 01/02/2015 4:08:48 AM PST by DoughtyOne (The question is Jeb Bush. The answer is NO!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I didn’t read the whole article from the Baltimore Democratic Party Daily Newsletter. Did they bother to mention that as of yesterday the percentage of sales tax increased another 2%?

Yea, didn’t think so.


17 posted on 01/02/2015 6:09:12 AM PST by cyclotic (Join America's premier outdoor adventure association for boys-traillifeusa.com)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
It's also a problem if it causes Americans to shed their Priuses and return to their gas-guzzling, greenhouse-gas-spewing ways.

I see the Blight for All is continuing in its proud tradition.

18 posted on 01/02/2015 1:39:29 PM PST by sauropod (Fat Bottomed Girl: "What difference, at this point, does it make?")
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