Comments on: Who Is Out Of Touch? http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/ Virginia politics, policy and entertainment from the Greater Richmond-Washington Metro Area perspective. Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:55:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: VA Patriot http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35713 VA Patriot Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:25:25 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35713 Point conceded. Point conceded.

]]> By: Riley http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35704 Riley Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:58:03 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35704 That is correct that this would not set a precedent for diverting funds from the trust fund, but it would set a precedent for breaching the firewall. Believe me, once it has been breached in one direction, all bets are off in any direction when you're talking about Congress. That is correct that this would not set a precedent for diverting funds from the trust fund, but it would set a precedent for breaching the firewall. Believe me, once it has been breached in one direction, all bets are off in any direction when you’re talking about Congress.

]]> By: VA Patriot http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35698 VA Patriot Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:10:23 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35698 Riley, as I try to understand McCain's plan, there would be no precedent for diverting funds from the trust fund - there would be a precedent for the stoppage of funds into the trust fund. I think there is a difference there. Riley, as I try to understand McCain’s plan, there would be no precedent for diverting funds from the trust fund – there would be a precedent for the stoppage of funds into the trust fund. I think there is a difference there.

]]> By: Riley http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35697 Riley Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:44:10 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35697 Just a quick note on that last point. Back in the '90s (I believe it was the ISTEA bill), Congress actually did something smart and dedicated the highway user fee to transportation (with the occasional boneheaded earmark like the bridge to nowhere, some transportation museum or bikepath) and firewalled the Highway Trust Fund. Finally, there was a user fee that was true in name and fact -- not just a tax by a different name. (This is the most libertarian way to raise funds that the U.S. Gov't employs -- the more you drive, the more wear and tear you put on the roads, the more you pay since you have to fill up more often. Don't drive at all, and you don't pay the fee.) Even the Social Security "trust fund" isn't firewalled. Anyway, the thought is that if you have general revenues go into the Highway Trust Fund, that the firewall has been breached (albeit in a way positive for it), but it sets a precedent for the future that would allow highway funds to be diverted from the trust fund (once they make it solvent after its coming bankruptcy next year) for other purposes. Just a quick note on that last point. Back in the ’90s (I believe it was the ISTEA bill), Congress actually did something smart and dedicated the highway user fee to transportation (with the occasional boneheaded earmark like the bridge to nowhere, some transportation museum or bikepath) and firewalled the Highway Trust Fund. Finally, there was a user fee that was true in name and fact — not just a tax by a different name. (This is the most libertarian way to raise funds that the U.S. Gov’t employs — the more you drive, the more wear and tear you put on the roads, the more you pay since you have to fill up more often. Don’t drive at all, and you don’t pay the fee.) Even the Social Security “trust fund” isn’t firewalled.

Anyway, the thought is that if you have general revenues go into the Highway Trust Fund, that the firewall has been breached (albeit in a way positive for it), but it sets a precedent for the future that would allow highway funds to be diverted from the trust fund (once they make it solvent after its coming bankruptcy next year) for other purposes.

]]> By: VA Patriot http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35695 VA Patriot Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:03:06 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35695 Did you read the bottom? SOURCE: American Road & Transportation Builders Association The fact is that the money that is taken for gas taxes currently funding transportation can easily be found from other accounts in the general fund. Did you read the bottom?

SOURCE: American Road & Transportation Builders Association

The fact is that the money that is taken for gas taxes currently funding transportation can easily be found from other accounts in the general fund.

]]> By: Kevin http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35694 Kevin Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:34:43 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35694 One last thing...here's a top ten list from Fox Business News on why taking away that tax is bad policy...notice I said "Fox". http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/reasons-suspending-federal-gas-tax-bad-economy-poor-public-policy_563650_1.html One last thing…here’s a top ten list from Fox Business News on why taking away that tax is bad policy…notice I said “Fox”.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/reasons-suspending-federal-gas-tax-bad-economy-poor-public-policy_563650_1.html

]]> By: Kevin http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35670 Kevin Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:20:12 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35670 Right...so the tax decrease would actually just go into the pockets of the oil companies instead of the improvements to infrastructure...I don't see how that's any better than the situation we're in. Right…so the tax decrease would actually just go into the pockets of the oil companies instead of the improvements to infrastructure…I don’t see how that’s any better than the situation we’re in.

]]> By: VA Patriot http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35666 VA Patriot Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:14:46 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35666 -I don't know too many folks who take a trip for every errand they run. -I'd like to get some sort of definition for "nonessential." How about grocery shopping? A trip to the carwash? Going to the mall? With that said, carpooling is a great thing. It is catching on in many areas as a result of the high gas prices. In other areas, it's been successful for years and is now intensifying. I believe your prescriptions would cut down on some consumption. But I also believe that due to many socio-economic factors, it would be difficult to really and truly make a dent in demand and subsequently, the price of gas. As for the oil companies, we should expect that they continue to profit from increasing demand in energy. This is after all a market economy. Inasmuch, there is a maximum price on the supply curve for every person. So ultimately, the market may make other fuel sources more cost effective. -I don’t know too many folks who take a trip for every errand they run.

-I’d like to get some sort of definition for “nonessential.” How about grocery shopping? A trip to the carwash? Going to the mall?

With that said, carpooling is a great thing. It is catching on in many areas as a result of the high gas prices. In other areas, it’s been successful for years and is now intensifying.

I believe your prescriptions would cut down on some consumption. But I also believe that due to many socio-economic factors, it would be difficult to really and truly make a dent in demand and subsequently, the price of gas.

As for the oil companies, we should expect that they continue to profit from increasing demand in energy. This is after all a market economy. Inasmuch, there is a maximum price on the supply curve for every person. So ultimately, the market may make other fuel sources more cost effective.

]]> By: Kevin http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35664 Kevin Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:31:24 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35664 Altering habits include carpooling, bundling errands and cutting out non-essential trips. I understand that people have different commutes and that the infrastructure of public transportation doesn't reach all. But I believe that we can cut a lot of wasted gas by doing what I've listed above. The tax cut will not make a dent in anyone's bill. In fact you could make the argument that oil companies will raise prices slowly over time back to the original levels because people are already used to it in the price. Altering habits include carpooling, bundling errands and cutting out non-essential trips. I understand that people have different commutes and that the infrastructure of public transportation doesn’t reach all. But I believe that we can cut a lot of wasted gas by doing what I’ve listed above.

The tax cut will not make a dent in anyone’s bill. In fact you could make the argument that oil companies will raise prices slowly over time back to the original levels because people are already used to it in the price.

]]> By: VA Patriot http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/who-is-out-of-touch/#comment-35663 VA Patriot Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:54:52 +0000 http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/?p=3496#comment-35663 Kevin, you make a good point. Of course, altering driving "habits" simply isn't an option for a lot of people. I live 15 miles from work and there's no bus station near me. There are millions of folks with similar situations. As for Sen. McCain, I'll take the 5% reduction. Every penny sure counts these days. Kevin, you make a good point. Of course, altering driving “habits” simply isn’t an option for a lot of people. I live 15 miles from work and there’s no bus station near me. There are millions of folks with similar situations. As for Sen. McCain, I’ll take the 5% reduction. Every penny sure counts these days.

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