CBS News | States Mull Taxing Drivers By Mile | February 16, 2005�14:00:07
“Drivers will get charged for how many miles they use the roads, and it’s as simple as that,” says engineer David Kim.
Seeing as how I’m living in California I thought I should comment on this article that made the news a couple of days ago. Mandrake posted on this and a “lively” discussion ensued. Thanks for directing me to the article, Mandrake.
I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit. In fact, it’s giving me more incentive to move out of California. The reason why I don’t like it, especially for people living in populated areas like the Bay Area is because it is unfair to those who are not wealthy. See if you are wealthy (and wealthy in the Bay Area translates to EFFING ROLLING IN THE DOUGH, I WIPE MY ASS WITH DOLLAR BILLS WEALTHY to the rest of the country) you can afford to buy a home in the greater Bay Area where you, most likely, work. The rest of us, if we want to buy a house, have to buy one in BFE. Communities where homes are still fairly affordable. These communities are quite a distance from the greater Bay Area. I know many (too many) people here at SCU who drive two hours one way to get to work EVERY DAY.
In fact, it is quite common for most people to commute long distances to get to work here. I commute 45 mins one way. I suppose I could move closer to work, but the rent is higher in San Jose. Plus, I really enjoy living in Santa Cruz. I love my community and don’t want to be forced to move somewhere else because of a “mileage tax.”
So to sum up, my point is that the less money you have, the more likely it is you will commute a greater distance to work – thus having to pay a larger amount of taxes than those who are Rich and live closer to work.
This is my general assessment of this situation.
The Man continues to find ways to make it harder for hard working people, struggling to live the American Dream, to get by.
I don’t know if this is a Democratic idea or a Republican idea. Either way, it’s bad.
Blatherskite 