If you like food stamps, you're gonna LOVE GAS STAMPS

[freelance]

Once again, the middle class gets screwed:

Democrats’ latest idea: gas stamps

snip

Under one version of the proposal, a person earning up to $31,200 or a family of four earning up to $63,600 could receive government payments totaling $500 for gas.

snip

More:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...008-09-11.html

IF you still have a job, get ready to turn your entire paycheck over.

[Kludge]

Idunno, I think it'd be less offensive then food stamps if the person had to be working as it'd be a job providing more tax revenue then they would have previously. The income levels are very low too, so it's helping the poor who REALLY need it and not the middle class.

Technology is in place so they can quickly swipe a card at participating gas stations...

[amy31416]

This is stupid, if you want to help the poor be able to afford gas, you cut their taxes by $500, you don't add tons of bureaucracy and increase taxes for others. Let the people who earned the money in the first place spend it as they choose. Maybe there are poor people who don't spend money on gasoline because they've made a wise choice to not drive if they can't afford it. Encourage the use of public transportation, encourage people to drive fuel-efficient vehicles, etc.

For every $500 gas stamp, you know it probably costs us at least $800 when you get through all the red tape. Not a good solution.

[123tim]

Idunno, I think it'd be less offensive then food stamps if the person had to be working as it'd be a job providing more tax revenue then they would have previously. The income levels are very low too, so it's helping the poor who REALLY need it and not the middle class.

Technology is in place so they can quickly swipe a card at participating gas stations...

Mind if I give another opinion on this one Kludge?

We live on a low income (some might say by choice) and refuse any assistance from anyone. We would be doing a lot better if we weren't taxed with our money going to "help" others. I do know of people who are in need of this sort of thing, but I know of a lot more who are just milking the system for everything they can. The bad part is that they don't realize that the money comes from us. They think that it comes from the "Government" which is an endless source of free unattached money.

By the way...we aren't poor by any stretch of the imagination. We're doing quite well just by being thrifty.

Just my opinion though....Thank you for yours. I do see your point.

[tmosley]

Yeah, if they have to spend the money, it should go towards something that would give a real return, not just to line oil companies pockets. Increase investment in public transportation or something.

[angelatc]

This is stupid, if you want to help the poor be able to afford gas, you cut their taxes by $500, you don't add tons of bureaucracy and increase taxes for others. Let the people who earned the money in the first place spend it as they choose. Maybe there are poor people who don't spend money on gasoline because they've made a wise choice to not drive if they can't afford it. Encourage the use of public transportation, encourage people to drive fuel-efficient vehicles, etc.

For every $500 gas stamp, you know it probably costs us at least $800 when you get through all the red tape. Not a good solution.

Plus it discourages fuel efficiency.

[ShowMeLiberty]

This is stupid, if you want to help the poor be able to afford gas, you cut their taxes by $500, you don't add tons of bureaucracy and increase taxes for others. Let the people who earned the money in the first place spend it as they choose. Maybe there are poor people who don't spend money on gasoline because they've made a wise choice to not drive if they can't afford it. Encourage the use of public transportation, encourage people to drive fuel-efficient vehicles, etc.

For every $500 gas stamp, you know it probably costs us at least $800 when you get through all the red tape. Not a good solution.

Plus it discourages fuel efficiency.

Plus, by increasing tax on those who earn just above the cutoff to receive the benefit, you have just made it more difficult for that economic group to buy their own gas.

[MRoCkEd]

Chicken soup for the gusty goop!

GREAT song.

And this is another example of immoral wealth distribution.

[tonesforjonesbones]

The socialist communist democrats would love for the government to be able to take over the oil industry. China does it, Russia does it, many countries (communists) run the oil industry. We must block the democrats ....the republicans probably want this also. This is the reason Palin is important...hopefully she will call them out on it. I'm not campaigning, just trying to get a libertarian in a strategic position. Tones

[amy31416]

The socialist communist democrats would love for the government to be able to take over the oil industry. China does it, Russia does it, many countries (communists) run the oil industry. We must block the democrats ....the republicans probably want this also. This is the reason Palin is important...hopefully she will call them out on it. I'm not campaigning, just trying to get a libertarian in a strategic position. Tones

Palin isn't a libertarian.

[newyearsrevolution08]

Palin isn't a libertarian.

[acptulsa]

So, they come up with food stamps because, one, it's food, and two, it's all in support of the Great American Family Farmer (otherwise known as ADM). Now they come up with gas stamps because, one, they killed public transportation, and two, we already have food stamps so people are used to the idea. And then our FRN's go overseas with even less resistance on the part of the consumers because x percent of the time it isn't even their money...

I just dearly love the way these things snowball...

[danberkeley]

The socialist communist democrats would love for the government to be able to take over the oil industry. China does it, Russia does it, many countries (communists) run the oil industry. We must block the democrats ....the republicans probably want this also. This is the reason Palin is important...hopefully she will call them out on it. I'm not campaigning, just trying to get a libertarian in a strategic position. Tones

For what it's worth. China and Russia are moving from a communist government to a more free market oriented one. The USSA, however...

[muh_roads]

Take the $500 credit...and then use the money you saved to buy more silver.

[Gideon]

Buy votes with gas!

Who's paying again?