I read the News Tribune's April 30 editorial, "Leave miles-traveled tax at the roadside," and U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar's May 5 response, "New sources of money needed to invest in roads and bridges." And I have to say, I agree with the newspaper: No more new taxes.
Oberstar's ideas should have been published in the Eh? column. We are in a recession. I know my family feels it, but I suspect politicians like Oberstar do not.
What an invasion of privacy it would be to install GPS technology in our vehicles and for the government to know where we are at all times.
Then the kick in the rear: taxing people for going places.
Here's where the Eh? column comes in: The government charges a ton of gas tax. All of us quit going places, unless necessary, because we can't afford so much tax. Then Oberstar says the gas tax isn't enough to fix the road infrastructures. Well, duh!
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What do Oberstar and others in Washington think would happen if they impose this privacy-invading mileage tax? Yeah, sounds like a real winner.
Here's a thought. Oberstar could get in his vehicle, put lots of gas in it paid for by we the people, and drive around looking at road crews. They sure have job security. They sit in the same place, it seems, fixing the same spots and costing all of us taxpayers tons of money. Oberstar could get on the phone we the people pay for and tell those road crews to fix it right the first time.
That would result in a ton of savings, and there'd be no need for the ridiculous miles-traveled tax idea.
Jessica Daniels
Duluth
