LaHood floats mileage tax

while i agree that a mileage tax is a better and more reliable way to fund our roads than a fuel tax, i dont think we should all out switch. the mileage tax would bring revenue to where it needs to be in order to maintain our crumbling roads. but we cant not tax gasoline. the government should raise the gas tax in order to encourage consumers and auto makers to switch to more efficient and greener power sources.

some have envisioned cars with GPS chips to track locations, but there has been a backlash from folks on that. it does reek of big brother and 1984. all cars now have electronic, more or less tamper proof odometers, so, why not include mileage in the fee to register or inspect cars. many states already require and anuual inspection, so let the states look at that, collect a fee, that is then used to maintain the state's roads with federal oversight.

i also think that freight should get some kind of reduced rate, because the idea is not to drive up the cost of goods, but to maintain roads. they shouldnt get a free pass either, because those rigs tear up the roads and we should encourage competition on the rails and through the air.

what say you?

Freep

hey, remember me?

i'm still alive, just been through a couple of real busy weeks.

anyway, Krauthammer is at it again. he's after Obama for not running around all over the world posturing against Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Venezuela. well guess what, buddy. thats what we voted for.

you barely mention the domestic crises that were up against here. i dont think that we need to run around trying to assert our will all over the globe when were reeling from domestic woes. when ive got a cold i dont go out on the street spouting off at the mouth about everything that i dont like. id rather not get punched in the face. and i dont do that anyway.

talk softly and carry a big stick. despite Bush's best efforts, we still have the biggest stick around. Russia, Iran, Venezuela, N Korea all know that if they really provoke us, we will totally fuck them up. at the same time, we dont need to go around picking fights.

i feel like were the big good hearted guy in the school yard who keeps the peace. bullies think twice because were around. but if we go around trying to bully all the bullies, well, we might find ourselves surrounded. we kind of proved in WWII that even the biggest military machine can be brought down if theyre surrounded by a coalition of determined opponents.

were already down, we dont need to encourage our foes to kick us.