The left says 'Gas is too cheap!'

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-23-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 10:39am
Thanks, it's not a very clear plan yet, is it. It could go anywhere.
**** **** **** **** **** **** "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald R. Ford
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 10:51am

>You asked how someone proposed to pay for road repairs. Are there no provisions now in any local, state, federal budgets now for maintaining roads? <


Yes, but those costs are rising while tax revenues from the usual sources--gas tax, property tax on vehicles--are either remaining static in some states or decreasing. In Virginia, that means either we forego needed highway improvements to pay for the repairs or we raise taxes to pay for them.


As for the rest, our nation decided a long time ago that roads were something the government would construct and maintain as important infrasture needs. We could go back to a privately maintained system, but I think then you'd find that most country roads would be too expensive to maintain--not enough traffic to pay for the repairs through reasonable tolls.


Frankly, I'd be happy to go to a pay as you drive system, but then my husband and I would still pay little towards roads because we drive so little compaired to the average driver in Norther Virginia. (Right now we pay little because we both have efficient vehicles.)

The 3 Day

Sandy
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-23-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 11:02am

Thank you. I imagine it would help me understand the need for more government if I understood all the issues in other states. Being an Illinoisan, we have an extensive toll system, one that was supposed to pay for the roads. That money never seems to be enough. When I used to drive into a suburb of Chicago to work, about 30 miles at that time. (I've since moved) It cost me 70 cents in tolls. That same trek now costs around $2. That's one direction. The gov. keeps crying there is not enough money, but where is it going? Not for what it's intended. (We have the same issue with the lottery proceeds, that was going to go to education, only a fraction of it does).
In my adult life all I have seen is politicians identifying the need for more money while corruption and poor money management reigns. When does the government do what we are doing in my family to make the most of our dollars instead of just taking more. They aren't just taking it from the wealthy, although that is what a lot of politicians would have you believe.

I still have concerns about the government potentially taking over an industry. I don't like big government, and I think it's way too short sighted to think the government is the answer to every problem.

**** **** **** **** **** **** "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald R. Ford
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-1999
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 12:03pm

I still have concerns about the government potentially taking over an industry. I don't like big government, and I think it's way too short sighted to think the government is the answer to every problem.


I'm going to preface this by saying I THINK that this is the way the process works, although I'm not 100% sure.


The federal government isn't really involved in the road process per se, so they wouldn't be taking this over. Most states have a road authority since most roads are a local responsibility. Here in Michigan it's MDOT, the Michigan Department of Transportation. They do basic road work. For larger projects they contract the work out to contractors. Here's one example here in Michigan of a repair being sent out to the lowest bidder.


Bidding process to begin soon for work to repair I-75/Rouge River Bridge in southwest Detroit


Contact:

dablacksox


Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.---Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 1:00pm

When you posted your state was Iowa, it reminded me of an article I saw in Progressive Farmer.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 1:02pm
I may be more along the lines of what I posted was "not clear."
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2004
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 2:06pm

The money is on the way,

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 2:21pm

Blue state. red governor, guess they won't make that mistake again!

.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 4:04pm
I'm happy that a portion of my taxes have been used to help your state repair its roads.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2008
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 4:40pm
I guess if you drive a Hummer or SUV you don't need roads you can just do some off-road free-wheeling to get things to market....

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