New tax considered in Missouri (credit, to live, smog)

[ShadowCaver]

Ranting and raving and such are all part of the deep frustrations we all share when speaking/dealing with BS topics such as politics, government, taxes - however, lets keep the discussions civil, at least somewhat friendly - and debate/discuss the OP's subject. We can disagree, and do so strongly, but such can also be done with respect... if not also some understanding. Differing opinions are not just welcome but very much desired - but not at the expense of person on 'the other side'. 'k? Thanks.

[MoNative34]

Originally Posted by lone sailor

The vehicle miles traveled tax will never happen.

Good.

[tambre]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

The director of the Missouri Department of Transportation set a trial balloon afloat this week. Missourinet, the statewide radio network, reported on his proposal of a Vehicle Miles Traveled (http://www.missourinet.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=F6B3988E-5056-B82A-378B39571AEA55EC - broken link) tax.

That will be a new kind of tax to add to this list: Tax Everything.

Also, the Rolla City Council is getting ready to raise the fees at the cemetery (http://www.therolladailynews.com/news/x497800121/Cemetery-fees-likely-to-rise - broken link). I can't afford to die now; this will really put death out of my price range.

Oh, I thought your "voice" sounded familiar....Ozarks Chronicle, I remember it well (although briefly).

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by tambre

Oh, I thought your "voice" sounded familiar....Ozarks Chronicle, I remember it well (although briefly).

Wow - good call Tambre! I hadn't even put that together. I always loved that guy.

[dfiddler]

You have to be careful with toll roads ... the money can be siphoned off for bad government programs that you hate. They can have private investors, even foreign investors, that expect a huge return on their investments , shady deals with the politicians,etc.

Consider the trucking industry too , the way it is used in our country.... we should be using rail to haul our freight as much as possible, not trucks ....besides the massive energy savings, think about this... ( I test highway materials) ... every time a single truck ( especially an overloaded one ) goes bouncing down the pavement one single time , it does damage to the road - the equivilent damage of about 10,000 cars going down the same road . It's not fair that car drivers are paying for roads being pounded into dust by overloaded trucks. If you could get these trucks off the road your highways and bridges would last 10 times longer .

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by tambre

Oh, I thought your "voice" sounded familiar....Ozarks Chronicle, I remember it well (although briefly).

It's still (he's still?) alive and well. Now it's called the "Ozarks Almanac."

[ShadowCaver]

dfiddler - with respect, and w/ it said upfront that I am no fan of slow lumbering large trucks in my way , and as a fan of RR's would very much love to see more rail traffic, I disagree w/ the blanket statement of 10,000 cars equates to one truck. That is a quite simplistic description of an old study, that unfortunately has grown legs and been used too much - it doesn't address differences in road types, weather/moisture/seasonal effects, dynamic vs. static loads, tire pressures, etc. Overall yes there is a correlation, but its somewhere between 1000 cars and the stated 10,000 cars to each tractor trailer.

Back to more on topic, and to use this comparisons of weight, person A has a small econobox car, whereas person B has a large dual truck hauling material - will this tax take those differences into account? Recall reading this article years ago: The Western Front - WSJ.com

[tambre]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

It's still (he's still?) alive and well. Now it's called the "Ozarks Almanac."

Wonder why the name changed? Love the poem on taxes...so true.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Silvermouse

Wow - good call Tambre! I hadn't even put that together. I always loved that guy.

Thanks, Silvermouse. We published the monthly print version of The Ozarks Chronicle for three years, after I spent about 27 years as a newspaperman ( I am an OLD Ozarks Boy). Readers loved it, but for some reason I couldn't get advertisers excited about it. I don't know; maybe my readers didn't read the ads and didn't patronize the advertisers. Also, I was undercapitalized, and I flat ran out of money. So I got out of journalism (the best move of my life) and got a real job.

I let the web version go on until the service provider wanted his annual payment again. I shut that down and started The Ozarks Almanac on Blogger/Blogspot, which doesn't have an annual payment, at least not yet.

Several of you check The Ozarks Almanac regularly, I've noticed, and I appreciate it. It's just a little something to express my love for the region and its people. If you're thinking about moving to the Ozarks, especially the Rolla area, it might be helpful. Or it might not.

OK, thanks.

And, yes, ShadowCaver, I know this is off topic, so I'm prepared to see it deleted.

[tambre]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Thanks, Silvermouse. We published the monthly print version of The Ozarks Chronicle for three years, after I spent about 27 years as a newspaperman ( I am an OLD Ozarks Boy). Readers loved it, but for some reason I couldn't get advertisers excited about it. I don't know; maybe my readers didn't read the ads and didn't patronize the advertisers. Also, I was undercapitalized, and I flat ran out of money. So I got out of journalism (the best move of my life) and got a real job.

I let the web version go on until the service provider wanted his annual payment again. I shut that down and started The Ozarks Almanac on Blogger/Blogspot, which doesn't have an annual payment, at least not yet.

Several of you check The Ozarks Almanac regularly, I've noticed, and I appreciate it. It's just a little something to express my love for the region and its people. If you're thinking about moving to the Ozarks, especially the Rolla area, it might be helpful. Or it might not.

OK, thanks.

And, yes, ShadowCaver, I know this is off topic, so I'm prepared to see it deleted.

Sorry that the Ozarks Chronicle had to fold...glad you found a new venue, and best of luck with it. Mystery solved!