Well, I'm admittedly very extreme on the matters of governmental involvement.
We've actually got more in common than you'd think. I'm generally in favour of reducing the size of our civil service because I believe that such "public" institutions are a fabulously inefficient way of doing things.
But the fact is that the government is going to tax you, and if you believe that they won't be devicive in how and where they tax you, you're kidding yourself. Right now in Europe, taxing petrol is looking like more of a vote winner than the traditional game of taxing the rich.
I'm still trying to figure out just how an additional tax on the lifeblood of the American economy is going to help anyone?
Increasing tax on gas doesn't necessarily mean an increase in the overall tax burden. If your politicians are anything like ours it probably will do, but that's a separate issue... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Europeans are generally being taxed at what we consider obscene and downright criminal rates. Unlike the generally socialist nature of Europe, we like having direct control over where our money is spent. Over there, apparently you think that government knows best how to spend your earned income. Over here, government is the LAST place I'd want to put the trust of my money. Adding a tax to something as critical as fuel prices to further an agenda that I think is bogus to begin with isn't something I can exactly stand behind.
In general, I agree with you, and I'd like to see less government involvement. Free capitalism solves many problems well, but not all: and unless you'd advocate zero taxation, I think you'd agree with me.
So you are you guys going to "catch-up", or have we really got it all wrong? Time will tell, I guess.
You say this as if you believe that socialist style taxation is an evolution of government, whereas I see it as a deficiency.
Not at all. A cultural shift on environmental issues doesn't have to imply a change to government involvement. It could just as well happen through capitalism if consumers were to start demanding "greener" products. Of course, if that happened your government would try to cash in with its own "green" products (i.e. green taxes). Contributions to this thread suggest that this shift isn't going to happen any time soon.
And European voters are increasingly saying that they don't trust capitalism to sort it out fast enough.
You get offended at our "obscene consumption" well I'm offended at the "obscene elitist attitude" that is drooled down upon us "ignorant" Americans on an almost daily basis.
I'm not sure how to respond to that constructively. Have I said or even implied that Americans are ignorant?
Paul
