Posted on 12/26/2014 4:17:54 AM PST by Kaslin
Barone’s love of tolls and their benefits is so one-sided it isn’t funny. It wouldn’t surprise me if doesn’t even own a car. Most tolls are predicated on a bald faced lie - that it will end when the ‘whatever’ is paid for.
In the end, they are another tax and a perpetual entitlement for the authorities that create and man them.
That and the fact that this “power” flowing back, is not the states taking back anything; it’s just additional power (money) stolen from state residents who are still paying their Federal tribute.
Florida at least spends their toll money on infrastructure—gotta support those tourists. LOL
You must be one of these.
When state fuel taxes are raised, politicians moan about crumbling roads and bridges....and then turn around and use the fuel tax as their budget-rescuing slush fund and spend the rest on so-called transportation projects like choo-choo trains and college geeks’ solar cars along with cash lavished on one ‘multi-modal study’ after another. These studies discover nothing and solve nothing but they keep armies of bureaucrats employed.
Meanwhile, the roads and bridges remain untouched.
In these states that have increased toll roads, have they ever reduced gas taxes? Does the Federal government cut their part of the gas tax? Do they cut the ad valorem taxes and license fees they levy on vehicle owners. Does the Federal government cut the taxes it levies on tires?
Your assumption that I think it’s free or should be free is as absurd as the article line you quote.
Tolls are just another way to tax the business of America and those that actually go out and get to a job and produce something.
PS - the fuel tax is, perhaps unwittingly, ironclad evidence that consumption taxes produce far better results than confiscatory taxes.
Here in Louisiana, $70 million/year is stolen from the gas tax and given to the State Police. Those fat retirements have to be funded somehow.
The best of all would be getting rid of the 17th Amendment and putting the US Senate back in control of State legislatures.
Tolls make you pay twice for the same supposed service.
Yeah, so states charging tolls is a good sign? Federal power ‘slipping away’? What is that guy smoking?
Back in August, we inadvertently strayed on to a toll section of the road surrounding Raleigh. There were no toll booths. We drove a very few miles and got off....... we paid no toll.
Weeks later, we got a toll bill in the mail .A camera got our tag number and traced it through Tennessee DOT and mailed the bill. The toll was $0.41 the postage was I believe $0.48. The postage was more than the toll.
When conquering rulers invaded foreign lands, they invariably would leave compliant governors, magistrates, etc. behind to keep up the looting and keep a thumb on the people.
The Federal government is no different here. They relinquish part of the money, divvy up the booty (while still maintaining ridiculous regulatory control) and let the local henchmen ‘get some’ of the pie. Greed is the common denominator.
Is Washington’s power fading away? Not hardly. Now, if you said that the power of the senate and congress is fading away, that I’ll agree. Question: “HOW MANY LAWS HAS CONGRESS & SENATE PASSED?” Answer; “NOT A HELL OF A LOT”. Now question: “HOW MANY “RULES & REGULATIONS” HAVE THESE “ALPHABET GOVERNMENT AGENCIES” PASSED”? Answer: “ALMOST HALF A MILLION”. As it stands now, we really don’t need the senate or congress in Washington. Because they are being made inconsequential. The “REAL” law makers in Washington are the BUREAUCRATS in all these GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
Interstates would make trucking transportation cheaper at a time when overregulation was making freight rail uneconomic. …A double whammy, IOW. Overregulate a free-market mode while centralizing the infrastructure of its “competition”.
Yes, as long as the “tax” for same is in place. Used to be that toll roads were strictly in the private sector.
But since the federal gas tax goes into the general fund first, how do we know what is really collected and what has been skimmed?
A state-owned toll road is a government scam.
Gas tax replaced by tolls? Augmented by, maybe, not replaced.
sneaky b******s
What the hell is he smoking???? Washington RUNS our lives!!
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