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[spitsong]

Ask me later

In theory, I think a raised gas tax is a good idea. So did Carter and John Anderson (who I voted for, lo these many years hence). But it takes Republicans like Eisenhower, Reagan, and Bush to put it into practice, apparently.

Funny, that.

But, our highway infrastructure is crumbling, and could use some fixing up, and there's no money to do it just now.

As long as Exxon's still pulling down record profits, I really think they (and other Big Oil companies) ought to be helping out here.

But a gas tax, straight up, is regressive. Low-income drivers in beaters, who can't afford something new and gas-stingy, might end up bearing an unfair part of the burden of a straight-up gas tax.

I like tab renewal taxes better, depending on the value of the car. I also like congestion tolls. Some combination of the three seems about right.

I like that Reagan put some of the money collected by his gas tax towards public transit, too, and would definitely favor doing so again now.