O/T: It's Amusing

[Lew Hodgett]

Sitting in a traffic jam recently, decided surf the AM radio dial.

Found a station carrying a discussion regarding a proposal to offer a tax incentive to people to turn in older gas guzzling vehicles toward the purchase of higher efficiency equipment.

It soon became clear that those discussing the idea were mocking the idea in every way possible.

I found it amusing to say the least since a few years ago, Union Oil here in SoCal had a program that involved buying junker cars to get them off the road and thus reduce air pollution and earn Union pollution tax credits.

It was cheaper to buy the junkers and use the pollution tax credits to offset refinery pollution taxes rather than buy and install the necessary refinery pollution control equipment.

Nothing new about the idea, been around a long time and it works.

Using taxation policy to influence private sector behavior is one of the basic functions of gov't, isn't it?

Lew

[Tom Veatch]

For good or bad, proper or improper, it's certainly turned out that way.

However, IMO, the only proper use of the power to tax is to fund the necessary functions of government, not to penalize me if my idea of "what's good for me" is different from what professional politicians want me to believe.

Tom Veatch Wichita, KS USA

[evodawg]

Agreed!!! I have an old truck I use in my business. Runs perfectly! And Ive owed nothing on it for over 15 years. I thought about getting a new truck but I'd have to pay over 35,000 for what I have now. I don't care how much gas goes up I'm still ahead of the game. Its all about economics, RIGHT??? Screw the freakin Politicians and the Government.

[Lew Hodgett]

To paraphrase Oliver W Holmes, Chief Justice, US Supreme Court, "Your right to do as you please stops about a quarter of an inch in front of my nose."

IOW, no, it's not all about economics.

Lew

[Tim Douglass]

One of the fundamental issues behind the American Revolution was the use of taxes to try to shape trade in the colonies. It was not much about the amount of the taxes, but quite a bit about the uses of them.

-- "We need to make a sacrifice to the gods, find me a young virgin... oh, and bring something to kill"

Tim Douglass

[Mark & Juanita]

... snip

I'm sure you feel that way as long as they are getting people to do what

*you* want them to do.

Having seen your answer later in the thread to someone else with OWH's quote, it's puzzling how you see that others driving of vehicles with which you disagree somehow are the equivalent to *you* being punched.

Government has stepped into more and more, just as the founders feared. California is probably one of the worst states in this -- looks like it's close to being completely bankrupted through its nanny-state policies. But instead of cutting those programs, the state is going to turn convicted criminals loose instead. Seems you'd be a bit more concerned about that than what cars people are driving. My guess is that you will rail against those who are about to turn down the massive tax increases on the ballot coming up.

[evodawg]

I'll give you a 1/4" but 1/2" is out of the question...

hmmmm, wasn't this topic something about tax breaks for buying a new car? It is with me. The rest is just window dressing.

I always like this one: "People should not be afraid of their government, a government should be afraid of its people" These freaks in Washington need to go!!

[Lew Hodgett]

Actually it addresses using tax policy to promote adopting ideas whose benefits are beneficial to all of society.

If you live in the city, you are connected to the sewer and pay for the service.

The first cost of a "slop jar" would be less but not total cost of ownership when health costs are included thus it has been directed by law you will use the sewer system.

The cost of a vehicle or any subsidies provided to promote the process is simply a tool to get the task completed.

Lew

[Leon]

These freaks in Washington need to go!!

Well think about that reckless comment. ;!) Politician is the name we give a person in government that would otherwise be receiving welfare or unemployment checks. If they were not in government they wood still be receiving benefits and voting for more of their kind. It's a "catch 22" situation.

[evodawg]

So we are damned if we do and damned if we don't? Doesn't sound to promising. I always enjoy it when Congress goes on Recess, nothing gets done, that to me is a good thing.

[-MIKE-]

Then you have to look at who's definition of "beneficial to all of society" you use, and who *really* benefits.

The people who complained about Bush and Big Oil seem to ignore Al Gore and Big Green.

[HeyBub]

Somebody did a study recently and found - as far as intelligence and other attributes for success are concerned - that:

• The most intelligent become entrepreneurs,

• Above average intelligent folks become politicians,

• Average intelligent folks are your typical workers.

• Many below average people work for the government.

I know it's hard to believe that most politicians are above average in intelligence. But, remember, they sometimes rely on advice from government workers.

An excellent example is the recent Air Force One photo shoot.

[Tim Douglass]

Over the years I have talked with and corresponded with a large number of politicians. If that particular group largely represents above average intelligence then I'm a fricken genius!

I have encountered far more highly intelligent people in the bureaucracy than in the elected ranks.

Tim Douglass

laptop knows me too well - it just announced "your battery is low!"

[-MIKE-]

Here's another tangential tidbit of info which the class warfare engaging Left doesn't want you to know.

90 percent of millionaires in the US are first generation rich.

This means, it's not "old money." They didn't inherit their wealth. In other words, they started with little or nothing, and worked their a$$ off for it.

[Leon]

I know you were not pointing out their intelligence to be contrairy to my remarks, I don't beliece all polititions are stupid. You have to be a little above average in the smarts and deception department to land a cush job like that and literally acomplish/contrubute nothing beneficial, for years on end.

[Leon]

I have often thought of you as a genius, and handsome too. LOL

[evodawg]

You have to be a

to land a cush

beneficial, for

And to think they feel good about themselves

[Tim Douglass]

Tim Douglass

"I'm not exactly burned out, but I'm a little bit scorched and there's some smoke damage."

[Leon]

Disturbing huh? LOL.

[Tom Veatch]

I'm not particularly interested in seeing a high degree of intelligence in our politicians, but I would dearly love to see some wisdom.

But, according to Albert Einstein, ?The attempt to combine wisdom and power has only rarely been successful and then only for a short while?. Haven't seen much evidence to dispute that quote.

Tom Veatch Wichita, KS USA

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. Robert A. Heinlein