With all due respect, it seems to me that you're under the false impression that the politicians actually spend the gasoline tax money on roads - they don't. That's the whole problem.
And remember, besides the state gas tax, there's the Federal Gas Tax which is ALSO supposed to go back to the states for the roads. But again the pol's put it into the General Fund and spend it on a host of other feel-good, do-nothing, wasteful programs for special interest groups who vote in blocks. And for a new diamond necklace for their 'secretary' Roxanne, recently of the Hi-Ho Gentleman's Club.
Oregon's GPS tax scam is just like the State Lottery (where they exist). All that money is supposed to go for "education". And the Lottery was also supposed to solve the education funding 'problem' forever - Riiiiight. As it solved it for about a month because that's how long it took the state pols to rob the Lottery Fund for their 'special programs' - and a matching diamond ring for Roxanne.
"With all due respect, it seems to me that you're under the false impression that the politicians actually spend the gasoline tax money on roads - they don't. That's the whole problem."
...and do you really think that the money collected by this tolling scheme will go into roads? Of course not - but as the gas tax lapses we ARE enabling this scheme to take place. There is no way around it.
Some states, like Washington (from what I've heard), actually do a reasonable job of preventing diversion of gas taxes, but I'm sure there are plenty that don't.
My only point is that the gas tax has an upper limit, as people in this country will not standby for $6.00 per gallon gas, as they do in Europe, but they will pay the equivalent of $6.00 per gallon gas if it is collected as tolls, as we are now doing in Texas (and elsewhere).
You really do not want this tolling system, and anything that gives the government an excuse to impose it, just assures that it gets that much closer - and you will not be able to stop it then.