🚀 go-pugleaf

John P. Curcio wrote:
> 
> I know exactly how much I use, and how much it costs.  I get the bill
> every month for my 300 mile/week commute to work.  It adds up.  Is
> there anything I can do about it?  Absolutely not.  I can't afford to
> live closer to work in the manner I am accustomed to, and I refuse to
> give up quality of life for me and my family.

Well, that's your choice but if the gas is expensive it's also your
choice through this refusal to pay it.

> And praytell, where does this money come from?  Right out of
> everyone's pocket, in the form of taxes.  Add the 50-60% overhead of a
> government program to fuel the bureacracy, and the payback is a hell
> of a lot less than the payout.
> 
Not true. Consider Europe where transport has been made to make a
profit. Yes it does happen, and not necessarily with escalated fares
either.

> You want to punish people for driving various types of vehicles.
> That's the whole idea of it-- similar to sin taxes on cigarettes or
> alcohol.
> 
It's not a punishment, just a tax relative to the amount you pollute.
Why must I be punished for breathing by inhaling poisons.

 but you want to put the price of it [ a 4 by 4] out of my reach.  Same
thing,
> just a different method of accomplishing it.
> 
A Mercedez Benz is out of my financial reach, so what ? I make do with
what I can afford, I don't blame anyone that's just the way it is.


> So what?  What's the problem with [having a 4 by 4 just because]?
>
No problem, but if I wish to fly an aeroplane I must pay more if I own a
747 rather than a business jet.

> This happens already.  They buy more gas, they pay more in fuel costs
> and gasoline taxes.  We don't need any more taxes.
> 
Obviously we do.


> > Did it ever occur to you that the person who gets
> >> half the gas mileage as you also pays TWICE as much for gas, 

> >They also cause twice the pollution
> 
> This cannot be shown.

Yes it can, ask a scientist.

  Furthermore, untimed stop lights
> and other mindless forms of "traffic calming" contribute more to
> pollution than anything else.
>
Well exactly, replace traffic lights with roundabouts. If you don't know
what one is consult an english highway code book.
 
 
> O.K., twice the amount of fuel.  So?
>
Twice as much gone forever, less for something else.
 
> >That doesn't sound very fair to
> >anyone else does it?
> 
> It's 100% fair.  That person is PAYING for it.

He or she isn't paying for the untold damage he or she is doing to the
environment.

 public transportation, which,
> at least in my case, would take me 5 times as long and cost 3 times as
> much for me to commute to work

That's because public transportation is not run properly in the US.


> I have had emissions testing done on my car, as well as my truck.
> Both are FAR below the limits set for inspection.  It always kills me
> to see these old beaters on the road, belching blue-grey oil smoke.  I
> keep my vehicles tuned properly, and I properly inflate the tires.
> I'm not the problem.
> 
Glad to hear it.

Vince