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Gas isn’t a luxury, so don’t hike tax on it

    I’d like to comment on the Jan. 29 editorial, “Righting Bush’s environmental wrongs,” about increasing the tax on gas.
    It said that because the cost of oil and gas has gone down so much over the past year, drivers will start driving like they used to, and for the environment’s sake there should be an additional tax of $1 to discourage us from driving and to increase government revenues for repairs to roads, etc.
    Since when did driving go back to being a luxury that we can afford to skip? We drive for many reasons — to get to work, to school, to the market for groceries and for many other essential reasons. Sure, we like to go out for a Sunday drive to see the beauty of our state or to the beach or other fun places. But driving is not just something that we can stop because some people think it is harmful to the environment.
    Many things are harmful to the environment that I don't see the Gazette harping on with new, added taxes. Take the forests, for example. Protecting the forest and keeping everything green is another important goal of environmentalists. So why doesn't the government just put a tax on paper products to save the trees? A $1 tax on every issue of a newspaper could do wonders to protect the environment and add revenues so new trees could be planted. But you won't see The Daily Gazette pushing to get that tax through. This is where the environment isn't so precious.
    I'm not saying that protecting the environment isn't important, but use a little common sense when advocating something so important to our own survival.

    JAMES BOUCK
    Rotterdam     

That's all nice when gas/oil isn't good for the environment but neither is getting stale in the 'new technology' dept......

blame the comfortable existence on the auto industry that is no different than ageing boat taking on water......sink it already......the sheeple over in
the auto industry should have had a different leader A LONG time ago......

Very well said Mr. Bouck!!We can very well do without the paper version of the news since it is all over TV and the internetnow.