We gave the keys to this country to foreigners long ago, how many manufacturing plants are left in this country? How many of our jobs have gone over seas? How many car companies build in Mexico and Canada? Point is we are a global world economy like it or not, we are not isolated anymore and everyone depends on everyone else buying and using their services for survival. Gas taxes isn't the reason our infrastructure is crumbling, our infrastructure is crumbling because there are fewer people paying taxes in thsi country and more using up services and not paying any taxes. Once you give someone something for free they kept expecting it to continue and don't want anyone to take away their entitlements. They will kepp votin in people that will continue to promise them these benefits bsed off the work of fewer and fewer.

 

Aren't you one of those people? You want subsidized gasoline and someone else to pay for the infrastructure you drive on. It is time to take away the subsidize to oil companies and change the gas tax from 18.5 cents (which it has been stuck on for a long time) to a level that will let us rebuild and repair our transportation infrastructure.

 

What's funny is that Europe has recently moved toward traditional American policies while America is increasingly going European.

 

I don't know anywhere I have written what you are accusing me of? How are other people paying for the infrastructure and I'm not? If so can I have back that $12k I have to send in to Uncle Sam for fed taxes not counting what I had already paid in? I guess the guy making $250 a week is supporting the system more than me. You have a failed sense of logic and unfortunately most of this country seems to have your views on govt and how involved in our day to day lives they should be. Every reply I have ever seen you throw out is the typical leftist view, is that the only kind you have or are there actually any logical ones?

 

Yeah they basically had to once they figured out socialism doesn't work, unfortunately we are headed towards that very same failed experiment. People thought they could retire at 50 and have the younger generation support them, have 8 weeks of vacation, free healthcare, etc...Somebody has to pay for it and they were running out of people to do it. As are we!

 

Did I say I was condoning it? Re-read my post.

-Geoff

 

I was just trying to explain where Ackerson wasa coming from, but people here just seem to latch onto the words of my post to argue. I don't condone any government interference into the car market.

I think saying GM is dumping its problems on the taxpayer is just plain wrong. He is saying that if DC really wants people to buy smaller cars, the quickest way is to increase the price of gas.

-Geoff

 

Aren't you complaining about paying the tax that pays for roads? Don't you want to keep subsidized gasoline and welfare for oil companies? You come across as mad that you aren't getting your free lunch.

Shouldn't drivers pay for roads and bridges?

 

We do pay gas taxes. I think the point under discussion is using a (huge) increase in fuel taxes as a sort of "sin tax" to affect market demand, not the idea of no taxes whatsoever.

 

It is a sin tax in a way, but we are also under taxed currently. The current 18 cent tax has been in place since 1993, it has not risen with inflation. It realistically should be about 50 cents a gallon today. It would be worth it to get some of our crappy roads and bridges replaced.

 

Again what language do I need to type in for you to understand I never said anything about the current gas tax? Do you have me confused with some other member on this board WTF? I'm complaining about people trying to legislate behavior

 

Both the feds and the state take 45 cents to 66 cents per gal of tax in the US. I think that is more than enough for people (gov't) who don't produce anything but waste and fraud.

Also, I worked for GM, and, I can tell you that many of the Ackerson (sp) type mgt. royalty don't know anything except to turn the key. Not a gear head common sense thinker in the bunch. They just want you to buy their cheap stuff and throw away your freedom loving hot rods.

Ya, I'm a gear head... 97ss 383-D1 MM6 with many mods. The eletes don't create anything, and, they don't invent anything.
I worked there, I invented there, I experienced their incompentence, I experienced the Marxist Union.
B.

 

This is news to me, please cite examples of said activities.

 

I'd just like to point out that is an inevitability, capitialism is driven to seek out ever lower labor costs. A global economy probably only quickens the pace at which new markets can be exploited. Thats how america became a manufacturing giant (well that and two good ol fashioned world wars). Now its asia's turn then it will be africa's turn then wherever else labor is cheap and there is no middle class.

I dont agree with it, but thats how it goes.

 

If I could start a car company free of a union, would you be willing to support it by taking a 75% cut in compensation? Afterwhich I'd be willing to offer a 1-2% yearly pay raise provided we are in an inflationary economy.

As a plus you wouldn't be required to pay dues and you could take that money and put in a sick day fund, a vaction fund, or a retirement fund (the choice would be yours).