On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:49:15 -0700, in rec.aviation.piloting, TheSmokingGnu
wrote:

Larry Dighera wrote:
Bloody hypocrites:
"The general aviation community is not unreceptive to an increase
in the gas tax," said Roberts. "They're for modernization as
well."

If by "modernization" they mean "pay more and fly less", then ****
modernization. The system works now. Just because the big airlines find
themselves consistently outpaced by smaller and newer competitors
doesn't make the best solution taxation of a community admittedly unable
or unwilling to pay.

I've been thinking that user fees might not be a bad idea, just make sure
that those who are paying for the system are the ones who get the most
benefit from it. A flat per-gallon fuel tax that everybody pays the same
regardless of flight intent. Add an ATC/IFR fee based on souls onboard
times miles flown[1]. And all non-commercial flights are exempt.

Or have I got it all wrong again?

-Scott

[1] Any spin doctor should be able to make a hell of a case in support of
this...after all, if the airlines *really* wanted to keep their passengers
safe from harm, why wouldn't they be willing to pay for use of the system
that keeps them from crashing into each other in the air?