China taxes SUVs 40%, so should America do the same? video on CNBC

They also beat and imprison journalists that report what the gvernment doesn't want. Should we do that too?
At least it would keep Dan Rather in line!

 

cwerdna, I am in Kunming on SW China. I agree that the driving style has two unusual aspects - agressive or careless actions, and calm acceptance of other drivers doing just about 'anything'.

I see quite a few SUVs and larger here, but most cars are quite small. Overall a bimodal distribution.

The Chinese vehicle tax was recently changed - increased for engines above 1.5 L and decreased for smaller engines. The 1.5 l size was left alone. The month before the change there was an increase in large vehicle sales, to avoi dthe tax increase. Now they are reported to be lower.

Other than driving style, the 2 aspects I think are most notable are the large number of electric scooters, and the size of the loads that people routinely pedal power on 3 wheel carts.

 

I think they just need to increase the tax on gasoline and diesel used for personal vehicles. Give a tax increase schedule that would allow people to switch over to more efficient cars, somthing like a 50 cent increase per year until the tax is around $4/gallon. Use that to pay off the cost of the war.

 

Yeah, that won't hurt the economy . . . at all.

 

A tax on new gas guzzlers makes sense, to drive the soccer moms into smaller cars. There also has to be more rigid standards on defining a commercial vehicle. You can't put "commercial" trucks and SUVs in everybody's driveway. That's not the point. SUVs are obviously not commercial. Many vans are commercial.

It is not the vehicle itself which should define "commercial." It is how the vehicle is used.

 

Taxing is the solution to everything in a tree huggers mind.....
Hell, Give your whole paycheck to the gooberment why don't you....
It won't happen here. This is America and if a person decides to drive a truck or SUV that is there FREE will.

 

Does that also give them the FREE will to try and intimidate
other drivers off the road ahead of them, while burning as much
fuel as they want and help hasten the downward spiral? Does
that kind of rudeness make them better Americans somehow?
.
Get your priorities straight.
.
_H*

 

Hi All,

Welp. Its this damn loophole thing that is a problem. They should tax ALL vehicles worse than 21 mpg the same way. That means a guzzler tax for future SUV purchases, per the present law on cars. Plain, simple, and nobody is getting cheated. If anything, its undoing cheating that has been going on for 15 years.

 

New in the Chinese media yesterday : a tax on fuels. This has been under consideration for a while, but current low crude oil prices make it look like a good time for starting.

 

Do you think the Chinese implemented this tax to slow consumption? or maybe to discourage the importing of vehicles without raising "red" flags at the WTO. The larger the vehicle the less chance it was made in China. When the Chinese manufacturers get around to making SUV's i predict the Chinese will suddenly repeal the taxes on larger vehicles. If you disagree, tell me what you think the motivation is?
The Chinese are going "green" as they open up a coal-fired power plant every five minutes or whatever the stat is. I give them credit they are experts at manipulating US public opinion. I would be very curious to see how this story was sourced. Probably from the Chinese consulate in NYC or Washington DC. It just goes on and on.........

 

Actually, Chinese demand for oil has dropped, partly responsible for the falling global oil prices. As far as their pollution issues, I'm happy our trinkety electronics s*** is made there instead of here.

I'd sooner have that arsenic and cadmium in their rivers, instead of our rivers, thank you very much

I'm also quite happy we ship our obsolete computers over to them for "recycling." I'd rather have the heavy metals in their air, not mine

 

I feel that if the auto manufactures that produces the gas guzzlers pay the tax or call it a fine, not the consumer. I have a Prius, I also have a Sequoia to pull my trailer that carries my R/C planes to the field. All of my planes are electric using Lipo batteries. So to punish me because I need to tow or carry big objects is wrong. I also feel that if the manufactures are fined then they will get off there duff and build a fuel efficient big truck, SUV, etc....

 

I am not sure how you would tax the manufacturers and not have them pass that tax onto you as a consumer? I am a much bigger believer in govt using pull tactics(tax credits and the like) than push tactics(tax) to mold consumer behavior.

 

Take from the CEO's. There is no easy fix for this. I live in Virginia and pay a property car tax every year. On something drops in value like a rock every year but the taxes are still enough to effect the family. We are taxed on June 5th and December 5th. More taxes on cars, I'm completly against it. $600 dollars every six months and right before Christmas really sucks.

 

Just how big are these R/C planes. Seriously, the idea that one needs a SUV or truck to tow or carry things is just that, a myth. I have personally carried 600lbs of topsoil in my prius and 500 sq ft of wood flooring in my Jetta wagon.

In Europe is is common to see what we consider to be small cars towing travel trailers or utility trailers full of wood, dirt, etc. The key is that they put brakes on the trailers. Here is just one example:

 

Funny, My planes are 8'-10' wingspans. I have about 12-15 planes, flight line equipment, canopy, tables, and chairs. Let's not forget about food and drinks.

I have also carried mulch, lumber, and large objects in the Prius. I'm quite proud of the Prius and its ability for large cargo. Oh, forgot to leave a place for my wife and son to sit. There is always a place and a need for trucks.