Maybe our state governments could have a progressive gas guzzler tax for vehicles that get poor mileage starting in 2008. Ex: less than 40mpg = $2,000/year. Less than 30mpg = $5,000/year. Less than 20mpg = $20,000/year. The rich will always be able to afford their play toys. So if they can afford it, let them. Just have them donate money to our roads, education, and energy solutions. As my wife said, "At least we can still buy gas". Just think if there was no gas to be bought.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimmyhua @ Jun 13 2006, 06:40 AM) [snapback]270432[/snapback]</div> Don't forget about the water. Sugar Cane is a much more efficient source for ethanol than corn is, but requires much more water. It rains a lot in Brazil, but the midwestern US irrigates from Aquifers, mostly from the Ogallala, which is rapidly shrinking. Sugar Cane has never done well in the US; most domestic sugar comes from Sugar Beets. Nate
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ServoScanMan @ Jun 13 2006, 10:40 AM) [snapback]270602[/snapback]</div> I love this too, except that in CA we have a law that states any new taxes need public approval (i.e. a vote). It would never fly. I think one way around that would be changing the way that DMV does registration fees (currently based on the cost of the car with a declining percentage as the car gets older) to be based off of milage. This way it's not a "tax" and wouldn't need public approval.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clarkeb @ Jun 7 2006, 04:52 PM) [snapback]267555[/snapback]</div> Agreed. Even in South America, it's about $2.50 per liter. That's $9.50 a gallon. No wonder South America has Fiats and Renaults 1.8s and 2.0s
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kimgh @ Jun 7 2006, 06:51 PM) [snapback]267534[/snapback]</div> Amen, that article makes me shudder.
<_< I note the OP and many in this thread appear to be non-Prius owners. Allow me to paraphrase: "Let him with a Prius cast the first stone." WARNING: DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS
Hippie tree-huggers like myself had a fix for getting off of gasoline, from GM no less - The EV1. It also would have helped get the US off of it's gasoline addiction, and when gasoline goes over $4/gal this summer (for sure in CA, considering I just paid $3.10 for 87 octane yesterday) the consumer would have had an alternative to work with. It's success would have driven other manufacturers to develop EVs or PHEVs much quicker than they are now, and if CA hadn't been sued into repealing the ZEV Mandate, Los Angeles would already be on its way to being a much cleaner city (smogwise). Without an easily attainable electric car, the US wouldn't survive $10/gal. With one, we will. What happened to the EV1? GM wanted to keep selling guzzlers, Oil Companies can smash any anti-gas movement with the signing of a check, and Bush supported both. How is the desire to get the US off gasoline and onto EVs anti-american? (I'm a tree-hugger, and that's what I desire; apparently all tree-huggers are anti-american and filled with guilt. Just so you can follow the logic presented in earlier posts.)
A couple of years ago I paid the US equivalent of $8 a gallon for diesel (gazoil) in France. I didn't see much difference in traffic, highway congestion, smog, etc. There were fewer monster trucks and SUVs, though I saw a few. Human beings are creative and adaptable, yet resistant to change, no matter what the "real" costs are. Good luck with your $10 idea.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(silentak1 @ Jul 1 2006, 05:34 PM) [snapback]279685[/snapback]</div> Actually, South America is full of Toyotas in all shapes and sizes, except for countries that produce their own (Brazil) or with tight links to Europe (French Guyana). Most of the rest are Toyotaland.
