Irony, Thy Name Is "G-O-P"

If the gas tax worked

and it got people to use electric cars rather than fuel-inefficient cars, that would be a good thing. That's how the gas tax is supposed to work. It's a punitive tax, designed to modify behavior.

It's only because it mostly hasn't worked that we now have so much money we can fund roads with it. If we start losing that money, we can either
(a) raise the gas tax (it's way too low now) or
(b) fund roads and other transportation from other sources.

A mileage tax has a significant cost of collection, as well as a burdensome monitoring system that makes people feel uncomfortable. Plus it doesn't encourage low-pollution, fuel-efficient cars, which is what we should want.

Oh well, at least it's comforting that our state Republicans are wrong again, after (perhaps accidentally) being right for a moment.

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 22:38:30 PM UTC

I think gas taxes....

....both federal and state are pretty much mandated for roads and such.  Maybe some states permit larger transportation funding, but trying to be punitive is not the reason.  

If it was, the tax would be much higher.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:46:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's like they read our long ago debate,

took both of our cons, and stopped reading.  Not that I'm asking for credit or anything.  Yuck.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

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by: droll @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 16:40:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wait wait wait

Shouldn't the GOP reaction to this be that we should eliminate the gas tax altogether, or, barring that, cut it in some way?

Since when were Republicans worried about tax revenues drying up? I guess it's a problem unless income tax revenues are concerned--then it's reprehensible to even think about complaining that if we reduce taxes on the wealthy that we might have less money for the budget.

The GOP really makes an art form out of hypocrisy.

At least we may have finally seen someone (even though it's Scott "Gays = Murderers" Renfroe) on the far-right connect the fact that government services come from taxation. I was beginning to think they didn't understand that relationship.

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 22:44:59 PM UTC

That's right

Down with ALL taxes.  We know how to spend our money better than the government does.  So let's get out there and each of us personally fix the roads and bridges we use or stay home,by God!

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 16:14:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Josh has left the building...

I don't know where Senor Penry is, but everyone is looking.  I received this text message on my phone, perhaps a misdial...

Hi Josh, its Kate from KREX.  Are you in town this weekend?  Do you have any media plans?

No, I'm not making this up, but now I almost know Josh's cell number.


"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 22:58:59 PM UTC

Did you reply?

Hi Kate, just the usual ducking and weaving! Be sure to report it!

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by: RedGreen @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:50:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

the inmates are running the asylum in the Senate GOP caucus

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by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:52:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

NEV

The inaccurate term "slow-poke electric vehicle" are correctly called Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.  They can officially go 35 mph, although higher speeds are known. These are not golf carts.

As you can telll by the word Neighborhood, these are for local use only.  The limited range is a constraint.  Not that with improved battery technology they won't be capable of greater range in the future.  

I look forward to seeing these around driving around Aurora and the Metro region.  


In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority. Edmund Burke

10/26/11 Colorado Ex-Pat; S/V Sisu Catalina 30

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by: Pam Bennett @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:00:33 PM UTC

Renfroe has identified only the tip of the scary iceberg

All sorts of nefarious things could lead to lower gas tax revenue.  What if people decided to live near their jobs and then drive less (e.g, living in an apartment in Denver, rather than commuting to Denver from Greeley)?  What if we build public transportation?  What if people combined their car trips into one outing?  What if people carpooled?!  What if we decided that some people were unfit to drive (e.g., 5-year-olds or drunk drivers)?  All these things could reduce the lifeblood that is driving, er..the gas tax.  Lord help us!

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 00:50:32 AM UTC

Doesn't Renfroe like lower gas prices?

As demand drops prices come down.  Its what Repubs refer to as 'Economics 101'  

"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 01:05:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you do enough of those things

I think Renfroe would simply collapse from the sheer panic, and perhaps seriously disable himself. At least enough to stay out of the state Senate.

If that's not an effective argument for the rest of us using public transportation and avoiding drunk driving, I don't know what is!

"Have a Bobby bar! My dad made them." --Jon Huntsman Jr.

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by: sxp151 @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 06:04:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

City of Thornton and other municipalities have

passed local laws that allows neighborhood electric vehicles on all streets that are posted 35 mph or less. Would be great if this was adapted statewide.  

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by: Thorntondem @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 02:01:22 AM UTC

I want a BMW 6 series all-electric!!!!

I was going to get a new car around 2 years ago when gas prices started zooming up. I finallt decided no new car until I can get an all electric (hybrids have too many compromises).

So the day BMW comes out with an all-electric 5 or 6 series, I'm buying it. And if someone else comes out with a comparable car sooner - I'll definitely consider it.

But no new car until I see a high performance electric that seats 5.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 04:48:51 AM UTC

I'll take a BMW hydrogen fuel cell 7-series

I'll never be able to afford it, but if someone were to give one to me...

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: Cartesian Doubt @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 05:18:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tesla Roadster

I'm trying to self-induce a mid-life crisis (no success yet) so that I can rationalize a Tesla Roadster.

Maybe I should put in a proposal for some stimulus funds?

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." --ChuckieD, 1871

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by: ardy39 @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 06:41:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes . . . I believe we ALL need one of those!

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by: The realist @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 13:56:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's what you need, David.

The kids are off to college, anyway.

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

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by: parsingreality @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 20:02:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]