Oh yeah, against anything Bush is for.
 | Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years. Thanks, CNET Support |
General discussion
Chronicle: GOP energy bill ineffective, shortsighted
(Chronicle login: semods4@yahoo.com; pw = speakeasy)
>>the energy bill's failing is not that it can't lower gasoline prices this summer, but that it does little to curb U.S. demand for imported oil and set the nation on a course toward alternative energy sources.<<
As for Bush's claim he has nothing to do with high prices, wasn't one of his first official acts to roll back the sceduled increase in the so-called CAFE standards for fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks sold in the US?
-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com
The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!
Discussion is locked
1 - 30 of 36 Posts
- Collapse
- Collapse -
research, Duckman -- just what any rational person not beholden to the oil industry would do under current circumstances! And how about abolishing the tax breaks for businesses purchasing SUVs, and adding them for businesses and individuals purchasing hybrids?
-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com
The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!
- Collapse -
History has demonstrated that the rich are more likely to take their tax cuts and stuff them into their own pockets, rather than put the money into creating jobs, etc. which is what the cuts are supposed to encourage.
Why does the Right only object to tax incentives that actually make sense?
- Collapse -
Busy day.
1. The one we're discussing in this thread (tax cut for buying energy-efficient vehicles makes sense; tax cut for buying gas-guzzlers does not).
2. Tax cuts for the working/middle class make sense -- give the money back to the people who can go out and spend it on clothing, etc. and get the economy going. Tax cuts for the CEO of JCPenney do not.
- Collapse -
THAT'S THE BEST YOU CAN DO ????
Great, now
Define ?working/middle class?
Tax credit for non guzzlers? Why not tax credit for ?low carb?, ?no-fat? ?new and improved?
Who?s been getting a tax credit for buying a Hummer?
What?s the amount you consider rich?
Who are you to say who has too much?
- Collapse -
That's what I googled, and here's just one of the hits:
http://www.selfemployedweb.com/suv-tax-break3.htm
Vicki Greenwood checked with her accountant and then cut a deal for a brand new H2 Hummer, taking advantage of the so-called SUV tax loophole that's driving a surge in year-end sales of heavy weight vehicles.
"Last year I paid Uncle Sam too much money and I decided I wasn't going to pay him as much this year," Greenwood said.
Greenwood, who is the owner of Greenwood Academy day care center, said the purchase will shave more than $14,000 from her taxes this year.
As part of a $350 billion economic stimulus package passed in May, Congress quadrupled to $100,000 the amount business owners can deduct in the first year when they purchase a qualifying vehicle.
The quirk is, the vehicle has to weigh at least 6,000 pounds GVWR.
Tax credit for non guzzlers? Why not tax credit for ?low carb?, ?no-fat? ?new and improved?
That makes no sense at all.
It's not about who has "too much." It's about the best way to stimulate the economy.
- Collapse -
"Originally intended to help the self employed ranchers, farmers and contractors purchase that heavy pick up truck or van necessary for their business, the SUV Tax Loophole was quickly exploited by accountants, lawyers and doctors. Car dealers actively used the SUV Tax Deduction to close the sale and it caused a boom in luxury SUV sales. The original SUV Tax Loophole, which has certain restrictions including gross vehicle weight restrictions was set to expire at the end of 2005."
What costs more, a KIA or Hummer? which adds more to the economy?
- Collapse -
....but I'd guess the KIA. Since it's a much less expensive vehicle, a lot more people can afford to buy them.
- Collapse -
$300 Billion that we've spent trying to get at the oil in Iraq. That could have covered it.
Dan
- Collapse -
to get the oil, we went in because Iraq was a big partner with Al Qaeda in terrorism.
Dan
- Collapse -
It was because of the WMDs that they had in all those big facilities that we knew all about.
Dan
- Collapse -
For you Liberals who would rather we ride go carts or even better, bicycles to work, you should understand the idea of the ?Free Market?. More research will be done when a company (to make a profit) will do the research as consumers ask for the product. Most industries don?t make products when no one wants it. But I know, the environment is so important to the tree huggers and eviro-wackos that it is imperative that public money be used to do the research.
