I understand that the state of Oregon is studying the possibility of using Global Positioning System (GPS) units to track the mileage of the that state's residents. This is purportedly so that they can create a new "road use" tax.
Apparently, it isn't enough that the government steals your hard-earned cash in the form of gasoline taxes. Now, they want to add another tax for the same thing that the gas tax was supposed to be used.
In a CNS article from earlier this year, Jim Whitty, administrator of Oregon's Road User Fee Task Force defended the idea on the basis that, "it costs a certain amount to drive on the road per vehicle and people ought to pay their fair share of their usage."
Hey, Mr. Whitty, we already do!
How many times have you heard someone in government attempting to use that phrase, "their fair share." We've heard it used by politicians over and over and over again, to sell their class-envy ideas pertaining to the Marxist progressive income tax. Now, they're doing it again with the road-use tax.
Why do politicians keep using these same tactics, promoting "fairness" in public policy? Why do they keep claiming the need for change, based upon the ill-conceived notion that existing policies aren't "fair" because they tilt in favor of a certain group? Apparently, they do it because it works.
And have you ever noticed that the remedy, is always for the particular group to pay more not less?
When was the last time a politician went on television and said, "It's not fair that Group X pays so little in taxes, while Group Y doesn't. So we need tax reform to remedy this problem. So what we're going to do, is lower your taxes, you people of Group Y. And then everything will be fair. Because we all know how important in a free society that fairness is."
No, the solution is never to lower your taxes, but to raise them.
And, by the way, while we're on the subject, who says everything in this life has to be fair? I don't recall ever reading about "fairness" in the Constitution. Since when was that word added?
To be sure, the rights that are recognized in the Bill of Rights are basic human rights. And their recognition is intended to establish guidelines by which government will treat all citizens with the same fairness. But it doesn't guarantee that everyone will make the same income, or pay the same amount of tax. I'll tell you what system of government does guarantee you those things. It's practiced in places like Cuba, and China. It's called Communism. It is the "fair" system of government. Everyone makes the same, and everyone pays the same. And no one has anything. Frankly, I'd prefer a little unfairness, thank you.
Quoting from CNS News:
Noting that gas taxes are unfair because of the large differences in the fuel economy of automobiles, Whitty and the task force explored alternative taxing methods to ensure equity among drivers. Seventy-percent of Oregon's road maintenance revenues currently comes from federal and state gas taxes.
Commission members rejected the idea of using automobile odometer readings to track mileage because they figured some people would accumulate out-of-state mileage. The idea of raising the existing gasoline tax was also turned down because with automobiles becoming so fuel efficient, gas tax revenues are projected to dry up."
First of all, people of Oregon, if you allow them to get away with this, rest assurred that they will not only implement this road-use tax, but they will raise your gasoline taxes as well. They're not going to do this instead of raising gasoline taxes, contrary to what Mr. Whitty — who is quite witty, in a very diabolical way — tries to tell you.
Secondly, we are repeatedly reminded how horrible those highly popular, gas-guzzling Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are by the environmentalists. Despite their repeated demonization, SUVs remain the vehicle of choice for soccer moms, and others who are concerned about safety. As long as that is the case, certainly gasoline tax revenues will be safe long into the future.
The point is that they are using fuel-efficiency, as an argument for creating a new tax. And they want to use one of the most intrusive systems available — in terms of your privacy — to levy the tax. Because with GPS units, the government is able to track your every move. Maybe that's really the idea. Maybe the road-use tax is just a fringe benefit for them in their ever-increasing role in your life.
I strongly urge all Oregonians to say no to this hideous idea. You might call your state legislator and tell them that if revenues are so bad, why don't they quit sending your hard-earned tax dollars to Washington, where they're wasted, and return to the state with strings attached. You won't need federal highway funds if you don't send the money to them in the first place.
What is the federal government going to do if the state doesn't pony up the cash? Arrest your state legislators? If they're willing to go along with a plan like this road-use tax, then arresting them might be a step in the right direction. Just have them start with the Governor.
