Actually, I think we need a carbon tax. The problem with sales taxes and gas
taxes is that they're regressive. So what I really want is taxes that relate
to income. But I don't know how you do that in relation to cars.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 11:44 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Friedman Asks a Question, We Ask 10
Hi Miriam,
Those specific questions at the end were good for a few laughs.
But on a more serious note, I wonder how folks on this list feel about
gasoline taxes. While I sure do want more funding for crumbling roads and
bridges along with public transit, I am concerned that increases in the gas
tax may be too regressive. Treu, it will fall hard on those with larger
luxury vehicles which tend to be gas guzzlers, but it will also fall hard on
anyone unfortunate enough to have a long commute regardless of income. So,
let's take, for example, a social worker earning, let's say, $35,000.00 to
$40,000.00 per year who has to drive 45 minutes to work each day. She
probably has an older car which is not so great on gas. Perhaps her long
commute happened because she wanted to move to a place where housing is more
affordable.OR, she had trouble finding work closer to home. IF we're going
to raise gas taxes, I believe we need to make it possible for those below
income, let's say $50,000.00 per year to deduct the cost of traveling to and
from work. I have been doing Donna's taxes now for a few years, but I never
did them when we had a car. Now, I get to deduct her monthly pass cost from
her taxes.
Bob Hachey
