Some nice touches that might work well.

SMS wrote:
> Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply) wrote:
>> Cheny is a ****wad, but he is right. Increasing demand does not lower
>> the price.
>>
>> What we should do is raise the tax to cut wasteful consumption. Then
>> offset the increase by giving a limited tax credit to family tax
>> payers with under 100k net income (single filers 50k,) $0 credit for
>> those over. That way we keep the tax of the backs of those that can
>> least afford it and punish the Hummer drivers. This will spur growth
>> of Hybrid and alternative fuels. You know damn well that if it hurts
>> the rich that they will start doing something about it. Increase the
>> tax monthly until they cry uncle.
>
> Actually, we should raise the gas tax with an offsetting tax credit up
> to a certain limit.
>
> I would NOT limit the tax credit by income or filing status. You want to
> get buy-in from the general public, and encourage them to buy smaller
> vehicles, at least for commuting (keep the SUV or minivan for times when
> it's really appropriate). $50K is still pretty low income.
>
> Every licensed non-commercial driver with a vehicle registered in their
> name gets the credit for one vehicle. Maybe a $5/gallon tax, with a
> $5/gallon tax credit for 365 gallons a year, i.e. an $1825 tax credit.
> Use less than 365 gallons a year and you're ahead of the game. Use more,
> well it's up to you to commute solo in an SUV, or to drive the kids
> around in a minivan, or to live 50 miles from work.
>
> No tax credit for unlicensed drivers.
> No tax credit for those that don't file income taxes.
> Some sort of program for commercial vehicles to exempt them.