| Taxing
Luxury Cars Makes Sense |
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To the editor:
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| I am writing in response to the column in the Feb. 15 Observer
by Christopher Moore called "Bring Back the Car Tax." |
| I believe that Gov. Gilmore's ill-advised (at best) "no
car tax" promise won him the campaign by appealing to the
self-centered greed of those who should have know that it
was fiscally irresponsible, and the ignorant greed of others.
It is an unappealing attitude of people to grab what they
can and damn the consequences. |
| I love the suggestion that cars should be taxed based on
the burden they place on the environment and the rest of us.
It makes a lot of sense. We already have other usage fees
and taxes based on the amount of something being consumed.
It is only fair that the people who are going to cost us all
federal money when we exceed the federal clean air standards
share proportionally in the burden. |
| I believe that a good formula should include the value (sorry
Christopher, but the driver of the $50,000 Lexus should pay
a little more), but should emphasize gas mileage, weight,
an emissions rating and an annual odometer reading. |
| There should also be an additional tax on recreational vehicles
like ATVs, speed boats, snow mobiles, personal water crafts,
and monster trucks. The more recreational and higher-consuming
a vehicle and its owner are the higher the tax should be.
It is the best way to decrease overconsumption and pollution,
and the fairest way to restore our depleted treasury. |
| The number of SUVs and sporty gas hogs is saddening. Our
government wants to allow drilling (for very little oil) in
Alaska at great detriment to the environment to supplement
the market created by fuel consumers who whine about gas prices
(which is actually a great way to discourage fuel waste).
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| It is time for people to recognize that greed is causing
an unlivable planet. Let's not continue to allow a greedy
few to take what belongs to all beings on this planet. We
love our freedom, but it is time to take responsibility and
limit our own greed. Consuming until there is nothing left
to consume is not a good idea. Freedom won't be so nice when
there is nothing left to do with it. |
| We definitely need mass transit solutions, but I am afraid
an extension of the rail will only encourage urban sprawl.
The farther you extend the rail the easier it will be to commute
from farther out. The easier it is to commute from farther
out the more attractive farther out becomes. If the rail is
extended I would like to see it extended without parking so
that residents can walk or take the bus to the rail. No commuters
from other towns should be allowed so that urban sprawl can
be discouraged. |
| Christopher, you wrote that in 20 years the proposed new
roads would be packed again. Does it really take 20 years?
I would be surprised if it took more than 10 years. We may
need to add a lane here and there (not in Arlington on 66
where Arlington residents were promised lanes wouldn't be
added), but we do not need any new roads. It has been proven
that building more roads encourages development which crowds
those roads and leads to demands for new roads. |
| We need construction permits frozen. I believe that we should
only attempt to fix our transportation problems when we agree
to stop allowing more building. We should even be thankful
for the road congestion which is discouraging some urban sprawl.
You've heard, "If it ain't broke don't fix it,"
well I have to say, "it's broke and we gotta fix it!"
Yes, bring back the car tax on a carefully formulated scale.
Do not extend rail for use by outside commuters. Do not add
roads. Do not allow any more building. Lisa Qualls Reston |
