When You Hit That Pothole This Weekend, Thank Corporate GREED

[marmar]

from the Working Life blog:


When You Hit That Pothole This Weekend, Thank Corporate GREED
Posted on 03 July 2014.


For the millions of people hitting the road at this very hour, and in the hours to come, it’s going to be a bumpy journey, crashing through potholes after pothole, rutted road after rutted road, and creaky bridge after creaky bridge–all thanks to the dismal shape of the country’s infrastructure (which gets a D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers). No doubt, drivers will curse a whole list of people–but a small wager that few give up a few choice words for a big culprit: corporate greed.

You may know this, courtesy of Citizens for Tax Justice:

Most federal funding for highways comes from the federal Highway Trust Fund, which will face a shortfall starting in August because Congress has not adjusted the 18.4 cent per-gallon gas tax and 24.4 cent per-gallon diesel tax, which are not indexed for inflation, since 1993. The fact that they have not been increased to keep up with the rising costs of construction or adjusted to account for reduced fuel consumption now means that these taxes no longer raise enough money to fund our infrastructure needs.

Of course, one way to deal with this is to raise the tax of gasoline (we still pay really low prices relative to the rest of the world). But, that ain’t happening with the jokers running the show in Congress.So, instead, CTJ points out: ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.workinglife.org/2014/07/03/when-you-hit-that-pothole-this-weekend-thank-corporate-greed/#sthash.rogTUAxb.dpuf

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[SamKnause]

2. The working poor and those

on a fixed income can not afford anymore tax increases.

It will increase the price of groceries and many of us are struggling to keep food on our tables.

I don't want to pay 1 cent more in taxes until the 1%, Wall Street, and corporations start paying their taxes !!!!

Our taxes are being squandered on weapons, invasions, drones, military equipment, surveillance, perks for politicians, and the list goes on and on.

I pay property taxes, sales taxes, multiple taxes on a landline phone, multiple taxes for the internet, fees for vehicle registration and stickers yearly.

My farm insurance went up $186.00 this year.

When is the equation for what constitutes poverty in this country going to be raised ????

Enough is enough.

The working poor and those on a fixed income can not continue to pay for everything in this country.

[boston bean]

3. Around here, the utility companies tear up newly paved roads

and then they get patched, creating a mess.

I think if utility companies are going to tear up a road, they ought to re-pave, not just patch it up.

These patches don't work up here when it gets cold. We get frost heaves and then pot holes.