Post #1483035

2026-04-20 18:07 UTC

Hot take: Gas, particularly in USA, should be **much** higher priced, in order to pay for government programs to offset the damage burning it does to the environment and to pay citizens/workers to encourage getting away from burning fossil fuels, while simultaneously ending ALL subsidies and tax-code benefits for fossil fuel companies and providing assistance to any industry workers that are impacted by any downsizing.

Replies (4)

@valthonis@dice.camp 2026-04-20 18:08

@BoydStephenSmithJr This would have been an unquestioned good governance project in a sane nation.

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@patmikemid@sfba.social 2026-04-20 18:21

@BoydStephenSmithJr We are several years into seeing prominent signs at Chevron gas pumps blaming politicians and taxes for the “high” gas prices in California. These signs make me see red. We “suffer” these high prices because of politicians, not the greed of the oil companies. Assholes.

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@MostlyBlindGamer@dragonscave.space 2026-04-20 18:39

@BoydStephenSmithJr sure… the issue is that taxes on sales are non-progressive. The proportional impact would be much greater for low-income workers than for affluent people. The other concern is that US infrastructure is built for cars, not people. Many people can’t afford to live somewhere with better transit options, they need to drive to work, to live. To be clear, I’m with you on principle and on the basic ideas, it’s just that we need a carrot to go along with the stick. Maybe part of a wealth tax goes into public transportation and that breaks down the demand side of things, right?

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@AnthonyJK@mastodon.redgarterclub.com 2026-04-20 18:44

@BoydStephenSmithJr Better idea: Simply nationalize the fossil fuel companies and set all fossil fuel usage prices in such a way that encourages more sustainable and ecologically friendly transportation and practices.

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