Bob Lutz wants WHAT?!?!?!
11-01-2011, 08:58 AM
#1
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Join Date: 08-03-2011
Location: Western MD
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Bob Lutz wants WHAT?!?!?!
.. yeah, more taxes on gas. To pay for trains.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily...&asset=&ccode=
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily...&asset=&ccode=
11-01-2011, 10:11 AM
#4
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Join Date: 08-03-2011
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According to the article I linked to, he wants a graduated gas tax over a couple of years, but the generated revenue to go to the railroads. But, yet he preaches infrastructure. Hmmm.
I know the illustrious Governor here in the Socialist State of MD wants to increase our gas tax 15 cents over 3 years. It would bring us up to about 38 cents a gallon. Plus, triple our "flush tax" to save the Chesapeake Bay and increase our vehicle registration fees by 50%. I just paid $180 for 2years on my Jeep. I think the HHR is $130 for 2 years.
If our economic situations were better, I probably wouldn't have all that much bad to say about it. But, trying to pull our country out a recession, with so many unemployed, I don't think now is the time to start raising taxes - on any level.
I know the illustrious Governor here in the Socialist State of MD wants to increase our gas tax 15 cents over 3 years. It would bring us up to about 38 cents a gallon. Plus, triple our "flush tax" to save the Chesapeake Bay and increase our vehicle registration fees by 50%. I just paid $180 for 2years on my Jeep. I think the HHR is $130 for 2 years.
If our economic situations were better, I probably wouldn't have all that much bad to say about it. But, trying to pull our country out a recession, with so many unemployed, I don't think now is the time to start raising taxes - on any level.
11-01-2011, 12:08 PM
#6
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Join Date: 05-09-2006
Location: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
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Yeah, that's what we need. More taxes to support another government sponsored "benefit". Can anyone say.....U.S.P.S., Medicare, Social Security, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AMTRAK etc. All very well run government endorsed/sponsored systems
.
AND remember, while Lutz may be a fine "car guy" he is NOT a politician or legislator (thank goodness).
Oh, and I think the "gas tax" is old news from Lutz. Happened about a year ago, I think. Using it to assist the RR's is new, I believe.
.AND remember, while Lutz may be a fine "car guy" he is NOT a politician or legislator (thank goodness).
Oh, and I think the "gas tax" is old news from Lutz. Happened about a year ago, I think. Using it to assist the RR's is new, I believe.
Last edited by Snoopy; 11-01-2011 at 01:17 PM.
11-02-2011, 05:50 AM
#7
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Join Date: 07-05-2008
Location: Akron Ohio
Posts: 5,464
Thw gas tax idea is not new and he is not the only one.
The whole concept of the gas tax is to raise the tax to get people to drive less and save fuel.
The truth is the many automakers would like to see it come and replace CAFe so the automakers can build any car they want while making it easier to sell the small high MPG cars few want.
This is how he really looks at it. GM has to sell cars like the coming Spark and if the CAFE goes to 65 MPG like many in goverment want the cars will get smaller yet.
As for what the goverment does with the money the train idea is just a suggestion. Lutz was born and raised in Europe and he had a good understand on rail. TO be honest in some parts of the country they could use a better faster safer rail system. In other parts don't bother. What I am against are things like the billions Obama tried to force on Ohio for a so called high speed rail that only went 75-80 MPH. It also made many stops and would have taken longer to cross the state vs a car. Then in Ohio few cities like LA and NY have any real public trasportations that you would want to ride let alone taxis. But this is another story.
Either way Lutz's idea is just one many automakers supporting quietly and is nothing new or likely to happen. They are just looking out to amke things easier building and selling cars in the future.
The whole concept of the gas tax is to raise the tax to get people to drive less and save fuel.
The truth is the many automakers would like to see it come and replace CAFe so the automakers can build any car they want while making it easier to sell the small high MPG cars few want.
This is how he really looks at it. GM has to sell cars like the coming Spark and if the CAFE goes to 65 MPG like many in goverment want the cars will get smaller yet.
