The American Spectator

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(Page 3 of 15)

br> -- Bob Keiser br> Wilkes Barre (not far from Hazelton), Pennsylvania /p>

"In essence, the state grows ever more hard-hearted toward relatively trivial offenses that almost never involve either violence against individuals or even against property -- while at the same time it becomes ever more blithe toward real crime and real criminals."

This sentence from Peters' excellent essay nicely encapsulates exactly what has happened in Little Britain over the past 10 or 20 years. It is the inevitable future of any society in which political and ideological elites become well insulated against ordinary citizens. What is especially shocking to a non-Virginian is how extreme, militant, and pervasive this aggressive, radical elitism is among Virginia Republican elites. Then again, look at the Republican U.S. Senate leadership. And then again, look at the Democrat political classes anytime.

p>Jefferson, as ever, was right about the need to overthrow political ruling classes from time to time. America is badly in for it if we end up with two permanently elitist, ruling-class, and self-perpetuating political party machines. br> -- Eric Free br> Denver, Colorado /p>

We are living in an age when our highways can be seen simultaneously as a sacred cow and cash cow. The Congress and legislatures in every state are pushed by the Chambers of Commerce for more roads for economic development instead of mobility. Albuquerque is an exception. In spite of copious counter examples, the idea that cornucopias are made of asphalt seems to be indestructible. Inexplicably, Libertarians and those who hate capitalism and love to cripple businesses with regulation and taxes tolerate taxation of mobility rather well. The concept of excess profit seems to have no applicability when the government collects it.

For the sake of brevity, Mr. Peters probably left out the idea that increased fines would increase safety. The safety argument is at the root of other cash cow schemes like red light cameras and other robo ticketing schemes. The cash rolls in but the safety is often lacking after the statistics are compiled. There is also a surge in the use of the courts to fight excessive fines.

I am glad they are doing this in Virginia since I don't live there. Some things are good if only to act as a bad example. Although this does not rise to the level of chopping off the hand to suppress theft or automatic imprisonment for drunk driving, this "reform" is taking place within the context of a massive financial mismanagement of our highway infrastructure.

In Tennessee, the inflation adjusted gas tax is below the level experienced in the Great Depression. Our legislators have no stomach for increasing gas taxes. Even if they did, congestion relief is still a low priority. The Eco-Freaks, bless their hearts, think we are paving the world and have to be dragged like recalcitrant children.

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