Where I come from, use tax is sales tax imposed on out of state purchases. If it's something different there, then I don't know what it is, but if it's the same, then I have yet to stand corrected.
So why isn't it private if you earn what you are paid, and are not allocated what you're paid? Why is it publically--involuntarily--financed?
If it is in fact 1:1, and only people who use the roads pay for the roads, then I now stand corrected, and I apologize for insinuating otherwise.
It would still be needed, and it would likely be paid more too.
Actually, the correct term I should have used is "user fee". Sorry. Taxes are collected on gasoline at the rack from the gas companies and then are passed down to the people at the pump. So effectively only people pumping gas into their vehicle are paying the gas tax. I will concede some states do collect or use their general fund taxes to subsidize the shortages of the fuel tax. In those cases, I would side with you that its not really fair to those not using the service at all, but I think it could be argued that there aren't many tax payers that don't use the services transportation departments offer vs most of the social programs where its the relative few eating up the services.
As a side note, the increase of longer milage vehicles has far surpassed the increase in the fuel tax on the federal and state levels, thats why many states have begun funnelling general fund money into the transportation system, but with the recession that funnelling has basically ended and our state had to eliminate a lot of projects...until the stimulus funding arrived...
which yeah is basically a tax on everyone including our grandchildren!!! ...I'm not arguing in support of that behavior mind you. My argument is mostly based on the concept of needing something, be it government or a corporation to accomplish building highways. You or a small group of people in your neighborhood will not be able to create mulimillion dollar roads and bridges with out a larger effort.
Many other government programs that help people on individual levels, such as food stamps, or healthcare can be accomplished through personal accountability or as you suggested, charities. Schools can be funded by individual parents.
But infrastructure projects that cost $100,000,000? This is closer to on par with national defense.
You're right, I probably would be paid more in the private sector.
I would probably not be all that against privatization. Obviously I like my job for the most part otherwise I would leave, but I wouldn't be against it.
