Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA
Nobody likes taxes. Nobody likes high fuel prices. Combine the two and what do you get? Even higher fuel prices, which nobody likes. This might all seem rather obvious, but it is still relevant considering that there are movements to place higher taxes on gas for a variety of reasons. While many agree that drastic measures may need to be taken in order to wean the American people off of foreign oil, questions remain on just how to do that. Biofuels are an option, but there are significant drawbacks there; electric cars are a popular choice, but scanning the local paper reveals a dearth of current choices in the EV arena.
Consumers have shown that they are concerned about global warming, yet when polled (.pdf link) by the National Center for Public Policy Research, 48 percent of respondents said that there were unwilling to pay any extra at all in gas taxes. The numbers dropped even more when those same respondents were told that their efforts were largely in vain. Duh. We′ve posted a video after the break from Fox News about this poll, as well as the NCPPR press release.
Press Release:
New Poll Finds Nearly Half of Americans Wouldn′t Be Willing to Pay Even a Penny More in Gasoline Taxes to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
48% of Americans are unwilling to spend even a penny more in gasoline taxes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says a new nationwide survey released today by the National aCenter for Public Policy Research.
The poll found just 18% of Americans are willing to pay 50 cents or more in taxes per gallon to reduce greenhouse emissions. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) has called for a 50 cents per gallon gas tax increase.
“With one-fifth of all U.S. C̘ emissions coming from light trucks and cars, any serious effort to significantly reduce U.S. emissions would have to encourage fuel conservation in personal automobiles,” said David Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research. “But almost half of all Americans oppose spending more for gasoline, despite polls indicating wide public concern over global warming. These results suggest Americans′ concern may not be as deep as we’ve been led to believe.”
Opposition to increased gasoline taxes was especially strong among minorities.
“It’s not surprising that many minorities oppose higher gas taxes, as such taxes are sharply regressive, harming the economically-disadvantaged disproportionately,” said Ridenour.
Voters were told: “Congress is currently considering legislation that would raise the tax on gasoline in an attempt to motivate Americans to conserve fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” They were asked how much more they’d be willing to pay in gasoline taxes and given seven choices: nothing, less than 50 cents, 50 cents, one dollar, two dollars, five dollars, eight dollars or more.
18% were willing to pay 50 cents or more; 8% a dollar or more and 2% $2 or more.
Opposition to gas tax hikes was strongest in the Great Lakes (56%), New England (51%) and the Farm Belt (50%).
Opposition grew when respondents were informed that eliminating cars in the U.S. altogether would only reduce world emissions by a fraction.
Among those willing to pay more for gasoline to reduce emissions, 58% are less willing to do so, and 42% much less willing, when informed their sacrifice would produce little positive results.
“Many global warming polls ask the wrong questions,” said Ridenour. “We shouldn’t ask Americans if action is needed on global warming, but how much more they′re willing to pay for that action. We need to also ask whether people would still be willing to pay more, given the almost certain futility of it.”
[Source: National Center for Public Policy Research]
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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski
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