State Makes Big Fuss Over Local Couple's Vegetable Oil Car Fuel (Told To Pay Taxes on Fuel or Else)

Heald Review ^ | 3/1/2007 | HUEY FREEMAN

[Man50D]

"... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one MAKES them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ......just pass the the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted -- and you create a nation of law-breakers -- and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with." - p.411, Ayn Rand, ATLAS SHRUGGED, Signet Books, NY, 1957

[starbase]

Just the tax, mam.

[Yo-Yo]

That money is used to keep the DMV stocked with rolls of tear off numbers.

There is also an excise tax on tires for road maintenance.

[mgstarr]

Jackbooted thugs in dark suits.

[patton]

Thanks - I never saw that quote before.

Darn smart man.

[robertpaulsen]

I used to fill up my '63 Corvette with high octane leaded gas at the local airport. They had to eventually cut me off because road taxes weren't included (obviously).

I would have paid the taxes if they added them -- I was only doing it to get the gas which was not available anywhere else.

[mnehring]

A retired research chemist and food plant manager, Wetzel produced records showing he has used 1,134.6 gallons of vegetable oil from 2002 to 2006. At the higher rate, the tax bill would come to $244.24.

Hell, I'll pay this for them to reward them for their innovation... I'm sure the government has paid far more in trying to collect this amount..

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Holy Schmoly! This does not bode well for those of us that want to eventually be "off the grid" as far as energy consumption goes.

Smacks of what the Nanny Staters have done to smokers. Run them down, run them underground as much as possible, while still reaping the benefits of tobacco product taxes. And then hunt them down and demand taxes for on-line cigarette purchases, etc.

Fat people are next. I see a tax on food in the future; first fast food, then convenience items, then lastly fresh fruits and veggies. Then those of us that grow our own food and/or have livestock will be forced to turn over our food to the state for distribution amongst the proletariat.

It's insanity!

[umgud]

If this is true, the agents and anybody who directed them or instigated this should have their kneecaps broken.

[Yo-Yo]

Not really. Here in Michigan, and I'm sure in other states as well, you can buy fuel for farm use and you don't pay the excise tax for road maintenance on it. But you're not allowed to use it in a road vehicle, only farm vehicles that don't use public roads.

So, if you're allowed to skip the fuel tax if you don't use the fuel on the road, then you should have to pay the tax for fuel you do use on the road, even if you got that fuel from the McDonald's fryer.

[bert]

There is not enough information in the article to make a positive judgement on what really happened. It can be read that he ran gis golf on veggie oil sometimes and diesel fuel sometimes. It can be read that he used a blend of veggie oil and diesel.

If he blended the two it would appear that the tax was already paid on the diesel. The question then is what does the law actually say? If he says Fuel, he has to pay the tax because that is the law. The blend is running a diesel engine so the state does have a case.

There is a whole other set of laws regulating the use and manufacture of chemicals. He is manufacturing fuel when he blends the fuel and thus becomes subject to laws regulating chemical manufacture. Barring some limits or statutory minimums. he is manufacturing.

It is wise to remember that Illinois is a democrat liberal union state that places the government incharge of all aspects of one's life....including the fuel that gets you from place to place. Lawyers insist on control of every aspect of American life.

[Aikonaa]

Anyone using Green Power should be made to pay tribute to the Goracle, the annointed one.

[goldstategop]

Yep. The State Of Illinois could have sent an updated bill to their address. Instead, it looked thuggish going after elderly people in what seemed to be a very personal way. If they are required to pay a tax - fine. Just don't force them to jump through bureaucratic hoops to pay it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[golfisnr1]

There is no state in the Union more Socialist than Illinois.
Like living in the Old Soviet Union.

[Gabz]

Nanny State Ping.........

Utter insanity.

[Yo-Yo]

It ain't for nothin' that the people who go after illegal whiskey stills in the hills of Kentucky are called "Revenooers."

[hinckley buzzard]

This couple manifestly did nothing wrong. No law covered their activity at all. The "government" is lying about that, but it is a lie which has assumed the status of law itself.

We used to have a country in which, if there wasn't a law against it, you could do it. We now live in a country where, you can't do it until the government decides whether it wants to regulate it first.

And that is the cutting edge of the statist, totalitarian left.

[Gabz]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this one - but what a crock.........sheesh.

[Man50D]

Fat people are next. I see a tax on food in the future; first fast food, then convenience items, then lastly fresh fruits and veggies. Then those of us that grow our own food and/or have livestock will be forced to turn over our food to the state for distribution amongst the proletariat.
It's insanity!

The taxes are already exist but you don't see. Our current tax code imposes taxes at each stage of production. These hidden taxes called Value Added Taxes(VATS) are a cost to companies that they in turn pass onto the consumer in the form of higher prices. Out of sight out of mind so the consumer never knows they exist. This is exactly what all levels of government hope to achieve. Taxpayers would overwhelm their politicians demanding a change if they aware of these taxes. Instead no one is the wiser and the sheep unwittingly keep paying.

[Man50D]

There is no state in the Union more Socialist than Illinois. Like living in the Old Soviet Union.

You should try living in Connecticut.