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I've been hearing a lot of name calling when it comes to managing to keep our infrastructure up to par (mainly 'liberal nightmare' and 'unconservative') personally, I could care less about either side, both are scary if you stray too far from the middle, and all to often they do.
So my question to you is, what would you do if you had the law making ability and the resources to do so? All of our infrastructure is a problem, but lets first deal with is transportation.
I personally would be in favor of a tax based on the number of miles you drive and how much wear your vehical causes to the road.
I am staunchly opposed to tolls. They often decrease development along the roads they're built, decrease the number of riders (thus reducing profitiablity), and stir up controversy...and in the case of the one close to where I live, has caused it's bondsmen to have to fill for bankruptsy...not something we want the people managing all transportation to get into.
I am inbetween on the gas tax. Yes it does mean that if you fill up with it, you are helping pay for roads, but if you have a fuel efficent car, you are paying less, and if you buy an electric car then you are not paying at all for the roads you use. Also the gas tax has been stuck at the same level for years even though gas prices in general keep going up. Each year not only does inflation make the money worth less and less, but also the reduction in fuel usage causes even less money to be available.
We need to take care of the transportation networks we have, and widen/add new routes when the need arises. Uber conservative critics have told me that we can't bother adding anything new yet and have to focus what little we have on repairing...yet we are already far behind on the majority of foreign countries (Europe and Asia offer bullet trains that are very popular and efficent, and Japan even has maglev trains that can go almost 300mph). Repairing just is not going to cut it, we have to find a way to deal with the debt and turn it around to make a surplus so that every year when some areas recieve hundreds or even thousands of new inhabitants these areas have a way to deal with it.
Your premace is flawed because all of our infrastructure isnt a problem, but if its in such disrepair, maybe we should stop creating more of it until we can fix what we have.
Your premace is flawed because all of our infrastructure isnt a problem, but if its in such disrepair, maybe we should stop creating more of it until we can fix what we have.
Never once claimed the whole network is falling apart, but getting adequate funds to keep up with everything that's going on has gotten so bad, they could require over 10 billion in bailout next year just to maintain.
Never once claimed the whole network is falling apart, but getting adequate funds to keep up with everything that's going on has gotten so bad, they could require over 10 billion in bailout next year just to maintain.
They already spend hundreds of billions a year on infrastructure, $10B is nothing.
There are already gas taxes that are paid the more you drive to be used for roads. Typically the Govt diverts those funds elsewhere.
The system is in place, our Govt screws it up.
Just like about everything they try to do (like health care).
Not doubting that, but how do you expect even what we already have just to be maintained when prices have inflated, roads have been added, less people drive and cars are more efficent, and yet the tax that pays over half of the work has not increased for years? Do you honestly believe the problem lies solely in their hands?
Ever heard of property tax? If the road is in your area, who do you think should pay for it for its upkeep?
Most roads are owned either by the Federal Government or the State Government. Also keep in mind that there is nothing at all to stop someone from another city, another state, or even another country to drive their car across that stretch of road.
Not doubting that, but how do you expect even what we already have just to be maintained when prices have inflated, roads have been added, less people drive and cars are more efficient, and yet the tax that pays over half of the work has not increased for years? Do you honestly believe the problem lies solely in their hands?
The tax income has been increased because there are more cars and trucks on the road burning more gas. Also Toll Roads are becoming more common.
You also in many states pay license and other fees that are to be used toward bridges & roads.
Like everything there is more of a demand than available money and they are suppose to budget.
We should just print the money to cover the shortfall created by spending the allocated funds on unrelated causes.
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