In a forum debate, I mentioned that the gas tax was partially responsible for the increased price of gas. Then, I advocated getting rid of it. Someone proposed a counterargument:
"The gas tax itself is actually beneficial to the consumers, since all money collected via it is automatically alloted for road construction and maintenance. While it does increase the prices of gas, it pays for roads.Like Professor ******* mentioned in class, some things which people pay for in some fairly hidden way are things which, when given the choice, they wouldn't pay for. I think the example he used was Social Security. Given the choice, there would be those who wouldn't pay into it, and thus run out of money after retiring. I think people would be averse to paying for road construction in some sort of visible way, since it just seems like another expense on top of all the others."
******* - name ommited
I would like some help to counter this argument. Thanks.
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Oh, but it's for their own good, don'chaknow. Without the gas tax, no roads could be built! After all, only a government can create roads. And those in government know what's best for everyone, since they're so wise and all that. So they should force us to pay for things we don't want or need, but we really do want and need them--because they say we do.
eliotn:The gas tax itself is actually beneficial to the consumers, since all money collected via it is automatically alloted for road construction and maintenance. While it does increase the prices of gas, it pays for roads.
And it fails at that basic task. It isn't a road use tax as some proclaim because people with the most inefficient vehicles are the ones who bear the greatest cost while people with the means can buy the most fuel efficient vehicles and not pay 'their fair share'.
Even the State claims it is a road use tax, see how long you can get away with running your car on recycled McDonalds vegetable oil before they send you a tax bill (and a 'tax evasion' surcharge).
Also the monopoly inefficiency charge that goes without saying.
eliotn: I think the example he used was Social Security. Given the choice, there would be those who wouldn't pay into it, and thus run out of money after retiring.
The money they paid into it didn't go into their personal retirement fund but to support those who were collecting benefits at the time just as the money that I pay today isn't put into a special account set aside for my personal use in another thirty years or so but is used to pay people today.
Social Security actually does the opposite, it encourages people to not save for their retirement because they know they will at least be able to live in substandard housing and survive on cat food in their old age. So instead of a person reducing consumption in the present and investing it for the future they are forced to both pay for other people's present consumption and get other productive people in the future to pay for their future consumption.
Yet another scheme to disuade people from saving instead of consuming so the monopoly providers of capital on the market have less competition.
First of all, you have to show that roads can be built and maintained by private enterprise. It would be much better for the economy if all federal and state highways, for example, were privatized. The gas tax is just an excuse to throw money at something that doesn't have any returns.
Secondly, you have to show the economic benefits that would occur if you got rid of the gas tax. Since oil companies would be making more money without the gas tax, they would be able to use that money to drill deeper, drill in more places, and open more refineries.
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eliotn: "The gas tax itself is actually beneficial to the consumers, since all money collected via it is automatically alloted for road construction and maintenance. While it does increase the prices of gas, it pays for roads.
"The gas tax itself is actually beneficial to the consumers, since all money collected via it is automatically alloted for road construction and maintenance. While it does increase the prices of gas, it pays for roads.
All forms of taxation are theft. The gas tax is no exception.
I wrote a post on the evils of government sponsored roads. The problem is that the burden of the tax does not fall equally. Individual cars pay more than their fair share, but trucks pay less than their fair share. Essentially, this makes government sponsored roads a form of corporate welfare.
I have my own blog at FSK's Guide to Reality. Let me know if you like it.
Keep in mind this is not my view (I'm not exactly sure what my stance is), but I believe most people would argue for the gas tax saying that it makes people less likely to want to drive their cars when it is not necessary. This would lead to less congestion, hopefully reduce our use of foreign oil and possibly cause a quicker change to alternative fuels.
Could counter by saying there are better ways to create less congestion (fares on highways) and being foreign oil is not really that big of a problem.
rixross:I believe most people would argue for the gas tax saying that it makes people less likely to want to drive their cars when it is not necessary
A tax on gasoline is needed to prevent people from driving in the same sense that a tax on labor is needed to prevent people from working.
I'm proposing an ice cream tax. The taxes will go towards government sponsored maraschino cherry production which will benefit the ice cream consumption of everyone.
Again, my previous post was simply for discussion purposes, I am not sure of my position on that particular topic. But as for it being the same as a tax on labor to keep people from working, I dont really think that is the same because their are few negatives that come with working, while you must admit congestion on the highways is a problem.
A better counter would be that the gas tax is like if the government enacted an extra tax on fast food, to keep America healthy.
rixross: A better counter would be that the gas tax is like if the government enacted an extra tax on fast food, to keep America healthy.
I agree! Subsidies for farmers and taxes on food consumption! That's the spirit! Can we think of any other great ideas for wrecking the economy?