Gas prices

[David Floyd]

I'm not supporting or opposing any given tax. I'm just saying it's hypocritical to support the government taxing gas (whether or not it's to provide a disincentive to driving), but oppose oil companies making a profit off of products/services they provide.

[David Floyd]

But by the way, if we were to abolish the income tax, I'd certainly be OK with a gas tax to support roads and the environment.

[TCO]

From a libertarian standpoint, I think user taxes are ok. I just think that in reality it's more of a sin tax and something that is taxed to make money for general revenue. This is because of inelastic demand. Same for cigarettes.

[KrazyHorse]

a) I find it odd for anybody to "blame" a corporation for attempting to make a profit. That's the system we have set up right now. The private sector economy is all about making profits.

b) I don't see why it's hypocritical to support gas taxes while wishing that oil companies made less profit. The profit of oil companies is distributed amongst shareholders. The taxes collected on gasoline are distributed amongst all citizens. You can be for one and against the other if, for instance, your goal is simple income redistribution. Where's the hypocrisy?

edit: screw the otbot

[Apocalypse]

Why is your car insurance so high?

[KrazyHorse]

Because I live in ****ing baltimore

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Because I live in ****ing baltimore

That sucks. I'm over 4 years younger than you and my insurance is around half that.

[TCO]

the issue with confiscation of oil company profits is that you discourage exploration and current activity. And bringing in billion dollar projects in hellholes with decadal outlooks is not child's play.

I think the key thing is is the market free competition. And it is in terms of regular companies, but is not in terms of OPEC. Cracking that cartel would be the best thing for the market. Don't know how to do that except by invading Middle East and stealing oil.

[KrazyHorse]

I don't think that cracking OPEC would make as much difference as you think. Their influence has been waning...

[TCO]

That's possible. Or maybe it would. I donno...

[KrazyHorse]

Let's launch a war to find out.

[TCO]

We'd probably do something stupid like not steal the oil and end up spending more then what we steal...

[KrazyHorse]

[David Floyd]

b) I don't see why it's hypocritical to support gas taxes while wishing that oil companies made less profit. The profit of oil companies is distributed amongst shareholders. The taxes collected on gasoline are distributed amongst all citizens. You can be for one and against the other if, for instance, your goal is simple income redistribution.

True, but this thread was about high gas prices, and one of the things keeping gas prices high is government taxes. Sure, if your goal is income redistribution, then you should tax every luxury. Maybe even call it a Luxury Tax.

Oh wait, we tried that in the US a while back, and it failed miserably. Oh yeah, as I recall, it put a bunch of working class people who produce luxuries out of work, while doing nothing to harm the upper class.

Then again, gasoline isn't a luxury. As has been pointed out, it's a necessity. By not offering tax relief on this necessity item, the government is harming poor, working class people just as much as the oil companies are, especially when the money gained from gas taxes wouldn't even be needed to support roads, the environment, etc., if we didn't embroil ourselves in conflicts around the world (hey, which may have had something to do with rising oil prices, anyway, hmmmm).

[JohnT]

2k Euros a month is only $29,000/year. I haven't earned that little in well over a decade.