Re: Hubbert's peak

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

yes, but (in theory at least) the increased gas tax could be compensated for by lowering the payroll tax. 

Of course, no progressive reform will ever happen unless the balance of power in society swings toward working people and other dominated groups. 

------------------------
Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxx &  http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~jdevine




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Lear [mailto:rael@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 2:29 PM
> To: PEN-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [PEN-L] Hubbert's peak
> 
> 
> On Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at 14:07:19 (-0700) Devine, James writes:
> >it's interesting that (according to MS SLATE on-line magazine) a
> >whole bunch of conservatives, including Gary Becker, are endorsing
> >steep taxes on gasoline in the US, to encourage conservation and
> >gas-saving technical change, while punishing the oil
> >producers. (W. Europe did this years ago.) Good idea, though ...
> 
> Given the elasticity of demand for gasoline, isn't taxing gasoline a
> punishment for consumers?
> 
> 
> Bill
>