Source: States explore new ways to tax motorists for road repair – USATODAY.com.

States are looking for new ways of taxing motorists as they seek to pay for highway and bridge repair and improvements without relying on the per-gallon gasoline tax widely viewed as all but obsolete.

Having to import oil from the Middle East is the primary reason so many of our kids die in our frequent foreign wars. Not giving those who don’t use as much oil as others some break is wrong-headed idea in my mind.  We need to tax the gas hogs on the road not the guy who is driving a sub-compact to save gas and therefore lives.

I understand the need to raise revenue to keep our highways safe and reliable. It seems to be very difficult in today’s environment to change or especially raise any kind of taxes.  But lets look at the overall affect of how we choose to tax and not just the most obvious. The biggest users should pay the biggest bills. I know that sounds too simplistic but in reality that is usually the best solution.

If you choose to have a vehicle that takes twelve gallons of gas to go one hundred miles, more than likely it is a big honker. If I choose a car that takes three gallons to go the same one hundred miles it is likely a sub-compact. More than likely your eight mpg vehicle weighs considerable more than my sub-compact so it does more damage to the roadway.  So, what is wrong with charging a gasoline tax to raise revenue for road maintenance?

I know our tax code in general is way too complicated. That doesn’t mean it has to be that way. Let’s not complicate the road tax. Keep it the way it is and simplify all the other taxes to match.

I’m just a simple guy so what do I know….