permafrost Loc: Minnesota

ACP45 and a bunch of sidekicks are lamenting the long proposed user fee idea which we will need when EV dominates the roadways.. and that will be soon..

Rather then rant the obvious, I will relate a little even in the last couple of weeks at my corner of the world.. move it to main stream or simply chuckle as you wish..

It seems one of my out building truly needs roof repair of it will be no more.. letting the information move down the local grape vine, I got a few bids which were all way over the mark for the work.. it is only a 20 by 30 shed, barn roof style..

then one day near noon a lone horse man ambled down the road and into the garden area where I was suppoting a hoe to prevent its falling..

Beard down to his chest and a funny hat on his head, he introduced himself as an Amish business man and his business was roofing... so he tied his horse, we measured the shed roof, talked a bit and he will be my contractor starting in a few days.. as he and his horse moved out a couple things accued to me and have been pushed by ACP..

this horse man event could become more common if the user fee of such great concern lives up to right wing fears.. While I know that will never happen.. what if it did result in the return of horse back riding as normal....

Picture it in your neck of the woods... milk again delivered by a wagon pulled by a team, carriage to bring the kids to school.. etc etc..

But If it ever came to that, do thing horse and carts would also have to pay your dreaded user fee???

And for a moment reflect on reality.. how the heck would we ever pay for road maintenance if those who use it did not pay the cost of it..

So , user fees will be with us, hope that the gas tax will no longer be the evil it is considered now.. yet all must pay for the service of roads and highway..

Let us cheer for the Amish and horses of all kinds..

Now be sure to read the post by ACP, it has some points that are of interest and you should express your view..

who will be the street sweeper?

Wonttakeitanymore

We live in a totally different neck of the woods! You guys keep supporting a brain dead plant no matter how he screws the pooch!! Some people have to commute to make a decent wage in order to support their families! How about bribem not using Air Force one and the caravans to go where he is not wanted or needed! How about they pay for their own miles and gas? How about a zoom administration? They are worthless anyway! Although horses and back to old times might seem a romantic notion, it just isn’t feasible! Until ccp turns off the lights and we’re all s***es!

Gatsby

While EV users do need to be assessed for their usage of our highway system, that is no valid reason for such a radical t***sformation of the current system, which would involve every state highway usage tax in the nation.

BTW: EV users should additionally be assessed for the cost of additional infrastructure to generate and t***sport the electricity that they will require.

Your narrow minded solution is simply not realistic.

Weasel Loc: In the Great State Of Indiana!!

I found this to be the most affordable model
With the additional user fee it will only cost me $300.00 per month.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Mr more,, you simply are not thinking today..

I did not mention any thing about Joe or the government...

But OK, why do you connect AF1 to highway maintenance??

I live way up in the northland.. we do however have some people that drive near 200 miles to work in the twin cities.. some rent a room, some drive every single day..

As I found ACP post interesting and worth a look, I only posted my little real life event as a thought provoker..

And we do need to remember a couple of facts... EV are going to be marketed.. in a big way.. we will need a way for that usage to be paid for as the gas tax will not cover it.. if not a usage tax, what could we use?
the Idea is not very new, in fact a bill was proposed in Minnesota back in the 90s or even maybe the 80s to do exactly that.. now I can think of many ways to propose the idea, pros and cons for every variation..

I would like your thoughts on how to pay for infrastructure without such thing as a gas tax or replacing, at least in part with a usage tax.. ON my part, the idea of a usage tax is unwelcome but I have not found any alternative that would do the job..

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Hi gatsby,

I do not see a usage tax as radical.. it was in play way back when as an alternative to other taxes, such as the gas tax which was adopted in the end..

It seems the states would have no problem at all in adapting to a usage fee system.. what would they do with the gas tax? remove it? keep it? save part of it? these would need some discussion to say the least..

And need I even say this is not an idea I proposed, not sure of my final standing on the idea.. but it seems to me that with the number of EV which will be on our roads in a few years, something must be adjusted, better now then later.. which would be nearly a novel step in todays world.. be prepared!! but I bet the problem will be near overwhelming before the matter is solved..

Your comment about additional infrastructure must also be addressed and some articles do not even mention it.. In Minnesota we have a consortium of power companies making location available ASAP.. Hwy 61, from Iowa to Canada has been set up for end to end accessibility by EVs.. and many other spots but a long way to go yet for what I would consider normal use of a vehicle..

Sonny Magoo Loc: Where pot pie is boiled in a kettle

Odometer tampering punishable by death

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Think of all the delicious pies one could make out of all the free horse apples?

woodguru

Radical t***sformation, how would you account for the miles driven by everyone?

People already pay for electricity that has fees for the infrastructure built in, and yes there is fees in the works for those who have their own solar systems.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

A solid idea if one was ever offered... LOL...

America 1 Loc: South Miami

Biden, a candidate for horse manure pickup, and street sweeping.
Horses**t is his main venue.
President Reagan told a story from a platform atop a pile of horse manure to a farmer and his wife.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b9KLz3eyok

Weasel Loc: In the Great State Of Indiana!!

Now that's Funny

DotsMan

How about doing the same as we do now?
We could vary easily program all those charging stations that Hidy Bidy is going to give us to collect taxes just like the gas pumps that we currently use. The big electricity "guzzlers" would then pay more per mile just like today's gas guzzlers do.
Probably won't be considered because something so simple is out of reach of most government worker's minds.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

I do not have any answer for that, but it was my first question as well..