Posted on 11/25/2018 6:13:24 AM PST by Kaslin
The Democrats are attempting to con President Trump into a decision that could end his bid for re-election.
It’s a horrible idea!
The main reason you know it’s a horrible idea is that you are the one they are expecting to pay for it. And when’s the last time that Democrats ever forced you to pay for something you actually wanted?
Through politispeak-gobbledygook they have whispered to one another that they can convince President Trump to deliver them a multi-fold win—and, they think to themselves—we can crucify his re-election chances in 2020.
They are not wrong.
What they are seeking is to exploit the President’s campaign language of “addressing infrastructure” to convince him to install a national gasoline tax that would have you paying .30 cents a gallon to the coffers of Swampville (the federal government.)
“Just think of all the projects we could accomplish,” they rehearse to themselves as though they are whispering in his ear. “He’s such a savvy deal-maker—we’ll have him bite, and voila, we get the money—and—we can pummel him in 2020.”
And they would.
They will attempt to sell it to Trump as a way to “build bipartisanship” and to simultaneously “keep an oft-discussed promise from his campaign.”
They do so knowing they will gain an upper hand that here-to-date they have been unable to get hold of.
Here’s some of the basic reasons Trump should decline their advances:
It disproportionately hurts his most valuable voters. Without question the Democrats are going to make a tough play for the rust belt in 2020. A consumption tax on gasoline will hardly impact urban commuters who are increasingly moving towards public transportation and already occupy blue strongholds. Rust belters drive. Some of them many miles a day to and from their jobs. And no matter how much their living standard may have improved .30 cents per gallon at the pump is a significant chunk of their hard earned raises, savings, and work. One estimate puts it at $405 per month per driver. (Obviously depending on average miles.) If the average factory worker and family just got their touted $2000 per year raise (crumbs to Nancy Pelosi), the gas tax wipes that out in less than half the year.
There is little guarantee that “infrastructure” ever sees a dime. In so many instances where government set asides are supposedly funded via taxes, why is it that so few of them ever make it to their ultimate destination. Taxes on gambling earnings have been promised to improve every state education system that has ever adopted them. Sadly many schools in those same locales consistently end up with worse educational experiences and the complaint by the teachers is always insufficient resources. Another tax, this time on something as vital as personal transportation isn’t something indulgent like gambling, it’s a hard need, and for the middle class more expensive than ever.
Republicans in Congress won’t necessarily help. Over the past week I’ve had opportunity to interact with a couple of elected Republicans — both in Congress. Both shook their head and agreed with my original sentiment that this tax will be seen as a betrayal of the Trump administration to the American voter. Then both went on to whisper under their breath, “but if we get infrastructure done, then we can claim we worked together with the other party.” The blank stare on my face in both conversations may have indicated what an idiotic “swampy” idea I believed their sell-out concession to be. If infrastructure is a priority to your district help Congress prioritize its values and get rid of waste, fraud, and useless spending. Since the feds reported record tax receipts for 2018 (as I predicted they would) there is proof that cutting taxes creates Government revenue. The real problem is spending. So spend wisely, make great choices, and don’t raise taxes.
Democrats don’t just want the tax, they want to take down Trump. Mr. President not a single one of your voters voted for you to raise a tax, to institute a tax, to invent a tax, or to justify a new tax. Your voters supported you—and I proudly among them—because your message that the swamp’s days were over represented economic renewal. To place taxes on a gallon of gas at .30 cents per gallon would be seen as a betrayal of that economic inspiration. The Democrats know this. They know it gives them something to pin on you, that they can then use to poke a whole in the rising balloon of making America great again. Such a tax will discourage your most ardent supporters—one’s in the rust belt that are hard earned for republicans to begin with. There is little need, zero actually, to push them away. It plays into Nancy Pelosi’s deviousness unnecessarily.
The Democrats will have taken 40 seats when the 2018 tallies are totaled. The map is even less friendly for the President’s allies in 2020. The way white hot economic growth begins to slow, before it begins to halt is for government to intrude in ways that hurt the voter.
A national gas tax of near .30 cents per gallon is the economic equivalent to the Obamacare mandate. In dollars in fact it comes very close to the same increases.
A national gas tax would have a similar devastating impact on the individual, small business, the entrepreneur, and the CEO.
I honestly believe that President Trump is savvy enough to see this coming. My earnest hope is that when the jedi-minding-vipers come to talk smooth words in hopes of getting their way, that President Trump just smiles and remembers, “These people are all about themselves...”
