European-style Gas Taxes Not Likely To Happen

That does sound good and, if properly applied, would work wonders in Canada and the United States. Instead of the almost impossible task of getting Prius economy out of a Hummer, we should be driving Prius cars instead.

The gas tax could be used to build mass transit, better roads, etc. Unfortunately, at least here in Manitoba, only 7% of the gas tax is actually "allowed" to be spent on roads.

It created a big stink here when it was revealed - just before the Federal Budget - that the vast majority of Canadian gas taxes are gobbled up the Liberal Government and spent who-knows-where.

It sure as h*** isn't on the roads, if the Winnipeg city streets are any example.

 

Jay you surprize me some times "properly applied" when in H**l did the federal gov ever properly apply anything. I'm willing to bet you non of them have ever balanced their cheque book. Heck I'd bet you a weeks wages on that one, knowing full well I'd win.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon\";p=\"101884)</div>

Frank:

I won't even bother with that bet, I know I'd lose.

That's the paradox we have to deal with: they always want more of our tax money, yet at *least* 2/3 of that tax money mysteriously disappears into "overhead" and is never seen again.

Given the current situation, if I have a choice of paying more taxes, in the vague and probably impossible chance of getting more services, or having a large tax cut, I'd take the tax cut.

And forget about trying to "legislate" higher efficiency: the mindless drones and hacks that we call the Public Service will do nothing to jeapordize their jobs.

If you really want to crank up your blood pressure, take a peek at:

http://www.taxpayer.com

It's enough to make you want to move into a cave and cut off all contact with the world. Anyhoo back to our regularly scheduled programming ...

Jay

 

I've gone to The University of Utah twice, getting two degrees. In the early 90's, you could purchase a hologram from Parking Services that was stuck on your Student ID.

It allowed virtually unlimited use of the UTA bus system, except for special busses like ski busses to Alta or Park City. The UTA system covers Logan down to Provo.

It cost $14 and was good for a year. So it goes without saying I rode the bus almost all the time during the week.

I am a bit miffed that they now offer that pass for free:

http://www.parking.utah.edu/uta.htm

For that reason alone, I should move back to SLC and take another degree at the U.

Speaking of Translink, I moved back to Canada before the Trax light rail system was finished, though I have gone on rides whenever I visit in SLC.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\"Tideland Prius\";p=\"102009\")</div>

I see that Translink passed the parking spot tax. If I was a business owner I'd close up shop and throw out all my employees and tell them to go and complain to Translink. They all forget that the last time that traffic really moved relatively good was during the l last transit strike. We even got the Morining News Hour as every one on the Translink board was forcasting grid lock.

 

one hour and 10 minutes to work and 1 hour and 15 home, 20 minutes via Prius to work and 30 minutes home. So 2 hours and 25 minutes via "rapid" transit vs. 50 minutes via Prius. Lets do a survey on which I should choose. Ya right. I do seem to remember some tax payer revolt in CA. regarding BART. I quess I should Google it and readup.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"102157)</div>

Well, if the "majority" of students are in favor of such a financial hit on top of tuition/books, etc, there really isn't much you can do about it.

The University of Utah has had a parking problem for years, as they are tucked right up against the foothills by Federal Heights. It's either build more school buildings, and more buildings at the Health Sciences Center, or build more parking lots.

So they actually took some parking lots away and put buildings where the parking lot used to be.

Rather than have "mandatory" parking fees, the U determined anybody "smart" enough to go to college would figure out they could either drive around for +2 hours to find an empty parking stall, or hop one of the frequent busses and on-campus shuttle busses.

At the most, I had to wait 10 mins for a bus. So the system appears to work fairly well down there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"102652)</div>

you have to warn me when you post comments like that. I'm getting too old to fall off my chair laughing!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"102652)</div>

Um ... no thanks. My Aunt in PoCo has promised to drive to Vancouver International to pick me up. Think I'll just take her out to supper and call it even.

Jay