Virginia Transportation Funding Deal

Maybe the majority want to reduce oil usage, maybe not. But certainly the majority doesn't "act" to do it. And especially not pay to do it.

Mike

 

We have studies and polls.
U.S. consumption of foreign oil tops concerns in Energy Poll - Houston Business Journal

Then we have the question of gas taxes
Poll: Put brakes on gas tax - Kevin Cirilli - POLITICO.com

Which gives part of the disconnect. People want to use less oil, and want infrastructure, but they don't trust the politicians at all. Let's look into some reasons.

No one really believes a gas tax of only 20 cents a gallon is going to reduce oil use much, it needs to be higher to do that, at least if you are looking at the same curves I am seeing. Then we see things like the big dig and the new bay bridge that come in very late and way over budget (bay bridge is 10 years late and $4B over budget at around $6B.) If you tax gas a dollar or say oil $40/bbl and congress just spends the money on these programs, you say no. We need people in congress to actually tell the truth, raise oil taxes but as part of a tax reform package, that lowers other taxes and closes loopholes. Most don't trust them with more money to just put into projects like the SF-LA high speed rail that already is double the initial budget and is likely to go much much higher. I am probably in the minority that would like higher infrastructure locally (population is much higher here than when freeways were built, and the toll roads have done nothing to lessen truck traffic to and from mexico, as these are happy to go through town instead of paying for tolls on the bypass.

 

Oops...meant to say that the majority do not act to reduce.

Mike

 

The majority want something for nothing. I'll never see the benefits but I believe in investing in education and infrastructure.

I'm reminded of the old saying: Don't tax you, don't me, tax the man behind the tree.

Only instead I say tax me.

 

Ah yes...change the actual numbers and then do some home brewed "calculations" to get the round facts to fit in square preconceptions. That's what leads to lowering gasoline taxes and taxing fuel efficient vehicles in times of oil induced climate change and 20 years of oil wars and $14T in oil war debt.

US is 50% less energy efficient than Europe or Japan or any other advanced nation. We waste oil mainly through transportation and mainly through cars.

Every time we have had oil price spikes (the two Saudi oil embargoes) US consumers have realized they can cut their gasoline usage by 50% with no real impact on essentials. Those are the "peaks" of facts you would like to flatten with "calculations".

US Dept of Transportation has tons of facts of this providing simple tips that would reduce a person's fuel use by 30% in every day driving.

To get higher usage and maintain dependence...has to do with economics 101 though you conflate the oil companies push for LOWER GASOLINE TAXES with oil company charges for oil. Oil companies want the golden mean price low enough to keep usage high and price as high as possible to increase profit. They don't want government interfering by increasing taxes to lower usage even though that is clearly in the national interest.

 

I had to drive to the Hampton Roads area for work this week. I filled up in NoVA for 3.57. Had to fill up in Chesapeake and it was 3.41.

On my way back I noticed a billboard with fuel prices on it near Richmond. Price for regular unleaded was 3.19. $3.19?!

I can understand the argument that land prices in Fairfax, Arlington or Loudoun can push prices up for us. Fine. But land isn't dirt cheap in Hampton Roads or Richmond either.

 

The down state areas of VA have been living off the NOVA income taxes for decades. The difference in money collected that is returned to the counties enables their local governments to tax less for the same perceived citizen benefits. Though, having lived in VA for 30+ years, the NOVA schools are known for their quality.

 

Recently had to drive from NC to PA up through western VA & WVA and came back by way of 95. The price difference was startling with southern VA priced to sell and we avoided NOVA purchase to save 10% or more.

 

Good news I hadn't heard. Although the tax is low, it shouldn't have been implemented.

 

Have you or any of the other NOVA voters been impacted?

Bob Wilson