Comments on: Energy Independence? Raise Gas Tax, Lower Others http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/ Logic and reason on a range of subjects flavored by Latter-day Saint theology. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:30:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Pwhndvve http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-8929 Pwhndvve Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:47:57 +0000 http://www.latterdaylogic.com/uncategorized/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-8929 Thousands and look closer <a href="http://bebo.com/CytotecB9/" rel="nofollow">buy cytotec</a> dead hand estivities. Thousands and look closer buy cytotec dead hand estivities.

]]> By: Mike Brown http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-169 Mike Brown Thu, 08 Mar 2007 06:40:47 +0000 http://www.latterdaylogic.com/uncategorized/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-169 Mr. "Um I live in Alaska": Are your observations infallable and mine clearly ludicrous because you live in an oil state? So we disagree. You sound like you're simply regurgitating what you've heard other people say. To say we shouldn't have a "standing army" is really illogical. What is a standing army in your opinion? Of course we need "an army" of people to maintain our weaponry and readiness, and yes the people cannot do this themselves. There is no personal benefit to me contributing $1000 dollars per year to defense, so if left to fund it voluntarily, I will not do it because I'd be the only one, and hence my $1000 gets me no real defense. But if enough of us agree that it is in our best interest to force anyone who enjoys the benefits of common defense to pay for common defense, then we can have an impressive defense. Government is not the problem with oil. If they "stay out" as you suggest and let the market take care of it, then the market will unwisely consume all of our domestic oil very quickly, enrich our enemies because foreign oil is a tad cheaper, and never make real progress toward environmental stewardship. Government policy that incrementally raises the price of oil is in fact the best long term solution. People gripe that they want oil to be cheaper, and yes cheaper is good for the economy in the short run, but in seeking to "promote the general welfare" there is nothing wrong with raising the funds necessary for defense by high taxes on fuel and low taxes on everything else. This will in fact improve our common security, improve our common environment (which again, are you going to volunteer $1000 to maintain a clean environment?), and it will conserve our common resource oil, which is stuff of plastic and is something we'll need long after high government taxes have spurred the market to break us free from burning all our future plastic in vanity-wagon Hummers. Put that in your tail-pipe and smoke it. Mr. “Um I live in Alaska”: Are your observations infallable and mine clearly ludicrous because you live in an oil state? So we disagree. You sound like you’re simply regurgitating what you’ve heard other people say. To say we shouldn’t have a “standing army” is really illogical. What is a standing army in your opinion?

Of course we need “an army” of people to maintain our weaponry and readiness, and yes the people cannot do this themselves. There is no personal benefit to me contributing $1000 dollars per year to defense, so if left to fund it voluntarily, I will not do it because I’d be the only one, and hence my $1000 gets me no real defense. But if enough of us agree that it is in our best interest to force anyone who enjoys the benefits of common defense to pay for common defense, then we can have an impressive defense.

Government is not the problem with oil. If they “stay out” as you suggest and let the market take care of it, then the market will unwisely consume all of our domestic oil very quickly, enrich our enemies because foreign oil is a tad cheaper, and never make real progress toward environmental stewardship.

Government policy that incrementally raises the price of oil is in fact the best long term solution. People gripe that they want oil to be cheaper, and yes cheaper is good for the economy in the short run, but in seeking to “promote the general welfare” there is nothing wrong with raising the funds necessary for defense by high taxes on fuel and low taxes on everything else. This will in fact improve our common security, improve our common environment (which again, are you going to volunteer $1000 to maintain a clean environment?), and it will conserve our common resource oil, which is stuff of plastic and is something we’ll need long after high government taxes have spurred the market to break us free from burning all our future plastic in vanity-wagon Hummers.

Put that in your tail-pipe and smoke it.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-31 Jeremy Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:53:47 +0000 http://www.latterdaylogic.com/uncategorized/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-31 Um I live in Alaska, and can unequivically state that the Governmnet has not stayed out of oil at all. And they are preciesely the problem with oil. I do not agree with a standing army (see founding fathers and first presidency message of Feb. 1946). There are very few things that government can do that the people cannot themselves do. Those things are expressely articulated in the U.S. Constitution, no intended powers were left out. Um I live in Alaska, and can unequivically state that the Governmnet has not stayed out of oil at all. And they are preciesely the problem with oil. I do not agree with a standing army (see founding fathers and first presidency message of Feb. 1946). There are very few things that government can do that the people cannot themselves do. Those things are expressely articulated in the U.S. Constitution, no intended powers were left out.

]]> By: Mike http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-30 Mike Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:04:49 +0000 http://www.latterdaylogic.com/uncategorized/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-30 Thanks for the comment. I agree with a minimalist government also, but the point of even a minimalist government is to accomplish things that the people need done, but cannot sufficiently organize privately to do. Why is defense a government role? In part because we all know we need it, but none of us are willing to "buy" our share on our own. The environment is similar. We all want clean air, but when catalytic converters came around few of us were sufficiently motivated to pay $700 extra to clean up our seemingly small contribution. It is right for government to protect our national security and to take reasonable steps that help us clean up environmental damage faster than the market can do it on its own. That's the point of raising the gas tax and lowering others. Not to grow government, but to fuel the market to get us out of depending on enemies, and to help us get out of greenhouse gas production more quickly. Government has stayed out of the way on oil, and that's exactly why the market has made us dependent on the Middle East! Thanks for the comment. I agree with a minimalist government also, but the point of even a minimalist government is to accomplish things that the people need done, but cannot sufficiently organize privately to do.

Why is defense a government role? In part because we all know we need it, but none of us are willing to “buy” our share on our own.

The environment is similar. We all want clean air, but when catalytic converters came around few of us were sufficiently motivated to pay $700 extra to clean up our seemingly small contribution. It is right for government to protect our national security and to take reasonable steps that help us clean up environmental damage faster than the market can do it on its own.

That’s the point of raising the gas tax and lowering others. Not to grow government, but to fuel the market to get us out of depending on enemies, and to help us get out of greenhouse gas production more quickly.

Government has stayed out of the way on oil, and that’s exactly why the market has made us dependent on the Middle East!

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.latterdaylogic.com/my-letters-to-editors/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-27 Jeremy Sat, 13 Jan 2007 13:28:18 +0000 http://www.latterdaylogic.com/uncategorized/energy-independence-raise-the-gas-tax/#comment-27 I think that your fundamental premise is flawed. Governments job is to first do no harm, then to stay out of the way while providing the barest of essentials. Those essential are little up for debate, but the intent is clear. Your proposal violates every sensible reasoning that can be lain for a responsible federal government. I think that your fundamental premise is flawed. Governments job is to first do no harm, then to stay out of the way while providing the barest of essentials. Those essential are little up for debate, but the intent is clear. Your proposal violates every sensible reasoning that can be lain for a responsible federal government.

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