Raise the gas tax

At both the state and federal level, raising the gas tax is the new third rail in politics.

California jettisoned it from the budget, even though a 12 cent increase was estimated to bring in over $2 billion.

Now this panel recommends it (ten cent increase in the federal tax), but it will never see the light of day.  So some more convoluted plan to install GPS and clock units IN EVERY CAR to track vehicle miles is proposed.  And different types of roads will result in different charges, time of day will factor into it, etc…  And to assuage privacy concerns, the only thing the unit will spit out is what the latest charge is.  Sooooooo, no way for the driver to see how the amount was arrived at, or challenge it.

Sounds like a very straightforward plan, with no chance for fruad or failure of course.  Typical government.  The apparatus for collecting the gas tax is ALREADY IN PLACE, but that can’t be increased because it is politically unpopular.  So lets rely on unproven technology to take the money so people can’t blame us.

C’mon – how stupid are we?  (Perhaps I don’t want an answer to that question.)  A tax is a tax.  If the roads cost that much to maintain, either some must be closed, or we all pay more.  I think since road damage/wear is directly influenced by vehicle weight, that a “maintenance” tax should be charged at sale based on gross weight.  Also a type of “gas guzzler” tax.  I love how the idea that we are addicted to oil is popular, but anything that might cause any type of “pain” to change that is met with angry voices.