Would a higher gasoline tax help cut consumption?

Answer 1

With the proper public transportation probably. In the UK they have gasoline very heavily taxed, and the Tube (a subway) so a LOT of people use that to go to work.

Answer 2

IF we had a solid infrastructure of public transportation, yes, I think a higher tas would work. However, many countries do not. Take the US. I live in North Carolina, in the sticks. No public transportation. We don't even have a taxi service. To get your pizza delivered, you call and they drop it at the grocer outside of town, which you then go to get. For about 400 square miles, we have no PT. All a higher tax would do is bankrupt me.

Then, consider usage patterns. I cross 2 counties to get to college. There is no developed rail system. My state is simply too spread out to justify it. And this is just 1 state. Even New York state near the city has this problem. Yes, NYC has a very wel-developed public transportation system. However, it is the area around the city which does not. For instance, Westchester and Duchess counties have 1 rail line, few bus routes, and access to taxis. However, they have a lot of land but a lower concentration of people, making PT an economically poor decision.

Raising the gas tax would increase PT use; however, you have to have the high concentration of residents and users to be able to make PT, in all its needed forms, usable and financially stable. Right now, aside from major cities, it simply is not a workable option.

Answer 3

To the extent it fails to approximate a bargained-for exchange, taxation is theft.

Your question demonstrates the prevalent and perverse use of taxation to achieve ends other than legitimate and necessary revenue-raising by an authorized taxing jurisdiction. Use of punitive taxation to discourage gasoline consumption is not a legitimate use of the taxing power, but it would achieve the end sought. It would do it in a thoroughly slimy and wholly abusive way, however.

Answer 4

yea go ahead and raise the tax on gas make your family ride the bus and get mugged or murdered and rely on the guy driveng that got his driving ability from a mail order catalog.raise that gas so that everything we need every day goes way up in price from food to the paper you wipe your behind with. Everything you touch has something to do with fuel. raise the fuel and you raise every thing else (food clothes,housing,home heat,jobs,) think about it.what is your house heates with that keeps your family warm? Even if its electric or water thers still oil running engine to create electic or to heat water.Food comes in on trucks and trains that run on fuel. What about heat that warms the factories that are making the things you wear? raise the tax on fuel who pays so their pockets stay full (you and I do)so next time you want the taxes raised think twice. think about the people in offices that make millions just making gecions on how they can make more money for them and not care about the old guy on a pension that cant eat or get meds cuz he cant afford them

Answer 5

It may, if they are as stiff as Europe...this may be the plan needed to encourage more energy efficient vehicles and living. But too many politicians are tied to the oil industry for this to happen. IMO