No, We're Not At All Shocked!!

[dieseldiva]

Peters confirms diversion of highway, bridge money

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters this week confirmed what OOIDA has already reported – that a big chunk of fuel tax dollars end up paying for things other than roads and bridges.

In an interview on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, Peters said “I think Americans would be shocked to learn that only about 60 percent of the (fuel) tax they pay today actually goes to highway and bridge construction.â€

Peters said in the last highway bill, about $24 billion went to special, “earmarked†projects, and for things such as museums, bike paths and the maintenance of lighthouses.

“Land Line Now†on XM Satellite Radio reported similar numbers last week, based on research by OOIDA staff member Rene Hill.

In her research, Hill used the year 2005 as an example, and showed that 35 percent of the fuel tax dollars collected that year ended up being spent on things other than general road and bridge work.

Why would we be shocked?? Doesn't this pretty much sum up the financial problems in ALL areas of government?

 

[Broompilot]

EXCELLENT POST! Thank you.

 

[Moot]

Ding! Ding! Here comes light rail. In Minnesota we have money to upgrade our highways and bridges and buy pretty little yellow trains. Your tax dollars at work.

 

[davekc]

Hopefully they have no bridges to cross.







Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[terryandrene]

In my former life, while working as a Pharologist within the Department of Transportation, an unmanned, non-descript, stone block lighthouse on a remote section on Nantucket Island Massachusetts crumbled to the ground after a storm surge eroded the beach beneath the structure. The original fresnel lens on the lighthouse had long been replaced by a 300mm plastic lantern which was adequate to serve the needs of any mariner in the area.

We were in the process of planning to replace the obsolete stone building with a $2,000 single, steel pole structure that would have supported a new 300mm lantern and its battery power supply. Then came the hue and cry of at least two, maybe three, politically connected Island residents. Now enter Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA) Not wanting to displease any of his contributers, he put a line item in the next Transportation budget to provide $1,000,000 for the replacement in kind of the original lighthouse structure. That 1984 million bucks was a complete waste of taxpayer dollars and all of that money came from revenues provided to the DOT from road, rail and airway use taxes.

 

[highway star]

Pharologist? Did you have to go to school in Egypt for your degree?

 

[terryandrene]

Very good, Star, you're on the right track.

 

[Packmule]

Nawww, He did by mail. (no internet back then)

 

[Moot]

This thread is a great example of why we don't need an "OFF TOPIC" forum. Terry's response forced me to look up the word Pharologist. It also illustrated how the swine brings home the bacon.

Highway Star's response had me doing the rolling on the floor thing.

I learned and I laughed all for free. Doesn't get much better than that!

 

[RichM]

In Jacksonville FL the local Transportation Authority just bought 27 new buses at $337,000 each for the 200 riders that they have. 80% of that amount came from Federal DOT funds.

 

[davekc]

I think they did the same thing in Daytona. 10 buses all running the the same 10 mile circle for a handful of people.
Every time were are down there, they have few riders except for special events.







Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[pelicn]

Thanks Moot, I'm glad I wasn't the only one that had to look up Pharologist

This just shows to go ya, that Expediters come from all backgrounds!

 

[Moot]

I liked Highway Star's interpretation better than the real definition. But this forum is definitely thought provoking! And humorous!!!!

Terry, glad to see you got a real life in expediting instead of lighthouses. Just kidding. Have you ever toured Split Rock lighthouse on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. I have been through it several times and find it fascinating. Even my kids loved to go through it! Always wanted to witness its lighting on the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Close as I ever got was the 3rd week of October, camping just down the shoreline from the lighthouse. As I recall, that was a cold fall.

 

[terryandrene]

Splitrock Light is one of the most photographed and photogenic lighthouses in the USofA. It was one of the earlier Light Stations that the Coast Guard converted to automatic operation and discontinued the lightkeepers' duties. I was assigned duties as a Light Station Inspector, during 1970,71,72 and visited there as well as most every other lighthouse on the American side of each of the Great Lakes. BTW for the trivia buffs, Michigan has had more lighthouses in operation at any time in the history of the Nation, a few over 200.

 

[joebob1_30132]

Great post ..and a huge example of why we just give the crooks who are addicted to our money a pass every year ...I thought when we had a republican congress senate and prez it would be conservative I was wrong theyare just like the Dems take my money with the force of law and blow it They have no right to my or your money,, Government is not he answer,,it is the problem...
Raise your hand if anyone thinks healthcare from the Dems will be free...anyone ...anyone ...buller ,,,,buller...NO they will take it from the middle to give to every hypocondriac every snivlling,cold that walks it to DMV like medical centers and proclaim hey this is great ...we dont have to pay!!!!and you will wait and wait and wait..and get crap for your money ...How do I know ??? my dad was a cival servat for over 20 years and a JFK democrat... he would not touch Gov health care for nothing FIGHT FOR YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ..IT IS YOURS NOT THE GOVERNMENT NOR ANYONE LINED UP TO GET FREE GOVERNMENT STUFF.(excluding people truley in need mentally ill disabled indegent)

 

[whitey1]

Aw sheesh Joebob!
You said, "fight for your hard earned money" in reference to health care.
But you are already sending your,and your children's, and your grandchildren's hard earned money to support a war in another country that did NOTHING to provoke us.
Bullets or bandaids?
There must be a balance I feel.
PS I AM a vet, so no silly anti-american sentiments are warranted.

You started off with "Great post!", and I will agree with that so why not leave it there, without the political commentary, please?

 

[greg334]

Joebob
I got to say this, it was a bunch of a JFK democrats who gave us the start of socialized medicine - Medicare. If you all want socialized medicine look very closely to your 'contributions' to Medicare and how they work, it will be worst.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Greg...your Medicare system if thats what you call it a system...is really in a mess...they should cancel it all out and IF they want start fresh...or just leave the money in your pocket and the individual take care of it....Its all the way or no way.

 

[greg334]

Well the biggest issue for me is the 'law' that forces people to take Medicare even if they have insurance and can afford insurance. This should be stopped.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

My view has always been people should have an opt out option of government programs...Like U.I and S.S instead of forced contributions let ME handle MY future instead of the government.

In Canada the health system was ok till they allowed private money, Now they have a 2 tier system that pits the haves from the have nots.


BTW: I just looked at my post and thought...I am starting to sound more American all the time!!!*L*

I was informed it's a Federal offense to impersonate an American...up to 5 years in prison!!!