Posted on 06/07/2011 12:24:15 PM PDT by NoLibZone
General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said his company and his industry would be helped, not hurt, if consumers paid higher gas taxes.
In an interview published in Tuesday's Detroit News, Akerson floated the idea of a $1 a gallon increase in the gas tax as a way to encourage buyers to purchase smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Greg Martin, spokesman for GM's Washington office, confirmed that the quotes reflect Akerson's and GM's view.
Akerson said he would support a jump in the gas tax if it came instead of tighter fuel economy regulations that GM (GM, Fortune 500) and other automakers will have to meet in coming years. By the year 2025, automakers could be forced to hit fuel economy averages of as much as 62 mpg.
Akerson said that a higher gas tax, including an immediate 50-cent-a-gallon increase to take advantage of recent declines in gas prices, would probably make some of his Republican friends "puke." But he said it would do more to help the environment than the pending fuel economy rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Silly me...I can remember when
“...what was good for the country was good for General Motors and vice versa.
That’s what Charlie Wilson, chair of GM in 1941 had to say.
Unfortunately it appears as though GM has chosen to become part of the problem....
Ummmmmm . . . . . . is his name Dan AKERSON, or Dan Akroyd?????
For this idiot's information. a $1.00 gallon gas tax hike would DESTROY his business, NOT help it!!! With the tax on gas that high, most people would either have to quit their jobs, use public transportation or carpools, ride a bike (or a horse!), or walk to work!! The freeway backups and crowded streets and highways would probably become a thing of the past.
I know this idiot is an obi wa NOBAMA appointee but, for heaven's sake!! Pretend that you have two functioning brain cells and can think for yourself and are NOT another one of zero's sock puppets!!!!
Most of the leaders in big business are bipartisan, socially aberrant and donate to both political parties. If you want to make a difference, quit buying so much to generate big revenues. Become more independent. Manufacture something useful as a hobby for now. “Go Galt,” or whatever you want to call it.
We need new leadership in business, politics and academia.
Those large trucks and SUVs are using twice the fuel of a normal car, and most are not needed regardless of all the camping stories, hauling neighbor's crap, etc. Twice the fuel means oil runs our twice as quick and twice as much pollution no matter how you slice it or dice it. The conservatives have a losing argument with this one, and most rational people know it. Again, I am not talking about us all driving Smart Cars. I am talking some moderate downsizing.
Yeah, but you didn’t reply to anyone else but me?
I pay the difference for my “freedom” and my fees and gas taxes are subsidizing much more than your little car.
Ever hear of cause and effect? What happens when there are less gas taxes/fees being paid(cause)? The “effect” is that the gov’t comes up with even more creative ways to get that money.
As for the pollution canard, it’s just that, a canard. Vehicles are responsible for a hell of a lot less pollution in this country now than many other forms of pollution.
There’s always another pollution “boogieman” waiting in the shadows.
Take your crusade and fight them.
Define "normal". A Honda Civic? A Prius? A Ford Taurus? A Lincoln Town Car? What's "normal"?.
I'm really beginning to believe you're on the wrong forum.
Attempting to advocate government control over the types of vehicles people are permitted to purchase and drive.
Statist.
You may not know this, but the government already controls the types of vehicles that people are permitted to drive. I cannot drive a top fuel dragster on the road, I cannot drive a bulldozer to work, and the car that I drive has things like seat belts and other things (even fuel mileage standards for the manufacturer) that are controlled by the government. Like I said, my fellow conservatives are on the losing end of this argument. I would not go as far as the left wants us to go, which is public transportation. But we don't need all of the folks driving large SUVs and full-size trucks either.
Tell me something I don’t already know and stop dodging the questions.
Well that is sure easy to do. Go look up the gas mileage for a Tahoe and a Ford F-150, and then compare it to a Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, or Chevrolet (put any car here). It is twice the fuel and twice the pollution, no matter how you slice it.
The government controls the efficiency of many things: Your home insulation, your windows, your HVAC, your refrigerator, etc. These silly arguments that it is a bad thing to move people out of these highly inefficient large SUVs and trucks fall flat on reasonable people.
What an idiot. A government employee for a CEO. We really have seen it all.
“...increased fuel economy standards only apply to manufacturers and purchasers of new cars. It’s only fair!”
Cars don’t last that long, so I would prefer to increase the fuel efficiency standards than increase price of fuel. The standards will reach most folks when their cars wear out in a few years. In fact, which less demand for fuel (from higher fuel efficient cars), the price of gas will fall.
I plan on buying a car next year. GM and Chrysler are already off my list and I haven’t even looked at their cars.
“Your freedom to drive what you want is causing more pollution and less energy for us in the long term, so your freedom is having a negative affect on the rest of us. “
Ah, the mindset of a collectivist. Your statement can be used to eliminate any individual liberty that the ruling elitists deem to be harming “the rest of us.” That means anything.
“Like I said, my fellow conservatives”
You’d have to be a conservative to have fellow conservatives. You have shown that you are a collectivist and are willing to sacrifice my individual liberty on the basis of your wims.
“The government controls the efficiency of many things:”
You say that like you are a fan. Oh wait, you are a fan. Show me in the constitution where the Feds are authorized to control the efficiency of many things.
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