Originally Posted by Hatterasguy (Post 2179858)

This is our best bet to replace the lost manufacting jobs in the midwest.

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy (Post 2179904)

Thats what I said, it is dead. But you need something else to create jobs, we can't all work at Walmart and cut eachothers grass.

This is a real industry that will drive and create wealth, "services" are not.

Originally Posted by aklim (Post 2179874)

Oh great. Enlarge the govt waste. If they really cared abut conservation, why not have the tax system based on consumption? Spend more, pay more.

Originally Posted by DieselAddict (Post 2179964)

That's a somewhat different topic, but I'm guessing a straight consumption tax that's big enough to fund the government would never pass. Otherwise it's a worthy idea.

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy (Post 2180022)

I was thinking about this a lot this weekend since I was in upstate CT which used to have a lot of small industry, and now has nothing. If it wasn't for people having second homes up their no one would have jobs.

This is not sustainable, but their is potential. The labor base is still their.

Originally Posted by aklim (Post 2180065)

I don't think it will since it removes a lot of hidden taxes and the ability to manipulate taxes. It would make getting more taxes even harder.

Originally Posted by DieselAddict (Post 2180587)

Another problem with a straight consumption tax is that it's rather regressive,....

Originally Posted by DieselAddict (Post 2180587)

Another problem with a straight consumption tax is that it's rather regressive, i.e. it would burden the poor more than the rich.

Yet another problem is that it would probably put a damper on consumption, which would be good as far as conservation goes, but since 2/3 of the current economy is consumer spending, it would make the downturn even worse. I still like the idea, but I'm just saying it has its own issues.

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels (Post 2179826)

I agree with what you have said. We should be putting money into biofuels especially bio-D. .However, to put a crushing burden on mostly the middle of the country in the form of Cap and Trade or a high carbon tax, at a time when companies are struggling to stay in business is ludicrous. It will only make goods produced in places like China even cheaper when compared to American made goods and will cause electrical rates and fuel prices to go way up. Once the economy is strong again, we can revisit some of these ideas. Can't we promote biofuels without crushing taxes on dino fuels?

Originally Posted by aklim (Post 2180670)

But it would be fair and nobody could whine about how someone pays less taxes than they do, etc, etc.

Can't they lower the percentage to get spending up and raise it to get spending down?

Originally Posted by DieselAddict (Post 2180583)

What is not sustainable? BTW, it's "there" not "their". ;)

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel (Post 2180721)

Take those AIG bonuses and put them toward Bio-D infrastructure?:D

I think once we get the infrastructure in place, then bio fuels will be much more competitive. If we levy a(nother) gasoline tax to help pay for the bio refineries, is that much different than the price of gas going up to rebuild the refineries damaged by Katrina?

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel (Post 2180728)

Also, it would not generate enough $ to feed our ginormous government.