FLCC> Is the NY State Senate nuts?

[Andrejs Ozolins]

rob at cginy.net wrote:
>>> This is the main reason imho why the tax reduction is madness. Gas taxes
>>> should be *increased* to address the true issues.
>>>       
>
> I don't necessarily agree.  That's a rather short-sighted solution

Well, first off, I don't mean it as a solution, much less long-term. I 
only mean that increased cost of gas, once it gets high enough, will in 
fact probably result in less gas used. I.e., the issue was whether 
"market forces" would do any good in this very limited case, defined in 
absurdly simple-minded terms.

But neither do I agree with your analysis. Sure, it will hit everyone, 
including the poor, everywhere they pay for anything -- since 
transportation costs are part of everything we buy. But, even there, 
high enough costs of fuel would eventually result in a rationalization 
of the distribution system -- producing stuff locally, promoting 
seasonally, reviving cheaper transport systems like marine and rail, 
etc. etc.  Again, in the end, a saner use of resources could result, 
having screwed the poor in the process -- so what else is new?

I think it's stupid to rely on the cost of fuel to effect these changes; 
they should be pursued by carefully considered social policy. But, how 
we get to enjoy a govt capable of enlightened policies is an entirely 
different question.

Andrejs