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Main reason to tax anything is it's a source of revenues, but from a macro perspective it's one way to manage policy.
If a town or city wants to reduce the number of cars on the road to reduce congestion, free up parking spaces, or whatever, one way to do so is to disincentivize people from owning them by taxing ownership.
OP here, where did you come from and where do you live now? Pros and cons since you've lived here? I dislike taxes as much as the next person, but I'm trying not to let the tax tail wag the dog.
Main reason to tax anything is it's a source of revenues, but from a macro perspective it's one way to manage policy.
If a town or city wants to reduce the number of cars on the road to reduce congestion, free up parking spaces, or whatever, one way to do so is to disincentivize people from owning them by taxing ownership.
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This has to be the absolute worst justification I've ever heard for taxing something. I'm not saying you are wrong, or that it doesn't happen, just that it completely blows my mind that there are people who think that this makes sense at all. Given that a car is necessary to all human beings who want to stay alive by working to make money to eat, why would we tax it? Why in the world would we want to make it more difficult to own a car? Just complete stupidity - all it does is inconvenience the less fortunate, who now have to pay yet another tax. And I don't wanna hear that they should take the bus, car pool, or move out. Those are not realistic options for most folks.
The revenue part I get, that's the only reason for this tax.
It amazes me how so many other states can survive without taxing the heck out of its people yet others can't figure it out.
This has to be the absolute worst justification I've ever heard for taxing something. I'm not saying you are wrong, or that it doesn't happen, just that it completely blows my mind that there are people who think that this makes sense at all. Given that a car is necessary to all human beings who want to stay alive by working to make money to eat, why would we tax it? Why in the world would we want to make it more difficult to own a car? Just complete stupidity - all it does is inconvenience the less fortunate, who now have to pay yet another tax. And I don't wanna hear that they should take the bus, car pool, or move out. Those are not realistic options for most folks.
The revenue part I get, that's the only reason for this tax.
It amazes me how so many other states can survive without taxing the heck out of its people yet others can't figure it out.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyinglow
This has to be the absolute worst justification I've ever heard for taxing something. I'm not saying you are wrong, or that it doesn't happen, just that it completely blows my mind that there are people who think that this makes sense at all. Given that a car is necessary to all human beings who want to stay alive by working to make money to eat, why would we tax it? Why in the world would we want to make it more difficult to own a car? Just complete stupidity - all it does is inconvenience the less fortunate, who now have to pay yet another tax. And I don't wanna hear that they should take the bus, car pool, or move out. Those are not realistic options for most folks.
The revenue part I get, that's the only reason for this tax.
It amazes me how so many other states can survive without taxing the heck out of its people yet others can't figure it out.
Funny, I lived and worked and existed for over a decade without a car in several cities, and know more than a few people that do (in Providence).
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