In Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the author comes up with the concept of TANSTAAFL (There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch). Dr. Paul, in his article for the Free Liberal, seems to ignore that concept. Gas and diesel taxes, however painful, go toward the building, maintenance and rebuilding of our highway infrastructure, along with any tolls enacted for the same purpose. Given last summer's bridge collapses and the underlying difficulties in much of our remaining infrastructure, one cannot say that highways get nearly enough revenue. While a certain amount is directed by the legislature through the earmarking process (much in the same way it would be directed if projects were considered individually by the legislature rather than as part of a bureaucratically determined formula), a large amount, likely the majority, goes to where the need is greatest. Cutting the revenue stream which maintains highways is hardly the answer. A responsible commitment to liberty must mean a commitment to economic logic. Higher prices and taxes will curtail usage and limit congestion, which will preserve our roads for just a bit more and save us from having to build new ones. Cutting what is essentially a user fee for drivers (thus forcing the government to either borrow the money or raise taxes somewhere else) is hardly a libertarian solution.

-Michael Bindner