Posted on 11/27/2004 10:07:25 AM PST by NormsRevenge
So many ideas; so little thought. I refer to that geyser of public policy wisdom known as Sacramento, from which the latest nostrum is the replacement of the per-gallon gasoline tax with a tax on miles driven, the latter to be monitored with a tracking device placed in autos.
This proposal is misguided economically and dangerous politically.
The economic idea is that the tax shift would raise additional revenues for road construction and maintenance, although that depends heavily on the magnitude of the new mileage tax and the ensuing responses of drivers.
More important, there is no guarantee that any additional revenues in fact would be spent on roads; Sacramento has circumvented the existing requirement that the revenues from the sales tax on gasoline be spent on roads by borrowing the funds and spending them on non-road programs. This practice did not end with the arrival of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and given the looming deficits of $7 billion and counting, it is likely to continue. Accordingly, the mileage tax "for roads" likely would become a general-fund revenue source.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
I'm against the tax. To hear Sacramento's song and dance, they're really hurting for highway funds because cars are getting better mileage. Strangely they forget to admit that there are two or three times more cars on the roads that there were in the 70s. The income is there from the gas tax. They just aren't spending the funds on the roads. Instead they are spending multiple billions of dollars on rail lines that run for five to twenty miles to basicly nowhere.
Why do I say nowhere? Because those rail lines go nowhere near the place I work. They seldom do for anyone. If you happen to live in just the right place and work in just the right place, they may work for you. Then you have to face the fact that you'll only be able to take a taxi or walk if you need to leave the office.
Mass transit in Los Angeles is a pipe dream that will never work the way the politboro thinks.
It's time to do away with the diamond lanes, thus expanding the lanes available to all the cars by 25 to 33% Then build new lanes by stacking.
The federal government is going to manage another five to ten million newcomers to the Los Angeles area in five to ten years. Why not think ahead a little and prepare in advance.
In five to then years they'll only be able to install another two or three rail lines to nowhere. Instead, expand the roads today.
I'd like to take their electronic tracking systems and shove them where the sun don't shine. At least then we could run studies on where all the hot air really comes from. We could also limit their movements to just the supermarkets and perhaps church. This would improve society emensely.
Sound like you could be close. Here in Grover Beach, it's pot hole heaven. The City would rather spend money on entrance palm trees than fix the streets.
Thanx for the reply. Sometimes I feel like I'm out in left field.
Government is our ONLY growth industry! This is an anti-sprawl tax designed specifically to force you and your businesses back into the blue zone cities because the liberals want you back on their plantation!!!
It's inexcusable that a Republican Governor appointed yet another militant, big government Socialista to head the DMV and seriously propose this anethma for CA!!!
Oh! You did know the Governor put El Dorado and 21 other Sierra-Nevada counties into a new regional government, didn't you???
An easier way to eliminate diamond lanes would be to reduce the diamond lane violation fine from $271 (or whatever) to $0. That would make it almost a normal lane without the additional restriping/painting costs. I don't know how it would work with federal highway funds, if they require diamond lanes for certain funding.
Oh, and BTW you are out in RIGHT field...
:>)
the 'law of unintended consequences' is something libs have never understood.
may as well drive a big car and survive a crash.
vast prosperity is a wonderful "problem" to have!
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