Our economy was never designed nor intended to be such that everyone had equal amounts of money or riches. People have the ability to work and achieve…and sometimes that “work” is at achieving specialized skills or education, in planning for the future. Those people generally achieve more than those who do not seek that advantage.

The problem comes in when those who do NOT achieve specialized skills/education wish to live the same lifestyle as those who work to achieve. So, here comes the working Mom who “needs to work” so the family, with dual income, can afford that 42″ HDTV while the state takes care of her children, thus permitting her to work and create that extra income.

Is there something wrong with this picture?

An increase in gasoline tax…or any OTHER tax, for that matter is not the real problem…the real problem though is that no matter how much tax money the state decides to collect, it will NEVER be enough!!

I just registered a private vehicle in the state of Virginia…$83 for two years. Shoot, that could be increased to $100 for two years and that increase would be only $8.50 increase per year…sure, that’s ok, right?? Someone computed that for the average driver, the gas tax increase would only be another $15 per year…that’s not much either, right? Oh, and drivers license fee, we could double that one and it still wouldn’t be too bad, right?

Do you suppose that if all of these increases were made in one year that would be the last we’d hear of tax increases for a while? Nope. Pre-kindergarten for four year olds is coming….oh, and state provided day care for those poor two and three year old children of Moms who must work … sheeeeeeeeeesh — just like transportation improvements, these programs cost money…and where will that money come from?

Thus, our representatives have five choiices: 1) Ignore the fact that there is waste, afterall, there’s nothing we can do about it and collect more taxes to fund essential programs like VDOT, 2) take pot-shots at various state agencies, “hoping” that you’ve made the right cuts, and that not too many voters get angry, 3) close down state functions that are non-essential or could be better performed by private industry (now THAT’s not a bad one) 4) implement an across the board reduction in appropriations for each state agency. (I dare say that there is not a single state agency that couldn’t quite easily absorb a 5%…perhaps even 10% reduction in funding…and wouldn’t THAT money help with the transportation problem…year after year.) or 5) demand a full, across the board audit for all state agencies, as has been proposed for VDOT…then waste could be identified.

Which would you pick?

Like the one just north of the I95/VA 3 (Fredericksburg) interchange? (Which, incidentally, is in *dire* need of collector-distributor lanes to separate exiting and entering traffic from I95).

“Sure, it’s great having rest stops with buildings you could live in, but all you really need is a place to spend 5 minutes going to the bathroom”

NOT to sound like I am attacking or picking on you (I responded to you in another thread)

I actually agree with you here. I always said that IF ever I become homeless, I would go to Fairfax Hospital.

Serious ( it was a joke about 10 years ago, but had me thinking)

You can get lost in that place. You could have a tv lounge with a phone to fresh linens, the tie up in the back clean outfit on a cot in the hallway and so on. Don’t get me wrong that the place is accommodating but at what expense?

Your choice; fire, ems, police, or roads.

You can have 3 at sensible funding or 4 at minimum.

People are so quick to say we need to tax our way out of this issue but if I overspend one month or one year, can I rightfully go to my boss and ask him for more money because I wasn’t able to control my reckless spending of the past? No……….

They’ve just wasted it all on OTHER things, things that aren’t all that useful or necessary.

Even within the transportation segment, we’ve wasted lots of money. Have you seen the new rest stops? Sure, it’s great having rest stops with buildings you could live in, but all you really need is a place to spend 5 minutes going to the bathroom.

Were we afraid people wouldn’t drive on our roads if they didn’t have Donald Trump-style bathrooms? And would it be a bad thing if people didn’t drive on the roads?

My observation is that the Republicans are not looking
for more information and insight in Richmond, but for
a way to protect their political hides from the far right
wing of their party.

I know that takes money, but I also want to know, “how much money and why”.

Wish the Republicans would wake up and smell
the asphalt.
The Dems are no saints, but the GOPers in the GA
are lead by bull s–t cowards.
- Nobody likes taxes! Wow,who knew? BUT
citizens also want safe roads, bridges and mass transit
where practical and they aren’t fools - they know that takes
money.
- The Democratic Senate suggested a small gas
tax increase that still leaves Va. with a far smaller
rate than surrounding states and would make everyone,
including outsiders, who use Va. roads pay for Va. roads.
- The Republican House wants to kick the can down
the road (hope it doesn’t fall in a pot hole) with
another “audit” and, as a last resort, stick local
governments with the job of seeking
new revenue sources for STATE responsibilities.
- Shame on them.

My experiences lead me to believe otherwise–these are within the last 5 or so years, though. At one time VDOT seemed to be very well run.

How many years has it been since that recognition was made?

Can’t we have an audit for both?

To the anon above, do you have a link to a source for that 50% number? I’d like to read it….

MdMan,
Do you still live in Maryland?