Gas Tax

[canman]

Is anybody else just completely ready to fucking kill any of the LDP pricks that are about to raise our gas prices tomorrow? I can't believe that they are going to go ahead and ram through this bill. I thought for sure they would come to their senses and rethink this. But I hope now that finally the Japanese people can see that the LDP is only after money and could care less about what happens to its people. I am so sick and tired of reading about how they need to raise the price of gas to "stop the confusion". What fucking confusion? People can afford to drive again, is that confusing? Last week I filled up my car at the reasonable rate of Y118. Put 50 litres in. Now, when they go ahead and add the extra tax, and the latest rise in price, I will be paying Y158 per litre. So I'm looking at paying an extra Y2000 per fill up, and the bastards don't see any problem with that. My paying an extra Y2000 per fill up will somehow stop whatever great confusion is going on in Japan. Ahhhh, I would like to pull all my hair out this is driving me so crazy, pardon the pun.

[nottu]

[Greji]

I'm only an economics amateur but if you wait around Charles will explain this to you - it has something to do with taxes being good for you, taxes being 'soft power', and 'We the People'. Besides alleviating income disparity, the increased taxes will also cause everyone to drive less and decrease air pollution.
Its a Win-Win-Win.
Do you feel better now?

Raise taxes? Bird can explain that. It's called vote Dimocrat so you can void all tax breaks, increase taxes so we can pay for those not so fortunate to have a work ethic and keep anyone from getting rich, which as everyone knows, it is a crime against society to have money.

[Charles]

I'm only an economics amateur but if you wait around Charles will explain this to you - it has something to do with taxes being good for you, taxes being 'soft power', and 'We the People'. Besides alleviating income disparity, the increased taxes will also cause everyone to drive less and decrease air pollution.
Its a Win-Win-Win.
Do you feel better now?

Since gaijin are excluded from "We the People" you are entitled to howl about Taxation without Representation. But that's about as much as you are entitled to.

[Uhhuh35]

The money gathered by the new taxes will fund programs that will reduce dependency on fossil fuels, just don't ask the politicians what the programs are.
Besides, those politicians are much smarter than you. They are very well educated, in fact some of them even graduated from Todai. Proof of their genious is the fact that they got elected.
They have all the answers, just bow deeply and obey.

[GuyJean]

Is anybody else just completely ready to fucking kill any of the LDP pricks that are about to raise our gas prices tomorrow? I can't believe that they are going to go ahead and ram through this bill...

I haven't been following this closely, but weren't you always paying this 'new gas tax' up until a month ago? It was suspended 30 days ago, no?.. So, how did you survive two months ago?

I can see the fear in everyone's writing the minute the 't' word is used.. Even though some of them have gladly accepted my tax money through military benefits or training..

GJ

[Behan]

Time to get a new bicycle. I would love to get a Prius but I am too poor.

What I don't get is if they are putting the old tax back in why is the price going to be higher than before. It wasn't around 160 yen a liter before they took the tax out. I think it went up to about 150 yen or so a liter.

[Gilligan]

What I don't get is if they are putting the old tax back in why is the price going to be higher than before. It wasn't around 160 yen a liter before they took the tax out. I think it went up to about 150 yen or so a liter.

The extra amount that we're paying is a penalty for having had the audacity to enjoy not paying the tax for a month as well as a reminder to never again support someone who might want to lower our taxes.

Above all, remember that the government is our friend and they only want what's best for us.

[Uhhuh35]

The extra amount that we're paying is a penalty for having had the audacity to enjoy not paying the tax for a month as well as a reminder to never again support someone who might want to lower our taxes.
Above all, remember that the government is our friend and they only want what's best for us.

LOL! Great post, but you forgot to bow reverently to your overlords.

[Catoneinutica]

I haven't been following this closely, but weren't you always paying this 'new gas tax' up until a month ago? It was suspended 30 days ago, no?.. So, how did you survive two months ago?

I can see the fear in everyone's writing the minute the 't' word is used.. Even though some of them have gladly accepted my tax money through military benefits or training..

GJ

Get a friggin' grip. The gas tax is a regressive tax that impacts the poor more harshly in that it drives up the cost of all the things that the little people need to buy, like food and transportation. With recent increases in food and commodity prices making it harder than ever for the even the middle class to get by in Japan, allowing the surcharge to lapse would've been a perfect way to help people put food on the table.

I love how the LDP is piously saying, "We ask for your understanding as the surcharge is necessary for the well-being of Japan." No, it's necessary for the well-being of the LDP's system of "infrastructure"-related kickbacks from contractors.

