Yeah, that's a pretty crappy Post-style take on the issue. (Sort of pseudo-contrarian, the counter-counter-intuitive spin on a hot-button issue, that basically reinforces whatever false assumptions people already make.) The problem *is not* that people are buying *too little* gas. And that's not a problem in the near future, or as far as the eye can see. The past couple of months have resulted in a tiny blip, a ledge (to call it a plateu would be hyperbole) in the steady upward slope that graphs American use of gasoline.

So, the article says Virginia's gas tax receipts for the past couple months came in $1 million below last year's levels. Now, it's unclear if the article is refering to combined June-July receipts, or rather, to a million dollar decrease for each month. But let's assuem the latter, and do the math. Virginia took in $890 million in gas taxes last year, or a little over $74 million a month. Now I'd assume that summer months generate more taxes, because people are driving more, etc. But even assuming the take last year was just $74 million for June or July, that million-dollar decrease amounts to 1.3%. Big deal. Given that the amounts of gasoline consumed have been rising at a rate at least that fast for the past several years, that's not such a big hit. Virginia, MD, and DC might try subjecting gas to state sales taxes (like NY does - see http://www.knowledgeproblem.com/...es/001391.html) and then they could be getting an increase in tax revenue as well.
pilgrim | 08.29.05 - 3:39 pm | #