- Collapse -
Apparently they rely a bit more than other manufacturers on a behemoth fleet. Sales of those larger vehicles have decreased and can only go down -- unless of course Americans really do have some additional discretionary income they don't mind parting with to fill the gas tank.
Having done both publically and privately done research, I can attest to which is the most efficient. How much money sent down the electric-only car drain could have been ... oh ... left in the SS "trust fund" earning interest instead?
Evie 
- Collapse -
free market? It is a concept which is at best an illusion as is everything else based upon something which does not exist! Freemarket=bah! Humbug!
- Collapse -
... but regulating and controlling free market forces is far more destructive. When oil is $8/gallon (as it already is in Europe), you won't find too many people driving Hummers and Tahoes ... or folks will gladly pay the $4/gallon of ethanol fuel that is currently economically nonnviable with gas at $2/gallon. Subsidizing alternate fuels/technologies is not the answer because that still means SOMEONE is overpaying for energy. That is wasting money no matter how one looks at it -- doens't make it better if the government wastes our money for us!
- Collapse -
Environmentalists should sing the praises of higher gas prices! I hear the sales of larger vehicles are on the decline, while sales of hybrids and more efficient fuel mileage vehicles are on the rise. No doubt the cost of fuel is beginning to change the FREE MARKET behavior of Americans. Alternate fuels will never take hold no matter the futile subsidies unless and until they become an economically more viable technology. The hybrids are getting there for me, but I will still wait another few years before even considering one and see how things go when those batteries need replacement or we get some hard data on the real-service life and how it compares to the predictions. Also interested in what happens when disposal of these batteries becomes a significant factor that needs to be addressed in more than a couple of words about factors to consider (that never seem to be given much more in depth discussion 
)
However the attitudes on what people should be allowed to drive or what kinds of cars manufacturers ought to be able to make sure sound like infringements on liberty to me! You seem to have no problem with government telling people how to live their lives in many instances after all.
You have in the past acknowledged the major driving factor of the rising prices - CHINA!
Evie
- Collapse -
I?ll simplify this and try to use small words so most can understand: Some day the sun (big bright hot thing in sky) will start to burn out. When it does, the Earth, through no fault of the evil anti-environment conservatives (though democrats will blame them and have congressional hearings) will be baked to a crisp (very similar to every thing my wife cooks) and life as we know it will cease to exist on our planet. But it does get better, a few years later (give or take a hundred thousand) the sun (again the big really hot thing now) may explode and spray the Earths little bits all throughout the galaxy. ( but what a ride!!!!!). So save all the oil today we can
- Collapse -
The sun will indeed start to burn out -- roughly 5 BILLION YEARS from now.
The filth we're expelling into our air and water is damaging the earth NOW, and will make things worse for our children and grandchildren. We're not talking about damage that will only matter in 5 billion years.
Heck, with your logic we all ought to drink, smoke, eat all the fried, high-cholesterol crap we want, because it doesn't matter since the sun will burn out anyway.
Reminds me of that scene in Annie Hall in which the young Alvy Singer stops doing his homework because the universe is expanding.
- Collapse -
...of the Annie Hall reference. After all, it is very similar to the argument you made.
Doctor in Brooklyn: Why are you depressed, Alvy?
Alvy's Mom: Tell Dr. Flicker.
[Young Alvy sits, his head down - his mother answers for him]
Alvy's Mom: It's something he read.
Doctor in Brooklyn: Something he read, huh?
Alvy at 9: [his head still down] The universe is expanding.
Doctor in Brooklyn: The universe is expanding?
Alvy at 9: Well, the universe is everything, and if it's expanding, someday it will break apart and that would be the end of everything!
Alvy's Mom: What is that your business?
[she turns back to the doctor]
Alvy's Mom: He stopped doing his homework!
Alvy at 9: What's the point?
Alvy's Mom: What has the universe got to do with it? You're here in Brooklyn! Brooklyn is not expanding!
:^O
- Collapse -
second, odd you want to apply perspective to 5 billion years but not to 20th century history
- Collapse -
You don't think he's funny. I do. Neither of us is "right" or "wrong."
You were the one who said there was no point in being environmentally responsible since the sun is going to burn out anyway. All I did was point out how long it's going to take for that to happen.
CNET Forums
Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Roadshow Autos
Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic