Highways shouldn’t necessarily turn a profit, but gas tax dollars should pay to keep them up. If those funds aren’t raided, the gas taxes will support the infrastructure.
I know that freeways and roads cost lots of money, but the outlay is spread over decades, not a cash payout within thirty days of completion. Bonds are floated, and they are serviced with gas tax dollars, or should be.
Airports do have income. They collect a considerable fortune from parking, hub access, direct ticket taxation, security assessments per ticket etc. Once again, infrastructure fees are spread out over decades, using the same bond process.
As for our rivers, what fees do the state or federal governments have to pay out for them? They are a natural resource. Canals do charge fees for passage. Boat licensure and property taxes associated with those boats reap a fortune for the states.
If we use your model for continual rail subsidy on all routes regardless of the feasibility of sound profits, why not expand to other businesses as well?
It’s in the public interest to have as wide a variety of restaurants too. Should we keep them open if they’re not turning a profit? How about super-markets, certainly an important public service in the interest of the public being well fed. Should we keep them open, if they can’t turn a profit? I could come up with a long list of concerns that are advantageous to the public, that we should keep open regardless of profit. Should we?
I’m not approaching this from a Libertarian point of view, although Libertarians may agree with me. I’m approaching it from a sound fiscal stance. If something is so damned important, or integral to the public, the public will pay the freight when it comes to keeping the concerns going.
If the public won’t pay the freight to keep the concerns going, then the concerns should be abandoned.
We should not have funds stolen from us, to keep unprofitable concerns open.
Highways shouldn’t necessarily turn a profit, but gas tax dollars should pay to keep them up. If those funds aren’t raided, the gas taxes will support the infrastructure.
Well Ron, maybe you and other Californians enjoy paying the highest state gas taxes in the nation, but most states would have to double their gas tax to pay what you pay.
I don't think that's going to happen.
BTW, how are you going to pay for your roads when they make you Californians start driving those cute little battery cars???