Assholes. Hope the Japanese finally grow the balls to vote them out of the Lower House.

[Greji]

I love how the LDP is piously saying, "We ask for your understanding as the surcharge is necessary for the well-being of Japan." No, it's necessary for the well-being of the LDP's system of "infrastructure"-related kickbacks from contractors.

As one who benefits from the infrastructure kickback and slush fund system, I think it is lovely.

I drove into the city tonight on my return from my weekend exile and every gas stand from West Tokyo to downtown has cars lined up. Some as many as 15-20 cars to get that last cheap Mantan!

[TravellingMan]

Last week I filled up my car at the reasonable rate of Y118. Put 50 litres in. Now, when they go ahead and add the extra tax, and the latest rise in price, I will be paying Y158 per litre. So I'm looking at paying an extra Y2000 per fill up, and the bastards don't see any problem with that. My paying an extra Y2000 per fill up will somehow stop whatever great confusion is going on in Japan. Ahhhh, I would like to pull all my hair out this is driving me so crazy, pardon the pun.

Think yourself lucky, it's the equivalent of about Y230 to Y245 over here in the UK over 50% more than last year.

[kamome]

Raise taxes? Bird can explain that. It's called vote Dimocrat so you can void all tax breaks, increase taxes so we can pay for those not so fortunate to have a work ethic and keep anyone from getting rich, which as everyone knows, it is a crime against society to have money.

Nice caricature of my beliefs, Greji. You have an active imagination!

Anyway there are plenty of low income people out there who have a work ethic but they don't have access to the finer things that privileged amakudari types like yourself have!

[canman]

"I haven't been following this closely, but weren't you always paying this 'new gas tax' up until a month ago? It was suspended 30 days ago, no?.. So, how did you survive two months ago?"
Kamome, you asked how I survived before. Well first off gas has increased 12 yen in the past month, so add on top of that another 25 yen and you can see how much more it will hurt. Also I have changed cars, getting rid of my gas guzzling Chrysler Voyager, for a much more effiecient Toyota. I have tried to limit the amount of driving I do, and now bicycle as much as I can, but it is hard cycling to different schools, and arriving all hot and sweaty. I am seriouslt thinking of buying a scooter or 49cc bike to travel around on to get to schools, because that is how much this gas issue is hurting me. I think you folks living in the city don't realize the costs that we face out here. With public transport, and the like you don't feel the pain as much as we do living out in the countryside. I have been collecting supermarket flyers just to compare the rising food prices, and it is really amazing how either the price increases, or the size of the product is reduced, but the price remains the same.

[GuyJean]

Kamome, you asked how I survived before. Well first off gas has increased 12 yen in the past month, so add on top of that another 25 yen and you can see how much more it will hurt. Also I have changed cars, getting rid of my gas guzzling Chrysler Voyager, for a much more effiecient Toyota. I have tried to limit the amount of driving I do, and now bicycle as much as I can, but it is hard cycling to different schools, and arriving all hot and sweaty. I am seriouslt thinking of buying a scooter or 49cc bike to travel around on to get to schools, because that is how much this gas issue is hurting me. I think you folks living in the city don't realize the costs that we face out here. With public transport, and the like you don't feel the pain as much as we do living out in the countryside. I have been collecting supermarket flyers just to compare the rising food prices, and it is really amazing how either the price increases, or the size of the product is reduced, but the price remains the same.

Hey Canman, that was me who asked those questions.

It sounds like you're doing the right things to limit the impact of rising gas prices.. But I still believe this gas tax had always existed. The only reason prices got cheaper was because it was suspended for a month due to the factions inability to 'reach an agreement' on the issue.. Correct me if I'm wrong.

If, as someone mentioned previously, that they're actually increasing the tax from it's original percentage to 'make up for lost revenue', then that's fucked up.. But reinstating a tax that has always existed doesn't seem like it should surprise people.. And it seems natural to me gas prices would rise with the cost of oil.. living on an island.. with no oil of it's own..:

Oil Prices hit Intraday Record near 120 Dollars
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jz9e2LsE7eZMoX_FA3sj-F_mw1kQ

Opec Warns Oil Could Reach $200
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7370441.stm

Scooters are our friends.

GJ

[FG Lurker]

Rising gas prices suck but until the panicked oil speculation is brought under control it isn't going to get any better. (This is not a demand-fueled spike in prices.)

Gas is a lot more in Japan than in the US but a lot cheaper than in Europe. I go through about 200 litres of premium a month, more during the summer. Sure it isn't as cheap as it was a few years ago but that's the price of comfortable transport. Rush-hour morning trains? No thanks.

