Trump Likes Lower Gas Prices

[Revoltingest]

I agree with you on both accounts, I just can't pass up the opportunity to jab at you about that stuff when the opportunity presents itself.

I did ask to be jabbed.

 

[suncowiam]

Trump praises record-low July 4th gas prices

I say this is bad public policy because it encourages big government.
Why?
Low prices discourage conservation, wasting resources, & making us more dependent upon
foreign sources. That has traditionally been addressed by regulation (CAFE standards for
automakers).
I'd prefer a fuel tax, one which can fluctuate to make pump prices stable & regularly increasing.
(Regular increases prevent comlacency.) This would provide revenue, & let the market drive
conservation...resulting in less government regulation & potentially better results.

Now, fellow posters, please attack me.
Show no mercy!

I'm still not seeing your correlation to government size and gas prices. Mind offering another explanation?

As far as gas prices are concerned, this is simply supply and demand.

 

[Revoltingest]

reminds me when we were living in our mothorhome and traveling.....9-10 with a good tailwind, 6-7 with a headwind

Of course, living in a motorhome provides the option to forgo ordinary home ownership.
This could be an efficient choice.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Trump praises record-low July 4th gas prices

I say this is bad public policy because it encourages big government.
Why?
Low prices discourage conservation, wasting resources, & making us more dependent upon
foreign sources. That has traditionally been addressed by regulation (CAFE standards for
automakers).
I'd prefer a fuel tax, one which can fluctuate to make pump prices stable & regularly increasing.
(Regular increases prevent comlacency.) This would provide revenue, & let the market drive
conservation...resulting in less government regulation & potentially better results.

Now, fellow posters, please attack me.
Show no mercy!

Gas rationing cards. Like the old days.

Get green Stamp's too....

Ohh hh.... My mind is wanderin again.....

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm still not seeing your correlation to government size and gas prices. Mind offering another explanation?
As far as gas prices are concerned, this is simply supply and demand.

I feared that I wasn't clear.
I'd have a floating federal fuel tax, designed to stabilize prices.
There are complications (eg, avoiding perverting the wholesale market), but it's doable.
By encouraging conservation voluntarily, we could ditch government regulation of fuel economy.

 

[Quetzal]

Of course, living in a motorhome provides the option to forgo ordinary home ownership.
This could be an efficient choice.

My mom and her husband are doing something similar. It works for them because he is retired and she works for the camp grounds they stay at in exchange for free rent while they are there. Reduces driving and living expenses. A win/win for their situation.

 

[Revoltingest]

Gas rationing cards. Like the old days.

Get green Stamp's too....

Ohh hh.... My mind is wanderin again.....

Nah....that's big government.
It would interfere with productivity.

 

[Quetzal]

I feared that I wasn't clear.
I'd have a floating federal fuel tax, designed to stabilize prices.
There are complications (eg, avoiding perverting the wholesale market), but it's doable.
By encouraging conservation voluntarily, we could ditch government regulation of fuel economy.

Hmm, how would you dictate the rate of inflation? Would you just pair it with the national average across all consumable goods?

 

[columbus]

Now, fellow posters, please attack me.
Show no mercy!

Indiana raised the gas tax this past weekend.
How come increases to the tax burden of regular citizens aren't "job killing tax hikes"?
Maybe because Trump? Or Bush? Indiana raised the sales tax 40% back when Bush cut income taxes. From 5% to 7%. Why are tax hikes OK when they fall on low income people, but bad when the taxes fall on the people who move jobs to Mexico and China?
Tom

 

[Nakosis]

Trump praises record-low July 4th gas prices

I say this is bad public policy because it encourages big government.
Why?
Low prices discourage conservation, wasting resources, & making us more dependent upon
foreign sources. That has traditionally been addressed by regulation (CAFE standards for
automakers).
I'd prefer a fuel tax, one which can fluctuate to make pump prices stable & regularly increasing.
(Regular increases prevent comlacency.) This would provide revenue, & let the market drive
conservation...resulting in less government regulation & potentially better results.

Now, fellow posters, please attack me.
Show no mercy!

Also an excellent way to keep poor folks off the road.

 

[tytlyf]

What I find odd about Trump is that he's taking credit for a lot of Obama's accomplishments.

 

[suncowiam]

I feared that I wasn't clear.
I'd have a floating federal fuel tax, designed to stabilize prices.
There are complications (eg, avoiding perverting the wholesale market), but it's doable.
By encouraging conservation voluntarily, we could ditch government regulation of fuel economy.

