From: gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman)
Subject: Re: Roads and Taxes (was Re: NEWS: True Costs of )
Reply-To: gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman)
Organization: Destructive Testing Systems
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:25:51 GMT

In article <51904@seismo.CSS.GOV> stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead) writes:
>In article <1993Jan21.120241.7316@ke4zv.uucp>, gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:
>> Only in the liberal welfare state Northeast. Down here in Georgia
>> we have both the lowest taxes *and* the best roads. That's because
>> we don't let the Legislature get their sticky fingers on the gas
>> tax money. It's mandated by law to go *directly* to the State DOT
>> which in our state is essentially a totally autonomous body that
>> doesn't answer to the Legislature. They are a professional group
>> of highway engineers, not politicians.
>
>Well, I applaud the fact that you keep that tax money from the politicos,
>but that is only a small contribution to the condition of your roads.
>The main advantage you have over the NE is the lack of snow and ice.
>It is no small coincidence that the states with the worst road conditions
>are those along the freeze/thaw line - despite the fact that at least
>one (PA) is reliably conservative.

Yep, we don't have much problem with frost heaves, though we do have
some. Even Georgia has some cold weather in the winter.

>BTW - you now have given me an example where directed taxes work to
>offer to all those who argue that my suggestion of a large, directed
>federal gas tax couldn't work.  I'll just say "Why not ask Gary in Georgia?"
>Thanks.

Scale and responsibility Richard. Directed taxes can and do work when
those who levy the taxes and those who spend the taxes are closely 
coupled to those taxed and those who use the results of the tax spending.
The problem with a Federal tax is that it is too decoupled from the
local people paying it. Georgia is a net donor state when it comes to
Federal fuel taxes. We collect far more than the Feds send back. And
what does come back often has unacceptable strings attached. Our state
tax, on the other hand, seems to be very effectively utilized. I'd
support raising the State tax by 15 cents a gallon, if the Federal
bite were reduced a similar amount. We wouldn't need the Federal funds,
and Federal strings, in that case. In fact, I think that idea should
be applied more generally with respect to taxes and regulation. The
Feds can't do anything as cheaply as local people can do for themselves.
And the Feds aren't responsive to local conditions and requirements.
Our entire system has gotten out of whack with the Feds claiming the
lions share of revenues and dribbling it back to localities entwined
in miles of red tape and restrictions. Local politicians clamor for
Federal dollars in "revenue sharing" like pigs at a trough because
it's "free" money. The only thing free about it is that the local
politicians are free of the *responsibility* of raising it. This decoupling
of responsibility has bloated spending at all levels. So don't use me
as a recomendation for increased *Federal* taxes of any kind. I will
speak glowingly of the results of *local* tax funded projects where
deserved. Local boondoggles paid for by local money result in local
politicians out on their cans. A local boondoggle paid for by Federal
dollars results in some DC bureaucrats getting more perks while the
rascals in Congress keep their jobs.

Gary
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