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Sometimes, when driving or riding a ways, this editor will turn to one of those talk radio stations and rather enjoy the excessive bias in favor of the conservatives because it counters the excessive bias in favor of the liberals in much of the print media.
But even with a conservative flavor, populist bilge is hard to digest. A reminder of this came when listening in amazement to arguments against the kind of measure that Jeff Espich has sponsored in the past and what ultimately seems probable to become the reality in states that are progressive and responsible.
The measure being attacked in these talk radio tirades was one that would change the Indiana gasoline tax to being based on miles of driving rather than on consumption of gasoline.
What has happened is that the demands on vehicle manufacturers to provide more energy-efficient system to save energy and extend the life of petroleum energy supplies -- also keeping our importing of foreign petroleum from mounting even more than it has already -- have succeeded.
The talk radio protests, guided forth by the program “moderator,’’ were indignations over the motorist being “punished” or “penalized” or tax-abused for driving more fuel-efficient cars in the nation’s interest.
What has happened in the course of greater fuel efficiency is that taxes based on gallonage produce less revenue for keeping up the roads and streets than formerly was the case, even though people are driving more miles on those roads and streets.
This is amplified in Indiana, a crossroads of America state -- by the fact that a lot of those miles pounding Indiana streets and roads are from people and firms out of state, probably paying less and less for the wear and tear they put on Indiana roads while adding to that impact.
Patently, helping the nation’s energy conservation interests and saving money on one’s own gasoline dollars via less usage are ample, appropriate rewards.
But the wear and tear on Indiana roads and streets are caused in large part by the miles of the rubber meeting the road. This cost has nothing to do per se with fuel efficiency, even though, in fact, fuel efficiency surely increases the deficit funding for road and street repairs, maintenance and replacement.
Keeping fuel prices as low as is feasible is important to farms, industries, the general citizenry.
Yet it is instructive that in the late 1970s, gasoline prices in America rose to close to $2 a gallon. Right now, 27 or 28 years later they are barely above the level of the late 1970s. What else has gone up that little? How much have wages and salaries risen since then? (That answer is vastly more.)
Furthermore, in Europe and in Asia, gasoline prices routinely have been $3 to $4 or more per gallon for years.
It’s enough to make one thankful that there is more than talk radio on the air waves.
JIM BARBIERI
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