Maggie's Farm

The Fart Tax

Virtuous New Zealand is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gasses - by introducing another tax on fuel, of course. I can see how that adds to government revenues, and I can see how it makes some feel good ("You have to try something"), but I'm damned if I can see how it accomplishes anything else.

Governments love stuff like that.

The story from Right Thinking reminds us of that infamous Fart Tax, which was finally rejected by New Zealand. Turns out half of their greenhouse emissions come from cattle passing gas. It was never mentioned what percent come from human gas, but there aren't many humans in New Zealand, which is why it's such a lovely country.

Anyway, New Zealand, I guess I can say this: "You care." That's really really nice.

And there's an interesting twist in Oregon, another "We Care" place, which pushed hybrid autos hard and successfully, but now finds their gas tax income dwindling, so they're coming up with a plan to replace the gas tax - with a tax on mileage! So much for supporting hybrids. So much for govt. wisdom. Why doesn't the Oregon legislature just propose a fart tax on people? It might help solve the elevator atmosphere crisis.