As for what the goverment does with the money the train idea is just a suggestion. Lutz was born and raised in Europe and he had a good understand on rail. TO be honest in some parts of the country they could use a better faster safer rail system. In other parts don't bother. What I am against are things like the billions Obama tried to force on Ohio for a so called high speed rail that only went 75-80 MPH. It also made many stops and would have taken longer to cross the state vs a car. Then in Ohio few cities like LA and NY have any real public trasportations that you would want to ride let alone taxis. But this is another story.
Either way Lutz's idea is just one many automakers supporting quietly and is nothing new or likely to happen. They are just looking out to amke things easier building and selling cars in the future.
11-02-2011, 06:49 AM
#8
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Join Date: 06-07-2011
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^That is correct. Once these new EPA standards start kicking in, just watch what happens to the price of anything with a V8 in it. Car companies are going to have to make them sell less to make their fleet numbers for the EPA. Used full-sized trucks and SUVs will be valuable things to have - unless, of course, the rules change again.
11-02-2011, 06:51 AM
#9
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Lutz is a putz and on the Obama bandwagon that preaches higher taxes and more big government in our lives.
GM is in bed with the devil.....took bailout in exchange for building the Volt....an abysmal failure as an automobile and not building a Cadillac that will fail as well.
And supports higher gas taxes and so-called 'Green Energy' in an effort to garner rules and regulations favorable to GM.
GM is in bed with the devil.....took bailout in exchange for building the Volt....an abysmal failure as an automobile and not building a Cadillac that will fail as well.
And supports higher gas taxes and so-called 'Green Energy' in an effort to garner rules and regulations favorable to GM.
Think of the jobs to be created by the tax raise. Someone's got to fix the rail system.
11-02-2011, 02:38 PM
#10
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Join Date: 07-05-2008
Location: Akron Ohio
Posts: 5,464
Lutz is a putz and on the Obama bandwagon that preaches higher taxes and more big government in our lives.
GM is in bed with the devil.....took bailout in exchange for building the Volt....an abysmal failure as an automobile and not building a Cadillac that will fail as well.
And supports higher gas taxes and so-called 'Green Energy' in an effort to garner rules and regulations favorable to GM.
GM is in bed with the devil.....took bailout in exchange for building the Volt....an abysmal failure as an automobile and not building a Cadillac that will fail as well.
And supports higher gas taxes and so-called 'Green Energy' in an effort to garner rules and regulations favorable to GM.
The cost to redesign cars and engine and make them smaller then try to sell them to a public that does not want them is high.
GM has not been told what to do. The Obama admin knows that would be the kiss of death to a public already not happy with the bail out. The only thing they want to see is GM create jobs here. Trust me a near 600 HP Camaro would never be coming out if it were up the the Obama people nor would many of the new performance offering that we will see like the RWD Chevy sports sedan and C7 Vette.
The Volt was coming bail out or not.
The goverment has control over the automakers, all automakers by the regulations they have been passing. CAFE is the worst along with the EPA regs. Hell they have to use water based paint now that is no where as good as it could be.
All the automakers are in the same boat and they will offer electric cars. The first ones are not expected to make money but as they go on they will become cheaper and have longer ranges. They are a no pain no gain deal. The investment needs to be made to create a market as no market no lower cost will ever be seen. It will still remain a minor market as they are not cars for everyone. So far the Volt is the only one that would appeal to a wider group. Note Ford just anounced a $39K Electic Focus too and they have not been bailed out.
Having driven a GM Hydrogen cell car myself I can say the electic power is not bad as long as you can get some more range and lower the cost. I spun the tires across the parking lot and it ran really well.
But to sum it up I really don't see the gas tax ever happening as what elected offical would ever vote for it? It is much easier to put the burden on the automakers.
Might note Lutz is a strong anti global warming guy and still speaks out on it. Two of his books have made it clear where he stands but that still does not give him a free pass to ignore the reqs that the goverment has placed on the companies he works for.
I wish it was as simple as blaiming the goverment bail out and Obama but there is alot more to this and many more politicans to blaime.