Your analogy between freeways and the internet is a very poor one, as Metcalfe and others have amply written about.
But as long as you mention it, I am completely in favor of taxing roadways directly and cutting State taxes generally. Here in California 70% of our State tax dollar is spent on building and maintaining freeways and related activities thereof. The only people who really benefit are those who drive cars. Myself, who does not drive a car, does not even own one, or even want to own one, gains nothing. Why should I pay 70% of my tax dollar for something I never use but suffer the adverse consequences of every day.
Every day, I bicycle everywhere I go at great risk to myself but at little or no risk to others. I do not contribute to pollution. I do not needlessly waste scarce petroleum products and contribute to the further destruction of an already toxic earth. It keeps me in good health so I pose less of a burden to the already overtaxed medical system.
I read a study once that found that over 50% of miles drive in the US were not necessary. In other words, only half the driving was necessary for economic purposes.
There are so many clowns out there who are so insecure in themselves that their desperately needed ego crutch is their automobile. Driving everywhere as a gut reaction, without even thinking about it, often driving for no reason, polluting the earth, making excessive noise, wasting money (other people's money), endangering others lives, driving drunk, stoned, completely clueless, treating their fellow motorists like absolute garbage, even shooting at each other. It's and excercise in complete waste and futility and a worthless life experience if you ask me.
Yes. Tax the automobile and everything related to it. Tax it to death. It's a selfish American vice. And the rest of the world has to suffer for it.
Patrick Swayze said it best "look at them, throwing their lives away driving around in their metal coffins". |
