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Replying to the lowest level comment because this is the one where you call it out specifically. These subsidies aren't driven by an outcry from the population
by LitFan 9y ago
Replying to the lowest level comment because this is the one where you call it out specifically.
These subsidies aren't driven by an outcry from the population, they're driven by groups of companies lobbying the government. Car companies would almost certainly lobby against reducing gas subsidies - it would cause people to reconsider buying a car.
Lobbyists will also be on the lookout for services like waze carpool because it has the potential to cut in on their business (transit and taxis).
- jimmaswell 9y agoI prefer a society with car subsidies and the freedom it brings to one with the alleged externalities more compensated for where people are priced into having to settle for transit. Freedom isn't free, as they say. More investment in infrastructure for electric vehicles, like charging stations, and incentives to use them (like NJ already does with waived inspections for example) are a fine compromise. Additionally, with such taxes on car use, I'm sure a lot of people would just go places less and thus participate in the economy less, rather than take transit. A direct comparison to another country with prohibitive gas taxes isn't perfectly predictive of what would happen here because of cultural and infrastructural differences.