by Greg Farris Nov 6, 2005 at 03:13 AM


I appreciate the humor - this is a very funny, "Action-Direct" kind of
approach. Your tax dollars at sleep. Of course, we will have to be
prepared
to accept the intrinsic economic repercussions - every tick on the meter
and
you trip to Tahiti just went up a penny, as well as the LLBean sweater
you

mail ordered. By the end of a month or so your vacation has gone from
$600

to $1200 and the $60 sweater cost $120 to deliver - 50% surcharge to the
land of "Live Free or Die".

Skylune doesn't want to face the fact that General Aviation is an
intrinsic
part of the structure of the US economy, and that shifting the expenses
elsewhere will not solve anything. If politicians can get it, I'm stunned

there are still individuals who cannot.

G Faris"

Greg: Thanx. Glad you realized I wasn't serious, esp about the automatic
fuel cutoff.
Runway landings should not be discouraged by financial considerations!
Everyone can probably agree on that point (maybe).

As far as the price increases if user fees are imposed: I don't think that
is automatically true. Assuming (and this is a big assumption considering
the federal budget deficit, the social security dilemma, problems at the
PBGC, etc.) that user fees are SUBSTITUTED for General Fund tax subsidies,
I might pay less elsewhere. The Reason Foundation's philosophy: The cost
of goods SHOULD reflect the true cost of production and transportation.

Problem is, the government won't substitute, they will just impose this in
addition to other taxes, etc. So my LL Bean flannel shirts, corncob pipe,
and overalls may indeed wind up costing more.

Also, there are so many subsidies built into the system and so many
special interest groups (AOPA for example) that everyone fights tooth and
nail for "their" subsidy. No cost benfit analysis is done.

Also, also, also: every politician wants to bring home the bacon,
regardless of cost or need. Thus, we will a have bridge in Ketchikan
Alaska that will serve a few hundred people at best. But the bridge will
employ many construction workers, maintenance personnel, etc. The cost
will then be part of the DOTs baseline budget for highways. And everyone
will wonder why federal spending is out of control.

The best part about the Ketchikan bridge: Senator Stevens (appointed to
office by Governor Stevens, who used to be Senator Stevens before he
became Governor Stevens) will get votes, win re-election, and then seek
more dollars for more projects.