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Oregon Passes First Statewide Bicycle Tax In Nation (washingtontimes.com)
turkeydance writes: In Oregon, a state known for its avid bicycling culture, the state legislature's approval of the first bike tax in the nation has fallen flat with riders. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign the sweeping $5.3 billion transportation package, which includes a $15 excise tax on the sale of bicycles costing more than $200 with a wheel diameter of at least 26 inches. Even though the funding has been earmarked for improvements that will benefit cyclists, the tax has managed to irk both anti-tax Republicans and environmentally conscious bikers. The bike tax is aimed at raising $1.2 million per year in order to improve and expand paths and trails for bicyclists and pedestrians. Supporters point out that Oregon has no sales tax, which means buyers won't be dinged twice for their new wheels.
Obviously an initiative being pushed by bike shops in neighboring states.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
There are cost SAVINGS to supporting cycling. Not just in the externalities of pollution that car users avoid paying, but also less competition for parking spaces, fewer vehicles double-parked (think bike courriers as compared to car courriers), the indirect cost of cars vis. obesity and general health, etc.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
and the money will end up going to everything but new bike paths. A good 1/3 of it will be eaten up in paychecks and benefits for what ever little office that will suddenly triple in size because of the new money. That and the money will end up only in pet projects near the homes of the most powerful rather than in "best bang for your buck" projects that will actually be useful to the public at large.
What you are overlooking is that the vast majority of cyclists own cars also. This means they're paying those registration fees right along with you. As for the gas taxes, the amount of gas tax not paid because of cycling is very small, because most cycling trips are short. For trips that require significant gas, most cyclists get in those cars they own.
Meanwhile, when they're not in their cars, cyclists are using up far less space on the road, and causing no damage to the road surface.
but if everybody drove busses wouldn't the traffic be worse?
Your definition of what is allowed to be compulsory charity is just as arbitrary as any other and not inherently true, like you think it is. Actually, unless you are a hypocrite you must follow your randroid beliefs to their only logical conclusion - defence from crime and enemies has to be funded voluntarily or not at all - after all, why should your neighbour be responsible for your problems - and if you cannot defend yourself you only get what you deserve. If I'd want to be especially cruel, I'd say, "just like your country right now" because by randroid logic you so much like you are worthless and don't deserve any help if you cannot pay for it out of your own pocket.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
That is a GREAT Madison quote! I like this one, too!
"The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government." -- James Madison, speech in the House of Representatives, January 10, 1794
But what did Madison know about the Constitution, he only wrote the thing...
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
Dude, the general welfare clause is literally right next to the common defense clause. If the government can steal my money to blow up brown people in countries literally half a world away it can sure as shit spend some of it on making my community a better place.
Jesus, how do these things get modded up? Theft is when someone take from you and gives you nothing in return. Taxation is what you pay to live in a certain society, and is paid back to you in the form of things that enhance your life directly, or things that enhance your economy so that you have MUH MONIES in the first place (see free roads.) If you have such a problem with taxes, you can elect representatives to repeal them, or take the ultimate libertarian option and move to the arctic circle.
I'm so sick of this childish fantasy that someone could squat in a shack in the middle of the woods somewhere with no utilities or roads and run a fortune 500 company if only the government would stop taking MUH MONIES!
Wake up, you were born into a first world nation that was willing to provide you with education and basic social services, and you are still choosing to live in and benefit from those services. If taxation is theft, then you are living off of theft. Period. Do the moral thing and move somewhere else more in line with your ideals. Like Rawanda or Hati, or some other hell hole where the government is toothless and you can be "free" to do whatever you want.
Modern libertarianism is just rampant greed disguised as a philosophy of government.