Thank you for your service, sincerely.

Not to be too arrogant, but I would hazard a guess that I am as intelligent and literate as any who frequent this area, and I am voting for Mr. Bush. I know my vote will be for naught, as I happen to live in the land of fruits and nuts. I thought it terrifically ironic that there were so many "protestors" arrested, many for assaulting police officers. People don't capitalize kerry for a reason, think about it.

 

That is a very good point JP.

 

Actually, I would welcome that. See... here's the problem... our tax money is already GOING to gasoline production, making it artificially cheap here in the US. The reason they pay the equivalent of $6+ per gallon in Europe isn't because they're getting better gas or it's more scarce there... they're paying the actual price. The government is giving "welfare", if you will, to the oil companies to keep the prices low. Yes... you pay corporate welfare all the time, and you'd be surprised to know that it sucks up far more money than all of the single black mothers combines. Back on topic, the gasoline tax would help limit consumption of gasoline AND SUVs...

And it's a fair tax. Those who buy bigger, more gas consuming cars and drive more tend to be people with more money. Those with less money tend to drive smaller cars and use mass transit more. Those who pollute the air and clog the roads have to pay a preponderance of the tax, while those who impact less pay less. Logical, no?

Better that than a single-minded man who ignores the facts and charges blindly forward with personal vendettas...

 

The total amount of oil pumped from ANWR would be less than the proverbial drop in the bucket. No point drilling there when the total investment in getting the oil would somewhat offset the increased supply, at least in terms of price.

And the reason gasoline is so expensive in Europe is because they tax the shit out of it over there.

 

The pipeline is there, you just need to tap into it from the fields in ANWAR. We already know where the oil is...surveys have been done already which is why we know ANWAR is a good place. Building and maintaining facilities is easy...the major oil companies probably already have plans in place to go drill there. At some point it will be inevitable that we do. 2 years is plenty enough of a timeframe for them to do it. Just wait till ANWAR is open and see how quickly these companies get pumping that crude. And to be honest every day they are not is a days worth of revenue lost which is a rather large incentive to do it quickly.

 

Compared to the amount consumed by the world...yes! Compared to what is consumed by the US...no!


Yup...most of the taxes get funneled back to their roads and highways too. Every drive the autobahns? :drool: :yum:

 

The SUV comment may be correct, but I highly disagree with the people who drive more making more money. In many cases the people who drive the most are the people who cannot afford to live close to their job because they do not make enough money and they have to live an hour or two away. Then there are the delivery people (food, as well as newspapers) who make very little money and pay for their own gas in most situations. So these are the hard working people that would be hurt.

The US car manufacturer's would take a huge hit as well since their biggest sellers are SUV's. So if these companies loose more money, they will decrease production and end up firing blue collar workers. These are the same people that the Democrats say they represent. If that was really the case they would see how such a tax would end up hurting these people the most.

 

domestic car makers already loose money from poor sales. and loosing SUVs in favor for more gas friendly cars wouldnt be such a bad thing. might mean car makers will just have to improve technology to use other fuel sources and start making those vechicals, which then could mean jobs for those who lost their jobs making SUVs.

 

I doubt it will happen any time soon. The technology is too expensive right now to be affordable for most people as a viable solution. Bush has helped make it more affordable with his tax credits for those who buy them.

 

What about those who don't have much money and have no public transit available to them, but are forced to commute because of the job market? Too bad for them?

The second part: That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it - but I personally want someone in office that has feelings, core beliefs, and is willing to stick to his word through thick and thin and press forward his beliefs, than one who can't make his own decision on what food to eat - let alone what to do with my country.