“And I’m here to put America first!”
historically, when gas prices have been high, presidents did not win reelection- yet under obama, we had massive high gas prices, the economy was terrible, millions out of work, and this country still elected him again- but by golly let gas prices go up even 10 cents, and the fickle country will be apt to turn on trump as the democrats scream about ‘soaring energy prices because of trump-
Sad that the republicans couldn’t make the case for how HORRIBLY affected our country was under obama- all the historical indicators for losing a second term were against obama- but this country unbelievably hired him for another 4 years- It’s like the country was a glutton for punishment- can’t stand success I guess- now that everything is better, we’ll see how this country votes again- IF they choose a democrat- I’m done with believing the country is capable of making common sense decisions!
We already pay a federal tax on gasoline. The United States federal excise tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. In 2014 Federal fuel taxes raised $35.2 billion, with $25.0 billion raised from gasoline taxes and $10.2 billion raised from taxes on diesel and special motor fuels.
The proposal to raise the "gasoline" tax by 30 cents per gallon would increase the federal governments take by over $43 billion per year (based on 2014 data - probably higher using current data). FYI - the 2015 federal transportation budget was 72.4 billion. In addition, there are countless billions of dollars charged by each state to supposedly fund individual state DOT budgets. For example, the highest amount is Pennsylvania, which adds on 58.7 cents per gallon. That's insane. The lowest state is Alaska at 14.65 cents.
For those that work/live in cities that have mass transportation that want to share in the benefits of not using a car, I suggest the bus, train and subway fares be non-subsidized. Fares should be based on the cost to provide the service, including capital expenditures for infrastructure. After all, there are untold millions of people who don't use/benefit from mass transportation. When the city dwellers start paying the actual cost for their transportation, then and only then, can they start discussing how to not contribute to highway infrastructure costs.
Come on Mort, its obviously 30 cents per gallon. The dumb writer co-mingled terms $.30 = 30 cents, no need for the word "cents". Putting both .30 and the word cents does technically mean 3/10 of a cent. Do you honestly believe the democrats are proposing a 3/10 cent increase?
He’s not going to raise the gas tax.
Believe me.
Roads and bridges that need to be built. Takes years and years to complete and always over budget.
“Econ 101 — the Milton Friedman version — suggests that users should pay for roads and bridges — so that the money saved from ending wars can be broadly distributed via tax cuts.”
End users paying for infrastructure is the economically correct way of doing things.
However, you and I both know the Dems lie.
Pass the gas tax and watch them “discover” 500 social programs that need the money more.
Remember the tobacco tax?
You realise that a full accounting of where that money went has never been done.
Any proposed gas tax would end up the same, you and I paying exorbitant bills while the infrastructure remains the same.
California is a prime example of this.
A so called “Peace Dividend” has NEVER been returned to We The People by tax cuts. The socialists in our government funnel some into their pockets and the rest to their favorite social programs.
Papa Bush got us militarily in the ME so there was no real savings after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Clinton did what dems do and funneled money to vote buying social programs.
As Mr Friedman said:
“Only government can take perfectly good paper, cover it with perfectly good ink and make the combination worthless.”
And
“Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it.”
I honestly believe that reporters should understand the language they report in.
Bad idea? Killer idea
“Follow my lips”
That SALT deduction cap was a killer in exactly the districts that were the most vulnerable. I still don’t understand why that crap needed to be in the tax bill, what were they thinking?
It’s a good thing. Once and for all we need to make the high-tax blue states feel the impact LOCALLY of their tax policies.
No state should offload its stupid taxes on ME.
Sorry, no way we shouldn’t have done this sooner. SALT was a great idea and if it costs us some seats, so be it. Eventually-—maybe 10 years-—the citizens of those states will rebel.
I can’t agree giving the democrats a very effective issue (being able to legitimately claim the GOP RAISED taxes on some of their constituents) in our most vulnerable seats, based on some vague hope of sparking “rebellions” at some point in the distant future, was a good idea.
People are not smart, they blamed the GOP Congress for it, not their state governments for having high taxes. And I have little hope they will change their minds about it in 5 years or 10 or 15.
More money in pockets=good. Any policy that takes money from someones pocket will make them mad.
Policy must be tailored to recognize that the American people, even and sometimes especially the “educated” ones, are retarded apes. And above all, selfish (not that being selfish is a bad thing).
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