25-cent Gas Tax Hike? Interesting political quagmire for Trump

[Seleskya + 50]

Dying to see how it unfolds as Trump proposes a 25-cent gas hike to pay for major infrastructure repair ... This flies in the face of anti-tax Republicans so can't imagine it's going to be too popular. Anyone?

[Kate Turlington + 44]

I'm sure it will be unpopular, too. I mean, Americans are obsessed with gas prices. In Europe, I've never heard anyone ever talking about the price of gas at the pump. Certainly, they don't drive around town looking for the cheapest gas. Canadians, either. But Americans I know spend a lot of time doing this and telling each where the cheapest gas is near them at the moment. And then the 'gas price wars' at the pump that get everyone excited now and then. 

[Rodent + 1,424]

It's not going to be popular at all. Republicans will be worried about supporting a gas tax hike before elections. Most politicians vote for things based on whether it will get them reelected or not, rather than doing what makes sense. The gas tax hasn't been increased in decades. Meanwhile, costs to maintain roads and such have increased. Besides, most people have NO idea how much gas tax is levied on their gallon of gas at the pump. I'm not elitist or anything, but voters who don't like this idea are short-sighted.

[Missy + 43]

ALL tax should be assessed based on use (or sales). Get rid of income tax, and assess it on what people buy. That way everyone is taxed fairly, according to their spending. Income tax is so cumbersome and the IRS is a huge monstrosity of bureaucracy that needs to be done away with in its entirety. Of course, all the liberal snowflakes will hate that idea because they would love nothing more than to redistribute the wealth of the rich and give it all to the poor (rather than have them work for anything).

Thumbs up for the gas tax. You have to pay for that infrastructure somehow. 

[TraderTate + 186]

Yes, well, voters want improved infrastructure but don't want to pay for it. Gas tax makes the most sense for helping to fund infrastructure repairs, but at the same time, I've stopped looking  trying to make sense out of the US political system. This is pretty much the only thing that has made sense in a while. Saying 'no' to it is saying 'no' to infrastructure and we're not going anywhere without better infrastructure. Some of it is truly third world. 

[LAOIL + 33]

Gas tax hike is going to be a problem with the states and with Congress. Always has been. 

[Carlsbad + 19]

4 minutes ago, Missy said:

ALL tax should be assessed based on use (or sales). Get rid of income tax, and assess it on what people buy. That way everyone is taxed fairly, according to their spending. Income tax is so cumbersome and the IRS is a huge monstrosity of bureaucracy that needs to be done away with in its entirety. Of course, all the liberal snowflakes will hate that idea because they would love nothing more than to redistribute the wealth of the rich and give it all to the poor (rather than have them work for anything).

Thumbs up for the gas tax. You have to pay for that infrastructure somehow. 

wonder which tax bracket you fall into you? There is quite a large space between 'snowflakes' and creating a functional society that makes us all stronger. 

[Rodent + 1,424]

Yeah, like our power grid. ASCE score: D+ https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/What-Will-You-Do-when-the-Lights-Go-Out-The-Inevitable-Failure-of-the-US-Grid.html

And our roads: ASCE score:D. https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/cat-item/roads/ citing $160 billion is wasted time and fuel in 2014 due to congestion on roads.

It's just SAD. Third world is right (I think the politically correct term nowadays is developing nation). But presidents typically shy away from new taxes, in their first term because they think it will not get them elected a second term, and in their second term because the party pressures them because it's bad news for the next presidential hopeful in the party. 

Kudos for Trump for taking on another unpopular topic. There's something to be said for someone who doesn't give a crap. Just get it done already.

 

[Missy + 43]

6 minutes ago, Carlsbad said:

wonder which tax bracket you fall into you? There is quite a large space between 'snowflakes' and creating a functional society that makes us all stronger. 

How typical for a snowflake to cast aspersions on those who they think are rich. (I'm not--I fall in the 25% bracket if you must know). It's like being wealthy is somehow a bad thing. I've worked hard for everything I have. If you want what I have, you can work hard too, rather than take what I have earned. This is a land of opportunity. If you want socialism, you can feel free to spend some time in lovely Venezuela. They have some space opening up I hear.

[Carlsbad + 19]

Again, there's a very wide gap between 'socialism' and whatever it is you're talking about. As we say in London, 'mind the gap'.

