Dear Editor,
Saturday morning, while watching television, I noticed a discussion about the federal and state gas tax and how it was shrinking due to cars getting better gas mileage. Of course, the liberal voices on the show argued for raising the federal gas tax to fund road projects. The conservative voices pointed to the stimulus package which most of was spent on other things than roads. The argument was never mentioned when talking about tax revenue for roads. The taxes collect from automobiles driven on local roads are not limited to just a gas tax. Government collects taxes each and every time a car is sold regardless if new or used or how many times it is sold. Government collects a yearly tax on each and every vehicle's license plate decal for any vehicle on the roads. Government collects a tax for a license plate for any type trailer pulled behind a vehicle on the roads. Government collects a tax from every driver's license issued for a driver to drive on the roads. Government collects a tax for every new auto part bought to keep a vehicle on the road. Government collects a tax on parts and labor when a vehicle is fixed at an automotive repair shop. That's what government does, it collects and spends your tax money, and it is government's sole purpose. Government's purpose is not to ensure your tax dollar is spent with any type of meaning of responsibility. Government collects and spends; when it collects more, it spends more. Obviously, a vehicle generates many more taxes than what is being spent on our roads. Government just isn't spending it on our roads. Government is wasting it in other places as government does. Larger, bigger, more government must be the answer along with the idiots we continually elect to government. Nancy Pelosi said, "We need to raise the gas tax so we can see what government spends it on, beyond the fog of government."
Steven King
Milton
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Government spending is over the top