18.4 cents is the federal tax on each gallon of gas sold in this country. It is supposed to be spent on fixing our roads and mass transit systems. Well, it seems that many of the roads and transit systems are in Alaska. For every person living there the new transportation bill will spend $1,501; the bill authorizes the munificent sum of $83 per person for the rest of us. Alaska, which ranks 47th in population, will receive more money than all but three states. It will receive almost a half billion dollars for two bridges that nobody wants. Is it a coincidence that the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrstructure Committee is from Alaska?
Over the years the number of pork projects encapsulated in the transportation bill has increased from 10 in 1982 to - sit down - 6,371 in 2005. This is a period when the rise of the professional politician was in full flower.
Hell, our roads stink; professional societies give them a grade of D. Mass transit is stagnant. And we're giving money to a museum that touts the history of the Packard automobile.
We need a better way to select our representatives. We must eliminate the gerrymandering that has made the profession of politician possible.
1 comment:
You know, Al, when the French found themselves in a similar situation they solved the problem by cutting off the heads of their politicians. Can we start with George W.? I promise to bring my knitting.
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