3 ms·

We have the technology, it's called "taxes", but nobody seems to want to use it. I suspect that it's actually because nobody has actually find the legwork to g

We have the technology, it's called "taxes", but nobody seems to want to use it. I suspect that it's actually because nobody has actually find the legwork to go beyond that: how much in taxes, levied how, the money goes where, what are the penalties for non compliance? And of course the sci-fi elements: what are the unintended consequences? How does life change? Who loses, who wins?

dsign 5y ago
> We have the technology, it's called "taxes", but nobody seems to want to use it. We are seeing a little bit of that now with fuel prices. Some countries are compounding the pain by having high taxes on fuel. The way it is working for me personally is that I have decided to drive electric, and I'm glad that I can afford it. But I have a salary in the high percentiles. Most people simply can't go that way. IMO, in some cases regulation by taxation can create a lot of stress and increase inequality. Furthermore, if cars are affordable to one person out of twenty, and they happen to live in a democracy, there may be an incentive for the nineteen people to vote (directly or indirectly) for banning cars altogether.Fill in "meat", "airplanes", "crypto-currency mining-cards", etc. I think we are between the knife and a hard place, no matter what.
- amanaplanacanal 5y ago
  Are there places where fuel taxes actually exceed the amount needed to maintain the infrastructure? It doesn't seem likely anywhere in the US, but I know taxes are higher elsewhere.
  - tonyedgecombe 5y ago
    I think it does in the UK. Taxes aren't hypothecated but my understanding is road, car and fuel taxes bring in about twice as much as we spend maintaining the infrastructure.
InitialLastName 5y ago
> I suspect that it's actually because nobody has actually find the legwork to go beyond that: how much in taxes, levied how, the money goes where, what are the penalties for non compliance? It seems like everyone paying attention wants to use it, there are a number of proposals for exactly the issues you raise, and yet it still never happens. One might almost suspect that the people who fund the people who make policy decisions don't want it to happen. It even almost seems like they may be beholden to demands for short-term profits.

dsign 5y ago

> We have the technology, it's called "taxes", but nobody seems to want to use it. We are seeing a little bit of that now with fuel prices. Some countries are compounding the pain by having high taxes on fuel. The way it is working for me personally is that I have decided to drive electric, and I'm glad that I can afford it. But I have a salary in the high percentiles. Most people simply can't go that way. IMO, in some cases regulation by taxation can create a lot of stress and increase inequality. Furthermore, if cars are affordable to one person out of twenty, and they happen to live in a democracy, there may be an incentive for the nineteen people to vote (directly or indirectly) for banning cars altogether.Fill in "meat", "airplanes", "crypto-currency mining-cards", etc. I think we are between the knife and a hard place, no matter what.

amanaplanacanal 5y ago
Are there places where fuel taxes actually exceed the amount needed to maintain the infrastructure? It doesn't seem likely anywhere in the US, but I know taxes are higher elsewhere.
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago
  I think it does in the UK. Taxes aren't hypothecated but my understanding is road, car and fuel taxes bring in about twice as much as we spend maintaining the infrastructure.

InitialLastName 5y ago

> I suspect that it's actually because nobody has actually find the legwork to go beyond that: how much in taxes, levied how, the money goes where, what are the penalties for non compliance? It seems like everyone paying attention wants to use it, there are a number of proposals for exactly the issues you raise, and yet it still never happens. One might almost suspect that the people who fund the people who make policy decisions don't want it to happen. It even almost seems like they may be beholden to demands for short-term profits.