Andrew Gideon wrote:
jim rosinski wrote:
But I think in principle user fees are a
good idea because then our fun can be on our own dime.

I can drive for the purpose of "fun" too, but the government (ie. the
taxpayers) funds roads, legal enforcement of driving regulation, the
automobile inspection mechanism, etc.

Apples and oranges. Driving is ubiquitous and pretty near a necessity
while personal flying is a tiny, niche market mostly for fun.

Folks here have indicated that GA taxes cover only a small fraction of
the actual costs of running all the FAA stuff it uses. I wonder how
that compares to taxes on automobile fuel and their share of the cost of
maintaining roads, etc. Dunno--but I was happy to see that many were
disgusted with the "drunken sailor" approach that Congress and Bush took
to the recently passed federal highway bill.

Jim Rosinski