Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia (version unedited by editorial staff)

ON SECOND THOUGHT

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim launched the Yes Campaign’s claim that the No Campaign was trying to raise taxes even more than the new tax on the ballot.  The fantasy became the favorite commercial of the Yes Campaign. The mayor warned grimly that the No Campaign wanted to tax everyone $8,000/year through rush-hour-tolls.  The proof offered was the suggestion by many freedom-minded reformers that market-based solutions to highway congestion would quickly encourage much better use of our existing roads (which are not crowded at most hours of the day).   The mayor’s tax number is taken right out of Hollywood. Our elected officials never need mind reality, though, when practicing politics.  Getting votes for the “public good” anyway possible is all that counts. What is the reality?  If rush-hour-traffic were to disperse by one-fifth due to tax avoidance, the congestion problem on most of the Hampton Roads highway system would all but disappear along with the need for a series of new superhighways.  Computer chips instead of toll-booths would do the job.  Most businesses would pay for the employees they require to be on the roads at the wrong times.  And the revenues from the rush-hour-fee would be available to lower fuel taxes by a lot for everyone on the road.  But, maybe Mayor Fraim has taken the wrong side on this vote, after all.  I realize that there are untold tons of concrete, steel, pork and patronage in these highway plans.  But mayor!  Think of $8,000/year of taxes imposed on 250,000 Hampton Roads rush-hour commuters. That comes to a wonderful sum of $2,000,000,000/annually right out of your neighbors’ pockets with no need for the concrete and steel. But if new highways were built anyway, there would be enough money to pave every inch from the Atlantic Ocean to Richmond several times over. Stephen Merrill, Tidewater Libertarian Party