Gas Taxes

[Sam]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

It is kinda odd to hear people from the USA bitch about taxes and the price of gas when you live here!

However, what we get in comparison for our taxes is well worth it.

canadian gas is like canadian cigarettes EXpensive

[Gayla]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

The other thing that Americans need to do is get past the conservative lie that we pay so much tax. We pay shit in taxes compared to most developed countries. The reason the we have a failing infrastructure, a failing health care system, a failing social services system, crappy transit, etc. is because we don't pay enough taxes, and too much of the taxes that we do pay go to bullshit like the defense industry.

I rarely bitch about the amount of taxes I pay. I do get irritated when it seems like every other day someone is talking about raising yet another tax. We just got hit with another dollar a pack cigarette tax and I think it was last week they added sales tax to candy, gum and bottled water.

I don't mind paying them (hell I'm paying more then $60 a carton for cigarettes right now) but it's not like we're getting anything extra out of the deal. Right now, they're raising local taxes on things just to keep the state and local governments running. So raising taxes but shutting down services is where my problem comes in.

I'd gladly pay Canadian level taxes for Canadian level services but I'm kind of a Socialist at heart like that.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by gayla

I don't mind paying them (hell I'm paying more then $60 a carton for cigarettes right now) but it's not like we're getting anything extra out of the deal. Right now, they're raising local taxes on things just to keep the state and local governments running. So raising taxes but shutting down services is where my problem comes in.

I'd gladly pay Canadian level taxes for Canadian level services but I'm kind of a Socialist at heart like that.

holy hell, our smokes went up to $50 bucks and that is in DE where there are no taxes. MD state tax went up since i last lives here.

Gas went up 5 cents since sunday.

I can just imagine what it will be up to by summer (aug) with this gulf/BP fiasco

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by gayla

I rarely bitch about the amount of taxes I pay. I do get irritated when it seems like every other day someone is talking about raising yet another tax. We just got hit with another dollar a pack cigarette tax and I think it was last week they added sales tax to candy, gum and bottled water.

I don't mind paying them (hell I'm paying more then $60 a carton for cigarettes right now) but it's not like we're getting anything extra out of the deal. Right now, they're raising local taxes on things just to keep the state and local governments running. So raising taxes but shutting down services is where my problem comes in.

I'd gladly pay Canadian level taxes for Canadian level services but I'm kind of a Socialist at heart like that.

So you're happy to pay huge "sin taxes" in order to slowly kill yourself but you balk at raising taxes for keeping the government machine running?

I ask, specifically of you, because I am always amused when I hear people B**** up a storm around me about taxes each time they get a paycheck but just as soon as they cash that check they get in their car and drive five blocks to buy a carton of cigs.

My mother was the same way - of course back then the taxes on her cigarettes were brand new and only jacked the prices a little - to about $30/carton.

I guess it's all a matter of what's important to the individual.

[Gayla]

Originally Posted by Waldo

So you're happy to pay huge "sin taxes" in order to slowly kill yourself but you balk at raising taxes for keeping the government machine running?

I ask, specifically of you, because I am always amused when I hear people B**** up a storm around me about taxes each time they get a paycheck but just as soon as they cash that check they get in their car and drive five blocks to buy a carton of cigs.

My mother was the same way - of course back then the taxes on her cigarettes were brand new and only jacked the prices a little - to about $30/carton.

I guess it's all a matter of what's important to the individual.

And I find it interesting that you see my post as bitching up a storm.

I don't "balk" at any of it. I think I even said a couple of times in my post that I don't mind paying taxes. I do think it's frustrating that our local and state governments can't just come up with a number they need and raise taxes all at once rather then these little half cent at a time sin taxes every other month. Snohomish County is something like 63 million in the hole for this year and even more for next year. If they can make that up with a nickel on a pack of Juicy Fruit, I'll gladly pay it. I'd pay an extra dime if it meant buses ran on Sunday and the library was open more then three days a week. And maybe even a whole quarter to keep the pools open all summer and have the trash at the parks emptied more then once a week!

Yes, I am a smoker. I've been a smoker for more then 30 years. I will continue to smoke until I'm ready to quit. Having lost both of my parents to smoking related illnesses, I'm quite aware of the health consequences just as I'm aware that the price will not deter me. Some of us are even responsible about it and don't spend the kids food stamp money to get our nicotine fix or scrounge the streets picking up change to buy them one butt at a time at the Quicky Mart. Gosh, I even fill my car up with a full tank when I run low on gas. Imagine the taxes I'm paying for that!

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by gayla

And I find it interesting that you see my post as bitching up a storm.

