Dangerous politicians using junk science to raise low carbon taxes

OMFG! That is better than some of the whoppers Michelle Bachman comes up with.
Holy cow...

 

It is backpedal time. Today's update:
WA lawmaker admits 'bicyclists pollute' line was 'over the top'

 

Orcutt is Orville (Wright) now

 

If these stupid Republican politicians will soon tax bicyclers, they will soon tax:

1. car poolers
2. bus riders
3. pedestrians

They think that people who conserve oil-based fuels pollute more than gas guzzling cars.

Idiots.

 

Do you have any similar thoughts about the Democratic politicians proposing to tax bicyclers?

Gas, car-tab taxes drive House Dems’ transportation plan

 

If the price of gasoline increases to $7 per gallon in the next four years - I am sure that many more people will seriously consider using a bicycle as something more than a recreational device.

 

When taxing bicyclist is even considered, then all those tricyclists should worry. They're next.

I do like the fuzzy1 update quote about Republican's taxing idiots. That's a gold mine there.

 

Lost in all the angst is that the Orcut fellow is right: a bicyclist DOES emit more CO2 while riding a bike than sitting in a car.

He just neglects to consider the the car's contribution. Rather like our EV advocates who like to pretend that the power plant supplying the electricity does not count.

Funny irony.

 

Nope.

The Orcutt tax proposal was based on an inane argument of carbon pollution. That is quite different than the general idea of citizens paying for transport infrastructure. The bridge that pedestrians use to cross a river has to be paid for, and it makes sense that the people who use it, pay for it. This is not an anti-pedestrian attitude.

It is short-sighted policy to think that 'green' living deserves to be free; we should be advocating for accurate cost accounting for the 'browns.'

As for environmental stupidity, look no further than your local republican politician.

 

Hold on a moment. To what Orcutt tax proposal are you referring? I haven't seen any mention of it.

He did make (then retracted) an over-the-top snark on someone else's tax proposal. From various articles linked above:

"The $25 bike fee in question was announced by House Democrats two weeks ago as part of an overall package that would raise a reported $9.8 billion over the next decade. Orcutt said Monday he doesn’t support much of what he sees in the Democrat plan, but does find merit in the $25 fee."

"House Democrats rolled out a nearly $10 billion transportation package Wednesday that would boost taxes on gasoline, increase car tabs and even charge a bicycle fee to raise money."

"As the Seattle Times notes, Washington's bike tax was part of a 10-year, $10 billion transportation package that was introduced in February by state House Democrats --"

"Second, please understand that I have not proposed, nor do I intend to propose, any tax – and certainly not a carbon tax – on bicyclists. There is little in the Democrat tax proposal that I support. However, the one aspect of the Democrat tax plan that has merit is their proposed $25.00 tax on the purchase of any bicycle $500.00 or more."

And before jerking the knee of outrage and blame at tax proposals, be sure to read who actually made the proposal.

 

I have no idea what an "over the top snark" means. Orcutt supports additional taxation of bicycles. He justifies his position in part with a ridiculous carbon argument. He has not authored a bill yet with this position included, if that makes you feel better.

He is an idiot, but is in comfortable company with the overwhelming majority of his republican fellows.

 

Politicians need to cut the bull.

 

Why assume that a cyclist doesn't also have driver's licence and car and therefore pays road taxes?
The "why don't cyclists pay for the roads too" argument is trotted out by idiots who see cyclists travel carefree past traffic jams and say, "why do those bastards get the best of everything?"
At least he retracted the statement rather than dig a deeper hole.
Vote early and often, people.

BTW, to what would the $25 bicycle tax contribute?

 

Characterizing this politician as an "idiot" may be accurate, but the appellation "dangerous" in the title is hardly warranted. Internet forums need less inflammatory statements.

 

Democrats bill to raise gasoline tax is exactly the right thing to do.

Pass the bill.

 

Well 20 years of oil wars, $14T in oil war debt, 200,000 US casualties, oil funded terrorism...certainly the politicians who opposed carbon tax, energy efficiency, alternate energy...people like Orcutt...aka Republicans...have proven to dangerous.