Nine Shift

Collision Course: How do we fund roads and rail?

Much a mess and amiss in all the talk about how to fund roads and rail.

One assumption is that roads and rails are separate issues.  A second assumption is we can fund both. Both assumptions are wrong.

Yonah Freemark (see his April 12 post) cites a great case where Pennsylvania tried to fund rail using a toll tax on the highway. That turns out to be not legal. 

But this is even more fascinating. California and other states are raising taxes on highway use, such as license fees. But raising prices actually depresses demand.  With driving on the decline, higher taxes for cars, licenses and fines will only accelerate the decline in driving, yielding even less income for states.

So taxing drivers more won't help to fund highways, much less trains. How do you think we should fund either roads or rail? Tell us your ideas.

Commuting bad for your happiness

"The daily activity activity most injurious to happiness is commuting," writes conservative columnist David Brooks in the March 30, 2010, issue of The New York Times.  In the column, he summarized research into what makes people happy.

Dear Congressman Stupak

This is to thank you for your vote, and your sacrifice, in creating an historic health care legislation that will be remembered as one of the most important pieces of legislation in the U.S. for the 21st century.

You grew up in Milwaukee, my father-grandfather-great grandfathers' home town. My great grandfather was a co-founder of Rex ChainBelt, at one time a Fortune 500 Company, helping to create prosperity for our country at the dawn of the Industrial Age 100 years ago. Today you are doing the same for the generations of the 21st century.

I spend a lot of time in your district, walking and canoeing in the beautiful Ottawa National Forest. I know your constituents really need this health care bill.  One time I laid down a $10 tip for waitress in your district, and no one would believe how much that meant to her. Until you receive the recognition you deserve, every time I walk in the national forest I will take a stick and mark a big "S" in the gravel road or path to honor your contributions to your constituents and to your nation. You made both Michigan and Milwaukee proud.