This is similar to the interest rates for money? Who would control this tax rate?

But isn't a tax another form of government regulation? That tax rate could influence other markets like the car and jet industries. They would not be influenced by customers but by costs imposed by government.

I kind of see this as more big government.

 

[Revoltingest]

Indiana raised the gas tax this past weekend.
How come increases to the tax burden of regular citizens aren't "job killing tax hikes"?

I'm glad you brought this up.
We're going to have a tax burden to accomplish all the things that government does.
That's a given.
The question....what is the best way to tax?
Consider that taxes disincentivize that which is taxed.
If the burden is shifted somewhat from income to fuel consumption (my
unspoken premise), then this encourages income, & discourages fuel usage.

Maybe because Trump? Or Bush? Indiana raised the sales tax 40% back when Bush cut income taxes. From 5% to 7%. Why are tax hikes OK when they fall on low income people, but bad when the taxes fall on the people who move jobs to Mexico and China?
Tom

I can't speak for Republicans on their reasons behind policies.

 

[Revoltingest]

This is similar to the interest rates for money? Who would control this tax rate?

The federal governemnt.

But isn't a tax another form of government regulation?

One could view it that way, since it is designed to elicit a certain behavior.
But it's one with less regulation, depending more upon a free market, eg,
choosing a vehicle, choosing how much to drive, choosing to carpool.

That tax rate could influence other markets like the car and jet industries. They would not be influenced by customers but by costs imposed by government.

I sure hope it would influence the market....by increasing demand for fuel efficient vehicles, by decreasing demand for fuel.

I kind of see this as more big government.

I see it as less big government than the alternative, eg, CAFE standards,
carpool only lanes, driving restrictions (due to high ozone levels).

 

[Revoltingest]

Also an excellent way to keep poor folks off the road.

If the tax they pay at the pump is offset by a reduction in other taxes, it's a wash.
Note also that poor people in urban areas endure the worst air quality, & would
benefit from less exhaust in the air.

 

[suncowiam]

The federal governemnt.

One could view it that way, since it is designed to elicit a certain behavior.
But it's one with less regulation, depending more upon a free market, eg,
choosing a vehicle, choosing how much to drive, choosing to carpool.

I sure hope it would influence the market....by increasing demand for fuel efficient vehicles, by decreasing demand for fuel.

I see it as less big government than the alternative, eg, CAFE standards,
carpool only lanes, driving restrictions (due to high ozone levels).

FWIW, I don't mind what you're proposing and would want a similar system but I'm still not seeing it as less government. Effectively, government is choosing what I will be doing by influencing my costs.

I'm not opposed to regulations, anyhows. Just as long as its enforceable and does exactly what it was meant to do.

 

[Revoltingest]

FWIW, I don't mind what you're proposing and would want a similar system but I'm still not seeing it as less government. Effectively, government is choosing what I will be doing by influencing my costs.

They're not dictating your choices.
Just creating a climate which encourages some, & discourages others.

There will be conservation.
That's gotta happen for economic, environmental, & even potentially strategic military reasons.
I see taxation as the market solution, which is better.
As things are now, when fuel prices drop, people gravitate from little hybrids to crew cab
pickups (the new soccer mom vehicle of choice). This is taking 2 steps backwards.

I'm not opposed to regulations, anyhows. Just as long as its enforceable and does exactly what it was meant to do.

The greater the level of regulation, the greater the surprise at unintended consequences.

 

[suncowiam]

They're not dictating your choices.
Just creating a climate which encourages some, & discourages others.

There will be conservation.
That's gotta happen for economic, environmental, & even potentially strategic military reasons.
I see taxation as the market solution, which is better.
As things are now, when fuel prices drop, people gravitate from little hybrids to crew cab
pickups (the new soccer mom vehicle of choice). This is taking 2 steps backwards.

The greater the level of regulation, the greater the surprise at unintended consequences.

I think someone else here alluded to this. The poor is very susceptible to these taxes. They won't be able to choose in what was supposed to be a free market.

 

[Quetzal]

As things are now, when fuel prices drop, people gravitate from little hybrids to crew cab
pickups (the new soccer mom vehicle of choice). This is taking 2 steps backwards.

Do you think so? I see a lot of hybrids and they seem to be growing in numbers in northern VA.

 

[esmith]

Thought I saw you the other night...

Nah not big enough