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Originally Posted by glatt
Yes, I know what a nightmare it would be. That's the point. If people don't feel it, they won't change their behavior. We're paying the cost anyway, we may as well assign that cost to where it belongs, so we can make informed descisions, and the market can adjust where it should. I'm tired of subsidizing everyone's SUVs. And you are right that it's not just SUVs. The market will spread the costs around to everyone that uses oil. It's only fair that the people that use the oil pay for the oil.
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OK, so now it's not gasoline, it's oil...and by extension, everything made from oil, like fertilizer, blacktop and plastic. Oh, don't forget electricity, at least part of it, everyone has to pay more for whatever the percentage of electricity comes from oil.
Let's see now, how much tax would have to be added to a barrel of oil to pay for ...well, lets just say Iraq, for now? And how much of the war costs do we attribute to oil and how much to the war on terror? Does Afghanistan qualify as an oil charge? How about all the oil the military uses, do we pay double tax for that?
I guess Air Force One fuel would be taxed if the trip was about oil. The taxes the government runs up, would they be added to our regular taxes or billed separately? How about oil going into or coming out of the Strategic Oil Supply? Would we pay on the way in or out....or both?
Would oil used for humanitarian things like disaster relief be taxed? I guess Mom would have to pay tax on the oil for her sewing machine. What if she was sewing bandages for the Red Cross? Oh yes, would the cost of the 50,000 bureaucrats to handle these taxes be paid from the oil tax or the government budget?
I guess we'd just write off the American fishing fleet.... and American shipping would be out of the question. Of course, the American based airlines would be ok on their protected routes. And American farmers would be ok if increase the subsidies to cover their increased costs of fertilizer, operations and shipping.
Since all those billions in profits the oil companies have been rolling up, don't hold a candle to what Bush is throwing at Iraq, the tax would be what.....$2...$3 a gallon at the pump? Plus, of course, all the other things besides gas, I've mentioned. I wonder how much CDs/DVDs and jewel boxes would go up? Hmmm, inflation might be kept down to what....20% per year?
No, I don't think your proposal is equitable or practical.
