Comments on: How San Diego is solving it’s traffic problem http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/07/21/how-san-diego-is-solving-its-traffic-problem/ An unbiased look at today's health care issues Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:56:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Healthcare Economist · Raise the gas tax now! http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/07/21/how-san-diego-is-solving-its-traffic-problem/#comment-178943 Healthcare Economist · Raise the gas tax now! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:57:11 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=1048#comment-178943 [...] beneficial for the economy, but raising the gas tax will increase the welfare of the country.  In earlier posts, I wrote that a higher gas tax makes a lot of sense.  An increased gas tax will reduce driving [...] [...] beneficial for the economy, but raising the gas tax will increase the welfare of the country.  In earlier posts, I wrote that a higher gas tax makes a lot of sense.  An increased gas tax will reduce driving [...]

]]> By: Jason Shafrin http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/07/21/how-san-diego-is-solving-its-traffic-problem/#comment-163812 Jason Shafrin Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:51:02 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=1048#comment-163812 Marketplace reports that the Feds may increase the gas tax: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/21/gas_tax/ Marketplace reports that the Feds may increase the gas tax: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/21/gas_tax/

]]> By: Jeff http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/07/21/how-san-diego-is-solving-its-traffic-problem/#comment-163797 Jeff Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:24:03 +0000 http://healthcare-economist.com/?p=1048#comment-163797 In theory, you are correct; higher taxes can provide funds to improve infrastructure. However, in practice, those funds are often diverted by politicians to provide pork to constituents, in order for the politician to have a better chance at re-election. An example is the current gas tax. How much of it is used to improve infrastructure? As for the profits of oil companies, the do use that to pay stockholders and at times to give excessive pay to execs, but they also use it to fund exploration; that is how they stay in business. In theory, you are correct; higher taxes can provide funds to improve infrastructure. However, in practice, those funds are often diverted by politicians to provide pork to constituents, in order for the politician to have a better chance at re-election. An example is the current gas tax. How much of it is used to improve infrastructure?

As for the profits of oil companies, the do use that to pay stockholders and at times to give excessive pay to execs, but they also use it to fund exploration; that is how they stay in business.

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