[canman]

Sorry Kamome, it was GuyJean who posted the questions. And yes you are right, the gas tax, is not being increased, it is just being re-instated, but with the increase in oil, it will be an increase of about Y10 yen.
Lurker I agree with you, this whole oil speculation thing is driving me crazy. Why, when a bunch of Scottish refinery workers go on strike, should the price of oil around the world jump. Why can't this be stopped, is their no way? Also I keep hearing that due to the weak dollar, people are hedging on oil. So that means instead of buying US dollars you buy a barrel of oil, and then hope the price keeps going up and sell it at a profit.
Does anybody else see oil hitting $200 per barrel? Won't that completely cripple industrial economies? Also how with these record oil prices can oil companies continue to make record profits? It just doesn't seem right to me.

[Mulboyne]

In the absence of Zimbawe-like inflation, advocates of free markets would say that the cure for high oil prices is high oil prices. Industrialized nations are dependent on oil but current prices are a powerful incentive to reduce that dependency.

[Big Booger]

I've taken to cycling in all but inclement weather. To hell with the Arab oil. I'd prefer to give my money to the Chinese bicycle factories.

[Catoneinutica]

In the absence of Zimbawe-like inflation, advocates of free markets would say that the cure for high oil prices is high oil prices. Industrialized nations are dependent on oil but current prices are a powerful incentive to reduce that dependency.

What Mulboyne writes is certainly correct, but is perhaps grist for another thread. More germane to this thread, my wife and I plan to tank up tonight before the LDP-slush-fund-kickback-Greji-subsidizing tax goes back into effect tomorrow.

[james]

i live in inaka too so unfortunately public transportation isn't a very viable option. however, i bear in mind that i willingly chose to live here and willingly continue to do so. i consider the some of what i pay in gas as part of the priveledge of not living in a crowded city with all its conveniences such as stores that actually sell what i need, women in form-fitting shorts and halter tops in the summer and relative anonymity even for a gaijin.

damn.. i'm gonna go rethink this..

[canman]

I just got back from the gas station, thinking that at this late hour nobody would be out filling up.
Well the line was at least a half kilometer long, at 10:30 at night!!! I really think this is going to come back and bite the LDP in the ass come election time. That is if they ever call one.

[Visitor K]

I really think this is going to come back and bite the LDP in the ass come election time.

you can always hope..
unfortunately it wasnt the constant problems with china, the support of the war in iraq, nor the promises to change the constitution that woke people up, but long lines and higher prices.

[FG Lurker]

I just got back from the gas station, thinking that at this late hour nobody would be out filling up.
Well the line was at least a half kilometer long, at 10:30 at night!!!

I sure as hell hope you didn't wait in line and fill up!

I was laughing my ass off earlier at the lineups. Why would anyone wait in line for 30mins to an hour (or more) to save 1000 to 2000yen? I can't see how 2000yen could be worth it for anyone who has the money to buy and run a car in Japan.

[sublight]

I just got back from the gas station, thinking that at this late hour nobody would be out filling up.
Well the line was at least a half kilometer long, at 10:30 at night!!! I really think this is going to come back and bite the LDP in the ass come election time. That is if they ever call one.

The irony is that they each burned up half a tankful sitting with their with engines idling and climate control/car navi/TV-DVD players/stereo systems all running full blast.

Shrug. They're good for a laugh as I coast by on my bike.

[FG Lurker]

Shrug. They're good for a laugh as I coast by on my bike.

I used to say the same thing... Having a car here greatly improves your quality of life though -- I definitely wouldn't give up mine.

[canman]

Lurker with me its not a matter of choice. I drive between 200-300 km per week. And my wife does the same. There is just no way that we could do the stuff we do on bikes. I do cycle as much as I can, but that is more for exercise and fun. Also the city I live in, we are at the base of a bunch of hills, and it seems all the places I need to get to are at the top of these hills. Also makes for poor tv reception.

[Mock Cockpit]

I was surprised it was a whole month before it went back up again. Smoko is over blokes, back on ya heads.

[halfnip]

i live in inaka too so unfortunately public transportation isn't a very viable option. however, i bear in mind that i willingly chose to live here and willingly continue to do so. i consider the some of what i pay in gas as part of the priveledge of not living in a crowded city with all its conveniences such as stores that actually sell what i need, women in form-fitting shorts and halter tops in the summer and relative anonymity even for a gaijin.

damn.. i'm gonna go rethink this..

So, why are you in the inaka again? Oh, and don't forget the long stockings combined with the *very* short shorts that have been popping up lately.

[Mulboyne]

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