fuel efficiency must be penalized
Joan Borucki, recently nominated by the governor to head the California DMV, proposes that every car in the state be equipped with a GPS device, so the state can levy a tax based on the amount of driving you do (and the time of day when you do it).The problem, you see, is that cars are becoming more fuel efficient, and it's depriving the state of gas tax money.
I agree wholeheartedly, and I propose that we go a lot farther. These bastards who walk to work? Let's seize their bank accounts. Ride a bike to school? Well, that's mighty anti-social of you, especially in Los Angeles. Hand over your wallet.
Fortunately, we still have plenty of good people who are willing to step up and do their part. Thank god for socially responsible people.
posted by Chris Bray @ 1:17 AM
3 Comments:
I suppose the argument would be that fuel efficient cars create wear and tear on the roads just like any other vehicle.
Obviously this is just idiotic since 1) fuel efficient cars are likely to be lighter and thus cause less damage per mile and 2) it doesn't take into account the cost of air polution, conserving our scarce oil supplies, etc.. What a crock.
How many ways can one person be stupid? First, the basic premise is wrong. Fuel economy has gone down in recent years due to the increase in the number of SUVs (with their lower fuel standards) on the road. Between 1985 and 2000 average fuel economy dropped from 27.5 mpg to 24 mpg. (I don't have more recent data but can't imagine that the trend changed dramatically, at least until this recent oil price spike.) Second, as Chris notes, gas taxes now have a social purpose as well as the road-building purpose. Third, it would essentially end interstate trucking and tourism in California, which might impact their treasury a bit. Fourth, a minor improvement in revenue is probably not worth 1984. Fifth, the costs of installation, monitoring, collection, etc. would greatly exceed the increased funding. Sixth, the cognitive dissonance of this massive, bureaucratic nightmare being proposed by a member of the "keep government small and off our backs" party might make my head explode. And finally, it wouldn't actually work. But it's a "new way of looking at things" so it must be good.
Mojo
California State Government owns thousands of Diesel trucks for "CalTrans", Fish and Game etc. Smogging all the way Exempt from Smog Check 2 (costs twice as much!) the rest of us are subjected to.
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