Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Hummer and the Taxman


What if... well... the Government is taxing Hummers, but is that really a good thing, is it really the right thing?




Well they, the Government, have decided that the solution to pollution, CO2 emissions, Global warming, and diminishing gas reserves and such is another tax. Because we all know that taxing something is the way to make it go away and is the magic pill for what ails you.

Fuel deficient vehicles are taxed to the tune of $4000, and fuel efficient vehicles are rebated to the tune of $2000.

Lets talk about taxes. Are they the answer... in my opinion... not really. Anyone who can afford a Hummer can afford the tax, and gas for that matter. The tax will influence some people to opt for a more fuel efficient car, but most will just bite the bullet and pay the tax. The fuel saving tax is nice. Buy a fuel efficeint car and get credit for it... bravo!

And I am not naive enough to believe that the taxes collected will be used to purchase CO2 scrubbers.... I am kidding. It's a tax grab people.

Here's an idea. Instead of a tax, just set a minimum L/100km limit on any new vehicles sold in Canada. In other words... no more Hummers, Navigators, large V8 super hogs. Don't base it on the type of vehicle, but rather on how much gas it consumes. Add an exception for industrial /commercial use. Some people do need big trucks to haul big loads. I am talking personal tranportation here.

It will only hurt for a generation, just like converting to metric, remember that???

Forget that tax... just eliminate the problem. Lets say 8.5L/100km or 20mpg. That is a fair starting point. Many SUV's get over that, some well below that. No one needs, and I stress needs a Hummer to drive to the grocery store.

But that wouldn't fly here, to communistic, aggressive, and effective. Plus there are repercussions. Factories will close, people out of work, no free will, you can't tell me what to drive, etc. All valid. But a tax will not solve the problem.

A strong effective decision would be political suicide. And there is the real problem.

3 Comments:

At March 23, 2007 9:13 AM , Blogger Bernie said...

Glad to see you back.

And good points, all.

 
At March 28, 2007 5:36 PM , Blogger Asher Hunter said...

Odd, how the gov't seems to make decisions that benefit the gov't, while rarely benefiting the people.

Weird, huh?

 
At April 13, 2007 12:41 PM , Blogger Paula said...

Why don't you start some campaign and write letters to the environmental leader in the gov?
Good government requires that its citizens be proactive.

 

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