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My contributions to the state and feds includes the following:
Fuel taxes part of which are used for mass transit.
Sales tax on the vehicle which could rival the fuel tax if it's bought and sold three times.
License Fee, Registration fee, title transfer fee...
If I park my car in Philly at public parking half the money is equally split between the city and school district.
Then there is $25 speeding ticket that morphs into $150 after all the fees are added on.
Those are some of the things I directly contribute, of course there are others. Indirectly there is the tax revenue from the parts store, garage, dealerships, car manufactures, oil companies and all of their employees.
The fact is when I drive my car there is an enormous revenue stream that is directly and indirectly created by my activity. Other than a fare that does not cover costs in many cases and a $9 hamburger that cost Amtrak $16 to make what is the rider of that train contributing?
As I previously posted I'll be happy to use a formula where I'm going to pay all of the costs that are incurred by me but everyone else regardless of the transportation system they are using will also be required to do the same.
I'm certainly not saying you don't pay anything. Nor am I saying that these costs aren't significant.
But the truth is that no transportation system in this country "pays for itself". I grow tired of arguments against PT that are "market-based". As if one system should "pay for itself" through usage fees, while another one doesn't.
Hey - if that's the system we want in this country, fair enough. I would not be against it at all. But, in my opinion, that ship sailed DECADES ago with freeway systems, parking, and loads of other auto-centric infrastructure that are "free" to use (let's not forget the enormous strain auto-centric transportation systems can put on very populated regions).
The reality is that most users of all transportation systems would be utterly shocked to learn how much these systems cost to maintain. The true cost to maintain these systems are largely hidden from users of said systems (and that really goes for any transportation system).
Also, remember: pretty much every user of PT also drives. Such as myself. I drive, bike, use PT...and I pay for usage of these systems in many different ways. Including taxes that (indirectly) subsidize those systems. Even if I rarely drive, I'm not complaining that my taxes go towards maintaining those roads that I personally rarely use.
Tax a gas.. I'm I think first Trump needs to figure out what is actually going on in NJ when you have 12 bridges which have super high tolls, highway tolls, Nj turnpike, AC express way, parkway. When I say high tolls I mean 5 to 20 dollars for a bridge crossing. Then gas taxes. <------ Yet NJ has the highest property taxes and a sales tax. Sure what is another 25 cents. :-)
Gas is already more expensive than it has been in years. Why is it that conservatives think millionaires and billionaires should get tax breaks while the middle class and poor should shoulder more of the tax burden? And....everyone just eats it up because Jesus! Abortion! Gays! MAGA!
Gas is already more expensive than it has been in years. Why is it that conservatives think millionaires and billionaires should get tax breaks while the middle class and poor should shoulder more of the tax burden? And....everyone just eats it up because Jesus! Abortion! Gays! MAGA!
Wake up, Dude.
The proposed tax increase that has raised your blood pressure so much, was a proposal last January. It died.
But the truth is that no transportation system in this country "pays for itself".
If you add up all those things I've outlined there is no way roads do not pay for themselves, that's besides the point they are required for economic activity. Mass transit is not going to get the goods you require to market whether it's rural farm roads or ones inside a city. The other issue is population density, for many people in this country mass transit is just impractical.
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Hey - if that's the system we want in this country, fair enough. I would not be against it at all. But, in my opinion, that ship sailed DECADES ago with freeway systems, parking, and loads of other auto-centric infrastructure that are "free" to use (let's not forget the enormous strain auto-centric transportation systems can put on very populated regions).
With AI on the way it will breathe new life into roads, how traffic is handled will be revolutionized. No more speed limits, stop signs or red lights. Lanes of travel will no longer have a direction. Centrally controlled you will get to where you are going much faster suing far less energy. This will also improve the flow of other transportation modes whether it's your feet, bike or a bus.
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Also, remember: pretty much every user of PT also drives. Such as myself. I drive, bike, use PT...and I pay for usage of these systems in many different ways. Including taxes that (indirectly) subsidize those systems. Even if I rarely drive, I'm not complaining that my taxes go towards maintaining those roads that I personally rarely use.
I have no expectation that people that people that walk or bike are going to have to pay to do it, that said they are taking up valuable space that was paid for by motorists. It's unfortunate that so many of our urban areas do not have wider streets to accommodate more bikes. This is something that needs to be decided and paid for at local level.
I totally support this. Road construction and repair should be paid for entirely from gas and vehicle registration taxes. It should not be funded from the general budget.
Thnak you, President Trump!
Not the way it works. 25 cent tax on fuel and I will only use grocery's as an example ....every single item in your store will go up,forget about your coupons ....it will all go up,it will get passed on to the consumer as will airline fairs and let us not forget USPS,UPS,FED-EX and..................................AMAZON do you people really thing that these companies will pay this and not pass it on in high prices for everything else???Tax cut my butt trump just played all of you.
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