Re: A War Tax on SUVs?

Lloyd Parker wrote:

> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
>    Phil Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > DJ TecThreat wrote:
> >
> > > "Da Parrot-chick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >
> > > > "Alex Rodriguez" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > [snip]
> >
> > > If
> > > > > you want to tax gas, tax gas.  Those that use more, will pay more.
> > >
> > > Pretty
> > > > > simple.  Calling it an SUV is plain stupid.
> > > > > -----------------
> > > > > Alex     __O
> > > > >      _-\<,_
> > > > >     (_)/ (_)
> > > >
> > > > In principal I agree with you, Alex, but there's an exception: the luxury
> > > > tax on RVs and high-end cars like Maserati, Ferrari, Bentley, and
> > > > Rolls-Royce.  All cars are basically transportation appliances that use
> > > > petroleum-fueled internal combustion engines, but there's a difference
> > > (not
> > > > just price) between a $14,000 Geo Metro and a $350,000 Rolls-Royce Silver
> > > > Shadow.  I don't have a problem with levying a luxury tax on the sale of
> > > > those vehicles and would gladly pay it if I were to purchase one.
> > >
> > > I would gladly pay a tax on my vehicle if it costed me $350,000.. but i 
> only
> > > paid $23,000 for my truck and that doesnt mean i deserve to pay any special
> > > tax besides the usual taxes.
> > >
> > > DJ TecThreat
> >
> > 	Can I refuse to pay your tax if you fail to make me glad to pay it? 
> > Wake up, folks - a government that's big enough to give you everything 
> > you want is big enough to take it all away. Those of you who would 
> > "gladly pay a tax" are free to write another check to the Infernal 
> > Revenue Service if you want. Kindly keep your fingers out of my wallet, 
> > however.
> > -psmith
>
> Those of you who refuse to contribute what the society you live in asks you to 
> contribute are free to leave.
	Taxes are NOT voluntary contributions. They are enforced exactions. Try 
not filing a federal income tax return for a few years and see what you 
think.
	Because I, and each of the rest of you, am a human individual, we each 
have a human dignity which transcends reduction to being a cog in the 
machine of the State. This notion has a well-founded basis in 
constitutional law. Those of you who are non-US citizens may find the 
following link instructive:
	http://www.state.nh.us/constitution/constitution.html

	Some of us here, excluding myself, seem to have fallen victim to what 
might be called the Politician's Syllogism:
	Major premise:	We need to do something.
	Minor premise:	This is something.
	Conclusion: 	Therefore; we need to do this.

	When "this" consists of using the coercive power of the State to compel 
everyone to do what an unelected few would or could "gladly pay", it is 
not reactionary for the potentially coerced to object. And that is what 
I do.
	Leaving is not my only option. I am also free to:
		Endeavor to convince others of the folly of their positions (which is 
what I am trying to do here),
		Petition my elected officials for a redress of my grievances and of 
the wrongs I suffer as a member of society, and
		Reform the structure of government when all other avenues of redress 
become ineffectual.

> Start your own Gilligan's Island.
	My ancestors tried that about 370 years ago. On the English side, one 
of them participated in the drafting of the oldest written constitution 
in the world - the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
	I imagine they must have started rapidly rotating in their graves about 
300 years later when their noble efforts degenerated into a 
pseudo-socialist fool's paradise with 95% of the population on the 
mooch, having been persuaded that they could be bribed with their own taxes.
-psmith