RateItAll: The Opinion Network

No point in getting upset about it, because it is never going to happen. The bad part is that gas may go up to five dollars a gallon and we will still have the debt problem.

I don't know enough about economics to say anything intelligent on the subject (I'm inordinately proud when my checkbook actually balances out) but I just feel in my bones that this would be a terrible idea, perhaps even catastrophic to our economy. We do a lot of wasteful spending as a nation so I'm sure there are other economies that could be made to reduce the debt. I heard recently that Israel is asking the US for $50 Billion to help the relocation of their citizens from Gaza. (!) And I've heard pundits from both ends of the political spectrum suggest that it might be money well spent in the long run! If we would just say 'NO' to that kind of request we could save bundles.. and that's only one example.

Probably the worst of all of these ideas. Have you really thought about this for more than 3 minutes? I won't even get into the improbability of the money actually going to pay off the national debt, other's have done that plenty. Think instead in percentages: how much of your money goes to pay for gas? If you make $2000 per month and need a 20 gallon tank of gas a week, you're talking about $400 or 20%. If you make $6000, it's less than 7%. So once again, the not-so-wealthy get screwed, while the rich laugh it off, and go in search of another tax write-off. How about this instead: tax everybody the same (10%, whatever), no loopholes, cut out pork barrel legislation, and put someone in charge who cares about our country's wellbeing. And I am NOT talking red or blue here; I don't care which side he/she is on, as long as we and our problems are the focus.

It is already very difficult for us to pay around $2.75 for a gallon. we are on a limited income and this gas hike has been very hard on us. We are careful how much we drive. we consolidate our errands. it is almost a treat just to hop in the car and take off. when school starts up it will be even more expensive for us to put gas in our car. There would be no way we could pay 5.00 a gallon. I worry at the thought of $3.00. i feel bad enough we have not been able to do much of fun stuff that involves driving this summer. I doubt if that kind of price would pay off the national debt. I do not think we will ever reach that goal no matter what things we get taxed on.We are struggling as it is. I can think of a lot of people I know who will be in a terrible way if gas goes way up that much.

. . . does anyone actually think that, by having this increased revenue, that the money will actually go to paying off the national debt? Seriously. There is ALWAYS something else that they'll find to spend the money on. Besides, why raise taxes when a lot of the problem is misallocated and wasted funds? Having taken a temp job at a correctional facility a long time ago, I've seen some serious waste of resources going on. Printing out three sheets of paper per inmate (where most of the paper was blank) to obtain two pieces of information, only to throw out that paper in just a minute? Sending a 37-cent letter to tell a former inmate that they've got one cent left in their commissary account, and asking if they want us to cut a check for that amount to them (and I'd say about 95% of the letters I've sent out were for amounts that were less than the cost of sending the actual letter, and most of those were just for a penny!)? And why would three people be needed to run the commissary when they spent most of their day playing on the internet and talking with the guards? A single, semi-organized person could have done the job just fine on their own, and still would have had time to play solitare on the computer and flirt with the guards. Every day there, I saw another means of wasting tax dollars through inefficient protocols and poor work ethic. So, why would I believe that giving MORE money to the government wouldn't go to waste?

I'm surprised at the people who think all Americans can afford exhorbitant prices. What about those on fixed incomes? What about people like us, who are trying to put two kids through college at the same time? If our government paid off the National Debt, they would just plunge us right back into debt anyway. We need to be candid about human nature and about the history of our government.

dumb ass idea. americans luv cars! its already to expensive to drive most cars. my kid wont be able to learn about autos like i did at this rate.

I paid $3 per gallon of gas when I filled up my automobile yesterday. That was a first. I didn't like it and neither did any other Californian who purchased gas yesterday. But we did it. And we will do it if the price goes up. No choice. Gasoline is a necessity of American life, like coffee. People will not do without it, no matter what the price. My proposal: Raise the price of gasoline to $5 per gallon. Take the extra two dollars for each gallon purchased and pay off the national debt in less than 3 years.