[kddid]

When I came to work this morning, gas was $2.54 a gallon. At lunchtime the price was $2.99 a gallon. I started looking for the tax rates per gallon - hoping they could be cut, and I came across this little gem. That sounds like the ticket - raise gasoline taxes by $1 a gallon.

[piceapungens]

I think it is a good idea. Until we wean ourselves off the Saudi teat, we're playing their game.

[FreeDemm]

Raising gas prices by a dollar, for taxes? That's the ticket? Surely there is some sarcasm in your post.

[xcamel]

Nothing anywhere ever has been taxed into prosperity

[EagleUSA]

The bill had little to do with savvy national energy policy and everything to do with rewarding well-heeled constituencies, such as the oil and gas industry, ethanol farmers, and nuclear power companies -- not to mention indulging in such ludicrous moves as extending daylight savings...
-----
Exactly and so pork-laden, it actually got voted for by the far left, even though it was Bush's creation. The domestic policy in this country is still IN GRAVE TROUBLE and the cause is Washington politics. With all the major issues revolving around energy, the best the lame Congress could do was this -- it shows who they are working for and it sure as hell is not the people of America and the betterment of the country.

[Nat Turner]

I have a better idea - lets raise the taxes on hack liberal media pundits and lawyers

[peyton randolph]

Yep. Let's raise taxes on gas by $5 a gallon...and the minimum wage while we're at it. /sarcasm

[pikachu]

I just love it when New Yokers tell me that gasoline needs higher taxes. When I tell them that would hurt too many people they say you can just ride the subway or take a cab or even a bus. When i query them about those of us without those tools, they just think I am dumb for not living in New York.

[x5452]

If that thinking worked Europe would be driving no gas cars.

[VRWCmember]

Did you forget your sarcasm tag?

[el_texicano]

I hope this is heavy sarcasm in your comments and post. Because if it is not...UR an IDIOT!!!!

[Nebr FAL owner]

Someone at that bussiness journal needs a vigorous application of a fence post upside their head just to get their attention. Then someone needs to explain to this college educated idiot that hosing the people by raising the taxes so that the political class can line their pockets with even more pork money for PC projects is not gonna get us off the Saudi teat.

[joesnuffy]

Americas enemies are killing us with the gas we must have
to survive..

We either need to find something else fast
or take it from them by force.

imo

[goodnesswins]

RAISE TAXES?

Yeah, Right, THAT'S the ticket..../sarcasm

[Wiseghy]

High energy prices are in large measure because of our failure to introduce a comprehensive plan to shift our strategic vulernability on foriegn sources of energy.
The latest energy bill only scratched the surface of this issue.

Perhaps a wholesale tax structure could be introduced to stabilize prices over the long run, to address the short term inflexibility in demand that our sources and producers exploit to wring high prices from consumers.

But temporaritly lowering our domestic consumption only ultimately lengthens the time that we will remain dependent. A retail gas tax seems like a expensive, costly band-aide on a deeper problem.

[infidel29]

Raising it to 50 cents or $1 per gallon would push conservation and send a signal to America's enemies. It's the surest way to cut oil dependence

First, why push conservation? There is no oil or gas shortage, all this would do is create a surplus of gasoline and affect the price up and down based on supply and demand in any given region. Perhaps even a raise in price to compensate for falling sales.

What signal does it send to our enemies? "We can sure tax the crap out of our populace" or "We don't buy stuff that costs too much"...?

The surest way to cut oil dependence is to invent alternative fuels or start using our own resources instead of counting on those of foreign nations. Increasing the amount of fuels in reserve by conserving them only ensures that there will be a surplus and does nothing to solve the problem.

Raising taxes never solves anything and government imposed behavior modification (forced conservation, prohibition, gun control...) always does more harm than good.

Just my opinion.

[DTogo]

We don't yet know the impact of current high prices on the economy and this guy wants another $1/gallon increase - and give it to the Federal Government at that! Unreal!

[Mase]

I came across this little gem

Lots of these kinds of gems coming from them these days. Business Week has taken a big left turn which is exactly why I cancelled my subscription.

[Antoninus]

STUFFED WITH PORK. The payoff from a steep gas tax could be huge, ranging from reduced reliance on Persian Gulf oil producers to a surge in technological innovation in energy. What's more, an audacious gas-tax initiative would give comfort to our allies and unsettle our enemies -- two big pluses during the war against terror and the fighting in Iraq.

Sure. It'll also cause a recession. Who writes this cr@p!?

[newgeezer]

Ping.

Seems to me John Anderson talked about raising Federal gas taxes by 50¢/gallon back in 1980 when he ran for President (Independent).

Just consider what we'd be driving today if this idea had been enacted back then.

[ChildOfThe60s]

The universal solution. Confiscate more money and give it to our great white fathers in DC. They have such a good track record with our money.

Higher prices=lower consumption,right? Fine, let the marketplace cause the higher prices.

Oh wait. It seems that I am wrong. $4 a gallon will discourage consumption ONLY IF $1 of that is going to Washington.