Head of the DOT Wants a Mileage-based Tax
Last week, head of the DOT, Ray LaHood said we needed to consider taxing motorists (and trucks, naturally) for the amount of miles driven, rather than the amount of fuel consumed.
This idea was hastily denied by the White House….. despite the fact that LaHood works for the White House. A mileage based tax is something the government has been eyeing for years, particularly now that Americans have begun fueling their vehicles less. Due to $4 gas, we traded in our SUVs, and bought fuel efficient cars. Plus, nobody has a whole lot of loose change, so we’re not driving as much. So revenue from gas taxes have gone down. The DOT could try to do what we’re all doing, make more with less, cut back on spending…………… I’m sorry I had to pause there, because I made myself laugh too hard to keep typing!
The fact is, the government never gets any smaller. Ever. Bureaucrats like LaHood exist for one purpose, to make his agency bigger. That’s his sole function. Get more funding from Congress. Hire more bureaucrats. Spend it all and ask for more. Repeat cycle. So if one of the main sources of revenue for his agency is declining, clearly LaHood can’t say, well, we at DOT need to tighten out belts and make what money we have go further. He needs to find more cash.
President Obama doesn’t necesarily have a problem with shaking us down for more money, but he doesn’t want to be so obvious about it. This is an idea that won’t go away though. Oregon and Massachusetts are already tinkering with the idea on a State level, and undoubtably more States who have squandered their tax monies will join them. So pay attention, there’s going to be more and more of this in the next 4 years. So here’s a little George Harrison:
Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet
Taxman!
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman
Don’t ask me what I want it for (Aahh Mr. Wilson)
If you don’t want to pay some more (Aahh Mr. Heath)
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
Cos I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
And you’re working for no one but me
Taxman!
