tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post4603381689946502796..comments2023-09-09T09:26:22.175-04:00Comments on Andrew Samwick's Blog: Republicans and Gas TaxesAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-76208721748296928172006-10-09T11:14:00.000-04:002006-10-09T11:14:00.000-04:00Andrew,That graphic of gasoline taxes by country w...Andrew,<br><br>That graphic of gasoline taxes by country would be much more informative if it was accompanied with similar information on annual miles driven and gallons of gasoline consumed per capita per country.<br><br>Regards, Don LloydAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-2293165094031385402006-10-09T12:10:00.000-04:002006-10-09T12:10:00.000-04:00The graph is informative if we remember that the i...The graph is informative if we remember that the industrial infrastructure in Germany/France/Italy/Japan/England is very different than that of the United States (and Canada).<br><br>I would bet that a much higher percentage of transport takes place via rail lines in all those countries as opposed to shipping by truck.<br><br>I think in this case, while we have a lot of data that high gas taxes will not ruin an economy, it still pays to be careful. Raising the gas tax by 50% in 2007 and 2008 would be a great legacy for President Bush and would give us much more informative data on the costs of adjustment...Daniel Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574149369366197262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-68496921169671474582006-10-09T13:56:00.000-04:002006-10-09T13:56:00.000-04:00I think offsetting a gas tax with a reduction of ...I think offsetting a gas tax with a reduction of sales tax on other items would be simpler and less likely to have unexpected consequences. The income tax is an invitation to complicate peoples lives further.Lordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-9278841709533892102006-10-09T18:11:00.000-04:002006-10-09T18:11:00.000-04:00"Returning" gas taxes as income tax offs..."Returning" gas taxes as income tax offset does what for retired and poor who pay none to low income taxes but, are hit head on by gas taxes?<br><br>Giving the government more tax money guarantees nothing but mischief.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-30199940515714948152006-10-10T08:38:00.000-04:002006-10-10T08:38:00.000-04:00I question how much reduction in fuel use would be...I question how much reduction in fuel use would be gained by increasing taxes. Fuel is only one component of an individual's transportation budget. Many people respond to higher fuel prices by driving their vehicles longer, not by upgrading to a more efficient vehicle.<br><br>If the tax really works, then people would drive more efficient cars less miles and the price of fuel would drop with decreased demand. Then, where would the incentive be to conserve fuel unless a gas tax was allowed to fluctuate to set fuel prices at a target price.<br><br>The quickest way to better fuel efficiency is higher standards. After all, we have fuel efficiency standards for refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters and even toilets. Without the standards, it is a race to the bottom. The race to the bottom is precisely what GM and Ford have done to their own detriment. An increase in fuel tax on top of higher standards would build support for higher fuel standards. If we are really serious about fuel efficiency, we would do both a higher tax AND higher CAFE standards.<br><br>Europe is much more compact than the US. Distances goods are shipped matter. More miles = more fuel.<br><br>Rail transport in the US is different than in Europe. In the US, passenger trains yield the right of way to freight. There are huge subsidies to highway and road transportation that are not given to railroads in the US. If we are serious about getting trucks off the highways, we would even the playing field.bakhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430847155943410399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-11616075098705838032006-10-10T13:59:00.000-04:002006-10-10T13:59:00.000-04:00I really enjoyed reading your blog and I bookmarke...I really enjoyed reading your blog and I bookmarked it! by the way if you are looking for <a href="http://www.nc-investment.com" rel="nofollow">investement</a> information check out my website!investhttp://www.nc-investment.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-14672795412177608852006-10-12T12:15:00.000-04:002006-10-12T12:15:00.000-04:00Here in Canada, we have very high taxes on gas. I&...Here in Canada,<br><br> we have very high taxes on gas. I've yet to see a reduction in fuel use or an increase in community transport.<br> There has to be a better solution than increasing gas taxes to reduce the consumption of oil.Celebrity sedu hairstyleshttp://myseduhairstyles.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-10726046182016143172006-10-12T13:03:00.000-04:002006-10-12T13:03:00.000-04:00Hoosier -- interesting data.How much is the US dat...Hoosier -- interesting data.<br><br>How much is the US data impacted by the Western coal trains, or are they too small to make a difference?<br><br>Just a quick point. The gas tax is nothing new. We had exactly the same debates in the 1970s.spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040914017546442297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-13314834034294826752007-06-05T13:21:00.000-04:002007-06-05T13:21:00.000-04:00Hmmm,What if we used our vast technology and produ...Hmmm,<br><br>What if we used our vast technology and produced more efficient vehicles instead of having the government take additional money from the public and claim it is being used for the good of mankind. I'm sure if the oil companies allowed the auto manufacturers to build a 100 mile to the gallon full size P/U it could be done now. We have cell phones, satelites, and people going to space for gods sake. Make a freakin vehicle that gets better gas mileage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com