I think incredulous might best describe how I felt after reading the June 10 commentary "Done right, gas tax hike means jobs," suggesting that a gas tax hike is a good idea.
Among the things that amazed me was the suggestion that linking the tax to things that improve our daily lives would somehow make it more palatable.
Things like "improved roads, more teachers or cops, or longer library hours." I don't think there are many people who would not endorse improvements such as these, but to suggest that the tax money raised would be used specifically to fund such initiatives shows a remarkable ignorance of how tax money is spent. In the article, it says the state could not squander the proceeds. Does anyone believe that?
Then the possibility of the federal government instituting the tax instead is raised. Another good idea. The federal government has certainly demonstrated an ability to use our tax dollars responsibly.
To minimize the impact of adding 50 cents to the already high price of a gallon of gas, the authors recommend spreading it over five years, minimizing the added cost to a mere "dime a year." This is a remarkably facile argument. It isn't just a dime a year, but a dime a gallon each time you get gas.
At a time when personal income has decreased for many in New York, any increase in the taxing of gasoline would have a real impact on peoples' lives that far outweighs the possible improvements the authors propose.
Frank Paturzo
Latham