CA: How bad an idea is the mileage tax?

OC Register ^ | 11/27/04 | Benjamin Zycher

[DoughtyOne]

I'm against the tax. To hear Sacramento's song and dance, they're really hurting for highway funds because cars are getting better mileage. Strangely they forget to admit that there are two or three times more cars on the roads that there were in the 70s. The income is there from the gas tax. They just aren't spending the funds on the roads. Instead they are spending multiple billions of dollars on rail lines that run for five to twenty miles to basicly nowhere.

Why do I say nowhere? Because those rail lines go nowhere near the place I work. They seldom do for anyone. If you happen to live in just the right place and work in just the right place, they may work for you. Then you have to face the fact that you'll only be able to take a taxi or walk if you need to leave the office.

Mass transit in Los Angeles is a pipe dream that will never work the way the politboro thinks.

It's time to do away with the diamond lanes, thus expanding the lanes available to all the cars by 25 to 33% Then build new lanes by stacking.

The federal government is going to manage another five to ten million newcomers to the Los Angeles area in five to ten years. Why not think ahead a little and prepare in advance.

In five to then years they'll only be able to install another two or three rail lines to nowhere. Instead, expand the roads today.

I'd like to take their electronic tracking systems and shove them where the sun don't shine. At least then we could run studies on where all the hot air really comes from. We could also limit their movements to just the supermarkets and perhaps church. This would improve society emensely.

[wizr]

Sound like you could be close. Here in Grover Beach, it's pot hole heaven. The City would rather spend money on entrance palm trees than fix the streets.

Thanx for the reply. Sometimes I feel like I'm out in left field.

[SierraWasp]

"I live in El Dorado County where more than 50% of the jobs here are NOT from the private sector but Government"

Government is our ONLY growth industry! This is an anti-sprawl tax designed specifically to force you and your businesses back into the blue zone cities because the liberals want you back on their plantation!!!

It's inexcusable that a Republican Governor appointed yet another militant, big government Socialista to head the DMV and seriously propose this anethma for CA!!!

Oh! You did know the Governor put El Dorado and 21 other Sierra-Nevada counties into a new regional government, didn't you???

[heleny]

It's time to do away with the diamond lanes, thus expanding the lanes available to all the cars by 25 to 33% Then build new lanes by stacking.

An easier way to eliminate diamond lanes would be to reduce the diamond lane violation fine from $271 (or whatever) to $0. That would make it almost a normal lane without the additional restriping/painting costs. I don't know how it would work with federal highway funds, if they require diamond lanes for certain funding.

[Syncro]

I NEVER vote for any tax.

They always use scare tactics like the Police and Fire and the Chilin' will suffer.

When they stay on budget and cut the taxes down to where they should be, then ask for more.

When they steal all the road money and use it for other things, they can cut their salaries if they need more money.

Oh, and BTW you are out in RIGHT field...

:>)

[Syncro]

Yes. You cannot get more lanes without putting diamond lanes in. That is IF we want to get some of OUR OWN tax money back. Ripoff.

They cause more pollution and make cars use more gas.

In my area, you can go along at 50 or 60 during the rush period, and then magically at 3:00 PM it slows down to 20 or bumper to bumper in the two right lanes.

Every five minutes or so a car passes at about 50 in the diamond lane. The cops pop almost everyone of the single rider cars for 271 bucks. They have about 3 Motorcycle cops and they always have someone pulled over.

Ridiculous.

[goldstategop]

Thank God they cashiered John Burton. You should look at the paean to him in the Dog Trainer today. Like the San Francisco Democrat was the world's greatest public servant. Its people like him who've helped bring about stupid ideas like the mileage tax. I hope that one never sees the light of day.

[Rakkasan1]

the 'law of unintended consequences' is something libs have never understood.
may as well drive a big car and survive a crash.

vast prosperity is a wonderful "problem" to have!