I don't "balk" at any of it. I think I even said a couple of times in my post that I don't mind paying taxes. I do think it's frustrating that our local and state governments can't just come up with a number they need and raise taxes all at once rather then these little half cent at a time sin taxes every other month. Snohomish County is something like 63 million in the hole for this year and even more for next year. If they can make that up with a nickel on a pack of Juicy Fruit, I'll gladly pay it. I'd pay an extra dime if it meant buses ran on Sunday and the library was open more then three days a week. And maybe even a whole quarter to keep the pools open all summer and have the trash at the parks emptied more then once a week!

Yes, I am a smoker. I've been a smoker for more then 30 years. I will continue to smoke until I'm ready to quit. Having lost both of my parents to smoking related illnesses, I'm quite aware of the health consequences just as I'm aware that the price will not deter me. Some of us are even responsible about it and don't spend the kids food stamp money to get our nicotine fix or scrounge the streets picking up change to buy them one butt at a time at the Quicky Mart. Gosh, I even fill my car up with a full tank when I run low on gas. Imagine the taxes I'm paying for that!

gayla... I realize I'm not always particularly eloquent in my communication but I said that I asked the question OF YOU because I'm always amused when people bitch up a storm AROUND ME.

But you can take offense if you want.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by gayla

I rarely bitch about the amount of taxes I pay. I do get irritated when it seems like every other day someone is talking about raising yet another tax. We just got hit with another dollar a pack cigarette tax and I think it was last week they added sales tax to candy, gum and bottled water.

I don't mind paying them (hell I'm paying more then $60 a carton for cigarettes right now) but it's not like we're getting anything extra out of the deal. Right now, they're raising local taxes on things just to keep the state and local governments running. So raising taxes but shutting down services is where my problem comes in.

I'd gladly pay Canadian level taxes for Canadian level services but I'm kind of a Socialist at heart like that.

Gayla, I have to apologize. I wasn't directing my rant at your post; it was just a jumping off point.

I'm frustrated with the tea whiners complaining about being over-taxed, I'm fed up to here with CA republican state representatives fucking over everyone during budget season because they refuse to tax, I'm disgusted with conservative candidates who campaign to lower taxes, I'm over corporations being given tax breaks for moving their businesses offshore, and I've had it with the off-shore tax havens where our financial leaders stash their cash tax-free.

It's not the people in the lower tax brackets working their asses off just to get every penny hit with FICA (while high-wage earners quit paying after the first 100K-ish in wages) and pay a larger percentage of income on sales tax and gas tax and the other taxes and can't even get a break because they can't afford a big mortgage to get that tax credit. It's not the small businesses struggling to do the right thing and playing by the rules. It's the 6 to 12 figure earners and large corporations who get the breaks and fork over tons of money to twist tax code in their favor and pay less effective tax and yet still whine.

*quite possibly end of rant, at least for now*

[Gayla]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

Gayla, I have to apologize. I wasn't directing my rant at your post; it was just a jumping off point.

I'm frustrated with the tea whiners complaining about being over-taxed, I'm fed up to here with CA republican state representatives fucking over everyone during budget season because they refuse to tax, I'm disgusted with conservative candidates who campaign to lower taxes, I'm over corporations being given tax breaks for moving their businesses offshore, and I've had it with the off-shore tax havens where our financial leaders stash their cash tax-free.

It's not the people in the lower tax brackets working their asses off just to get every penny hit with FICA (while high-wage earners quit paying after the first 100K-ish in wages) and pay a larger percentage of income on sales tax and gas tax and the other taxes and can't even get a break because they can't afford a big mortgage to get that tax credit. It's not the small businesses struggling to do the right thing and playing by the rules. It's the 6 to 12 figure earners and large corporations who get the breaks and fork over tons of money to twist tax code in their favor and pay less effective tax and yet still whine.

*quite possibly end of rant, at least for now*

I didn't think your rant was at me.

I totally agree with all of this, in both of your posts. The piece about the home buyer's tax credit hits homes because I spent months working with people who wanted to take advantage of that but couldn't get approved. Most of them were responsible adults with decent paying jobs and decent credit but our housing market up here is so whacked that the only homes they could afford wouldn't pass the muster for loan approval. I actually deal with this every day. There are so many opportunities like this that most folks will just never get.

A few year's back, the company I worked for moved from one city to another within the same county. We had to move because we had outgrown the current facility and didn't have room to expand. One of the main reasons they choose the new site was the tax incentives provided by the local government. They reduced the amount of local taxes we had to pay because our expansion brought more jobs to the area. These jobs were primarily seasonal, just above minimum wage and considered unskilled general labor positions. So the company contributed less to the local infrastructure because they paid 50-75 people $10 an hour for 4 months out of the year. I can't help but think the city got the raw end of that deal.