[Missy + 43]

7 minutes ago, Carlsbad said:

Again, there's a very wide gap between 'socialism' and whatever it is you're talking about. As we say in London, 'mind the gap'.

Fair enough. But advocating for a "functional society" reeks of a Robinhoodesque ideology and demonizes the wealthy. I for one and tired of those who look with disdain on the haves. 

But back to the gas tax, I see no logical argument against a gas tax, except for "I don't want to pay it".  It would be fairly paid by the have and have-nots alike. No tax loopholes, no tax shelters. Just plain old tax. Republicans will have to find a way to sell this to the public, plain and simple. They need to do better than what they've done in the past. And the Democrats will need to not argue it based solely on the fact that it was Trump's idea. 

Edited February 15, 2018 by Missy

[Rodent + 1,424]

The gas tax should make liberals happy, in that it should prompt more EVs on the road as fuel costs spike. When gasoline costs are low, there is no incentive to not purchase those big SUVs and big trucks. Higher fuel costs may prompt some to adopt EVs sooner. This is a win-win for everyone.

[Kate Turlington + 44]

I think people should stop thinking in terms of 'liberal' and 'conservative' and just think in terms of common sense. There's something in the gas tax for everyone, and great point about the EVs. This could be one of the best things to happen to EVs ever. 

[TraderTate + 186]

But the point is that it probably won't get past Congress. Obama tried to raise the gas tax, too. 

[Rodent + 1,424]

 

2 minutes ago, Kate Turlington said:

I think people should stop thinking in terms of 'liberal' and 'conservative' and just think in terms of common sense. There's something in the gas tax for everyone, and great point about the EVs. This could be one of the best things to happen to EVs ever. 

I fear we've abandoned common sense long ago. So as I see it:

Pro-gas tax reasons

• EV adoption
• Improved infrastructure
• Most people don't know how much tax is rolled into gasoline anyway
• Will help to close the deficit

Anti-gas tax

• Keeping more money in Americans' pockets is good for economy
• Not all gas tax funds will be used for infrastructure
• Raising fuel prices will raise consumable goods prices across the board, as it ups transportation costs
• Higher taxes usually equates to lower GDP

My main issue with the anti-gas tax camp is that they are proffering no other solution to our infrastructure problems. 

[Addy + 14]

10 minutes ago, Rodent said:

 

I fear we've abandoned common sense long ago. So as I see it:

Pro-gas tax reasons

• EV adoption
• Improved infrastructure
• Most people don't know how much tax is rolled into gasoline anyway
• Will help to close the deficit

Anti-gas tax

• Keeping more money in Americans' pockets is good for economy
• Not all gas tax funds will be used for infrastructure
• Raising fuel prices will raise consumable goods prices across the board, as it ups transportation costs
• Higher taxes usually equates to lower GDP

My main issue with the anti-gas tax camp is that they are proffering no other solution to our infrastructure problems. 

What do you mean "are proffering no other solution"? You mean like "don't tax more, budget better"? The government doesn't need more money to fix the failing infrastructure. They need to spend what money they do have more wisely. 

[TraderTate + 186]

Exactly. Thanks for the reasonable breakdown. This is how we should be thinking. Forget about the politicians, and forget about 'camps'. Neither works in your interest. We want improved infrastructure, we should be willing to pay for it then and this is the fairest way to do that. 

[WaytoPeace + 62]

Might not the best approach be a mixture of a new gas tax and some additional progressive income tax revenue.  We often hear that progressive income tax is an effort to redistribute wealth.  Why can’t it be a recognition of how much more benefit our political, social and economic system has bestowed.  Almost no one becomes wealthy on their own.  My parents were divorced.  My dad was a cab driver.  My mom was a stay at home mom.  By 15, I was the primary source of money for our little family.  My sister and I were the first in our family to graduate from high school, and then college, and then obtain post graduate degrees.  We are now both well off - at least in the top 2%.  Yet, we know we did not get there on our own.  We had the privilege of really good public education.  We lived in a safe and supportive community.  We received maximum NDEA loans and then scholarships.  We faced no discrimination.  We were blessed.  Why shouldn’t we be asked to contribute something more in taxes than those who for whatever reason have not benefitted as much from our political, social and economic system?