[Rhodes22-list] Politics: Taxes

[Bill Effros]

Brad,

Don't believe everything you read on the back of a truck.

Fuel taxes did not build the highway system.  Airport taxes and fees did not
build the airports.

The following link will take you to the Senate Majority Leader's web site
where he proudly boasts of how he and your other Senator from Tennessee
managed to take $8.6 million out of the general treasury for the benefit of
the Memphis airport.

http://frist.senate.gov/press-item.cfm?id=183779

They promise to get you more.

This link describes how Michigan could find itself in a position where it
has to repay $135 million worth of airport bonds because of the weakness of
the American airline industry.

http://www.cdfa.net/cdfa/cdfanews.nsf/1.%20All%20Documents/63982F250534D5F38
6256C29005847B3

Here's a link to a firm that structures transportation bonds repaid by sales
taxes.

http://www.orrick.com/about/prtcarea/areas/PubFin_Trans.htm

And then, of course, there's the "Big Dig" in Boston "Holding the Line" at
$14.6 Billion.

Taxation is far more complicated than bumper stickers would have you
believe, and we all have a direct stake in understanding what is really
going on here.

Bill Effros




----- Original Message -----
From: "brad haslett" <flybrad@yahoo.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 1:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Politics: Taxes


Bill,

A couple of corrections are necessary.  Airports are
built from ADAP funds, federal excise taxes on jet
fuel, landing fees, and airline ticket tax.  One of
the reasons the Air Traffic Control system is
inefficient and airport delays are common is that the
ADAP (airport development aid program) fund has been
raided several times over the years to mask the social
security deficit.

Fuel taxes fund highways.  Ever read those signs on
the back of the trailers?

Wars are expensive and the cost can sometimes carry
over several generations.  Thank goodness though that
my father, five of his brothers, and millions of
others chose to fight WW2.  Now my son studies German
as a second language instead of as his first.

My fundamental values were shaped by growing up in a
small farm town.  If I grew up in a slum I'm sure they
might be somewhat different.  Long term social welfare
programs have destroyed both places.

Brad Haslett
--- Bill Effros <bill@effros.com> wrote:
> Every discussion about taxation boils down to an
> attempt to convince others to pay more for projects
> we favor than we will have to pay for projects they
> favor. Many of the arguments are specious, and the
> facts wrong. But, hey, all's fair when fighting over
> money. Most people oppose any "welfare" that isn't
> going to them.
>
> So, the pilot rails against sports stadiums built at
> public expense, but has no problem with airports
> built at public expense.
>
> And the truck driver opposes subsidies to railroads
> and subways, but favors vast highway building
> programs paid for with tax dollars.
>
> And the man who opposes "welfare" for others wants
> to believe that the money he received as
> "unemployment insurance" is in some other category,
> because he personally contributed, at an earlier
> time, all of the money he subsequently collected.
> (As they used to say "t'aint so, McGhee".)
>
> And many people seem to favor war as a solution to a
> multitude of problems. But no one seems willing to
> discuss where the money will come from to fight
> these wars. (Invariably we shift these costs to our
> children, first by forcing them to fight the wars,
> and subsequently by forcing them to repay the
> monetary costs--with interest--which we have
> borrowed because we are unwilling to pay these costs
> ourselves.)
>
> People speak of wanting a "flat tax", but at the
> same time they say they want to exempt dividend
> income.  These policies are mutually exclusive.
>
> Tax policy is complicated, and really quite
> interesting.  That's why this thread has endured for
> so long.  By our positions we reveal our fundamental
> values, and how carefully we have considered them.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help?
www.rhodes22.org/list


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