by Stanley W. Shura

Created on: December 19, 2007   Last Updated: August 10, 2008

While I am not opposed, per se, to yet higher taxes on gasoline - I worry about the burdon of running society taking an unbalanced toll at the pump. Ideologically, I believe wholeheartedly and proudly in taking small pieces from the collective citizenry so that each and all of the individuals of whom that society is comprised can sustain a life of some safety and dignity - or at least have some sliver of hope that that is possible.

But where do bridges fit into that thinking? They do not, not the virtual ones anyway. Liberal bridges, yes. Literal ones, no. This question is not asking if I would support a tax to refurbish America's elevated structures be they functional or historical. It is asking if such a tax *could* do so if legislated and/or otherwise imposed.

Well sure, it *could*. And George W. Bush could tomorrow stop pretending he doesn't know how to pronounce the word "nuclear". Given the right motivation, either of these things could happen. But neither is very likely. Our Confounder in Chief could announce tomorrow that he has reconsidered his position on the war on terror, weapons of mass destruction, the axis of evil, unilateralism, and his latest commoner's sense - that America can have and develop 21st century energy and defense technology, but other sovereign nations such as Iran cannot. Nope, nuclear - er, I mean, nu-CU-ler hypocrisy is America's alone to claim.

I was gently ridiculed recently for daring to expect, well - actually, for assuming already that all uses of taxpayer money should be and are disclosed. I was told that I was "wrong-thinking" to expect that it is manageable and automatic that funds are delineated for specific allocation, and are thus going to be used as promised. I was called naive for believing that "of course" the tax-paying citizenry would be informed, no - consulted! - should the government wish to re-allocate funds collected under different pretences.

Am I wrong to assume that in a country that espouses to support and defend individual freedoms, and the expression of and living of one's beliefs, that my happy and duty-felt contribution to the repair of that pot-hole on the corner of Main and Webster street - will NOT be used to send another American soldier to fight a fight that our country has no business fighting - had no business STARTING! - only to return perhaps missing a limb, or an eye, or in a body bag? No. I am not wrong to expect that at all. I would happily contribute resources of money, time or work, to get done something I can support and which makes my being here more meaningful. No one has the right to take that choice from me or anyone else. THAT is a bridge that no one should breach.

So, as long as there are nations to bully, as long as there is that poor innocent drop of oil to be rescued from the hands of any other non-American wallet, as long as there are rights to be wronged and liberties to snuff; our taxes, whether they come from the filling station, or out of our daily bread - and our collective mandate - will remain the privilege of maddeningly high-positioned and dull-witted puppets of big business to misappropriate and ignore.

A tax on gasoline would only further the grandiose agenda of an ex-drunk and philanderer, leaving America's bridges, both virtual and viruous, uncrossed and uncrossable.

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