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Old 10-23-2013, 07:03 PM
 
Location: Massachusetts & Hilton Head, SC
9,944 posts, read 15,527,653 times
Reputation: 8551

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Quote:
Originally Posted by bUU View Post
There is a big problem with many people in our nation: They are irrationally in love with money, and that irrational attitude precludes them from differentiating between what's fair and what is not. There's no talking to such people.
Sorry, but the American engine runs on Capitalism. A tax on the actual beneficiaries of the MBTA system would be fair.
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Old 10-23-2013, 07:57 PM
 
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,938 posts, read 36,788,991 times
Reputation: 40634
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyB View Post
Sorry, but the American engine runs on Capitalism. A tax on the actual beneficiaries of the MBTA system would be fair.

Which is what we have (well, except that Southern NH gets off the hook)
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Old 10-23-2013, 10:39 PM
 
23,203 posts, read 18,348,782 times
Reputation: 10722
Quote:
Originally Posted by timberline742 View Post
Which is what we have (well, except that Southern NH gets off the hook)
Wrong. From N. Adams to Provincetown you pay a 1% sales tax that goes strictly towards the MBTA (which only serves Greater Boston). Other areas of the state have their own local transit authorities (SRTA for Fall River/N.B, PVTA for Springfield, and so on), all of which receive zero amount of this sales tax revenue.

You defenders of this system are favoring a "trickle-down" form of wealth redistribution. Take from the less fortunate (Central, Western and SE Mass) and siphon it to the already economically successful (Greater Boston) for projects that primarily serve the interests of them rather than the prior. Theoretically, the "wealth creators" can somehow magically "save" the rest of the folk from their own doom (like the Western MA sweat and blood is better off in the hands of Boston because those smarter folk in the big city know how to spend their dollars better).

I wonder how many of you also support the "trickle-down" theory in economics. I take it you all hold "Reganomics" as the model?
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Old 10-24-2013, 04:08 AM
bUU
 
Location: Florida
12,077 posts, read 10,664,232 times
Reputation: 8793
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyB View Post
Sorry, but the American engine runs on Capitalism.
Actually, "the American engine" runs on a hybrid economy, of which capitalism is just one aspect.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyB View Post
A tax on the actual beneficiaries of the MBTA system would be fair.
I have no doubt that a tax on the actual beneficiaries of the MBTA system would satisfy you personally. There's a difference between that and what society should do.

If we're going to traffic in personal definitions of fairness, it would be fair to double the gasoline tax to account for all the long-term ramifications, both in terms of the impact of the consequent pollution on the land and on the health of ourselves and our children, and in terms of continuing reliance on fossil fuel.
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Old 10-24-2013, 06:06 AM
bUU
 
Location: Florida
12,077 posts, read 10,664,232 times
Reputation: 8793
One has to wonder why anyone would think it would help their cause to post something so blatantly antagonistic toward the facts of the matter. Say you don't care, if you wish, but don't deny realities. It just makes your comments look foolish.
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Old 10-24-2013, 06:24 AM
 
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,938 posts, read 36,788,991 times
Reputation: 40634
Quote:
Originally Posted by massnative71 View Post
Wrong. From N. Adams to Provincetown you pay a 1% sales tax that goes strictly towards the MBTA (which only serves Greater Boston).


Once again you are confusing serving with benefiting. Two very different things. But carry on your belief that the economics of Massachusetts outside of 495 or so is really independent of the economics of Greater Boston. I shall not be supporting the repeal.
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Old 10-25-2013, 03:36 AM
bUU
 
Location: Florida
12,077 posts, read 10,664,232 times
Reputation: 8793
Quote:
Originally Posted by independence View Post
People who think like you
You mean people who call egoistic greed what it is?

Quote:
Originally Posted by independence View Post
are destroying this nation
Destroying, perhaps, your ability to exploit, abuse or marginalize others. Time to get over yourself. The reactionary right-wing isn't the nation. It's a bunch of self-serving opportunists.

And the fact that you tried to defend opposition to the gas tax being indexed with such nonsense was wonderfully comedic entertainment.
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Old 10-25-2013, 05:48 AM
 
8,652 posts, read 17,198,355 times
Reputation: 4622
I really like this thread........I'm hoping that you Mass. Liberals tax yourself to the poor house...
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Old 10-26-2013, 02:42 PM
 
Location: Lynn, MA
325 posts, read 484,784 times
Reputation: 415
Quote:
Originally Posted by independence View Post
Please don't say that we're not all libs here.
No we're not.
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Old 10-28-2013, 10:12 AM
 
Location: Norman, OK
3,478 posts, read 7,234,266 times
Reputation: 1201
The gas tax is an outdated mechanism to fund roadway improvements. It does not suffice and hence must continually be increased.

It should be repealed and people should be taxed either by annual mileage driven or by tolling all major roads and highways. The latter requires too much infrastructure and such, but the former is quite easy to implement (e.g., recording miles driven at your annual vehicle inspection). Then, you pay a certain percentage for each mile driven and pay that as a tax. This accomplishes both the goal of incentivizing driving less and also people 'paying for what they use'.
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