Quid Est Veritas

Taking A Toll For Civilization

By Patrick Weadon

It might come as a surprise to many of the readers of this column but I regularly listen to conservative “talk” radio. I not only find it entertaining, but at times I actually learn something. Two of the most popular are Sean Hannity and of course, the ubiquitous Mr. Rush Limbaugh. Last month during the heated discussions on the debt ceiling, I listened to two calls – one from each show – that were very similar. In both cases the callers were female, one worked for NASA and the other was married to a retiree from the space agency. Both ladies bemoaned the end of the space shuttle program and the Draconian cuts that had been made to NASA’s budget. Knowing the bloviating hosts’ views on “Big Government” programs I fully expected them to remind the callers that government spending was out of control and that we could no longer afford luxuries like space shuttles.

However, amazingly, both hosts joined the callers in mourning the end of the program and ranted about how we could never compete with China if we didn’t keep our space program up to par. I asked myself: Don’t these people, who supposedly hate taxes more than the devil himself, realize they can’t have it both ways? NASA is not a charity. NASA, like any other government entity cannot function without funding.

The calls drove home something I have known for a long time but I fear many today seem to have forgotten, namely the quality of life we enjoy in our society is directly proportional to the rate of taxation. In short, government cannot keep tax rates artificially low and simultaneously maintain a modern and productive civilized society. Someone has to pay and that someone is us. Which brings me to this month’s topic, i.e., whether it is prudent and right to increase tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge? The answer is yes, for the reasons previously stated, because the bridge, like NASA, cannot do what it is supposed to do without the requisite levels of funding.

Just about everyone reading this has had the pleasure of driving over the William Preston Lane Memorial Bridge. Anyone familiar with the bridge knows the amount of maintenance required to keep the structure safe and sound. In addition, the tolls on the bridge also go to maintain the entire highway system that serves in many ways as the foundation for economic activity in our state. The new toll rate is due to rise incrementally. When it hits its limit the typical motorist paying cash will have to fork over eight bucks to cross the edifice. Eight dollars might seem steep but let’s look at what the rate is for a similar motorist on other famous bridges. It costs $13 to cross NYC’s Verrazano Bridge. The toll for the near-by (much shorter) George Washington Bridge is $8. The Golden Gate Bridge charges $6. In short, the new toll is very much in line with other bridges that have similar situations in terms of maintenance and funding.

Not surprisingly many on the right are not fond of the increases. The failed conservative candidate for governor, Robert Murphy, is of the opinion that we would not have to charge so much money for tolls if we simply took money from other portions of the budget to fund transportation. I wonder what sections he wants to tap to fund the cost of our roads and bridges. His answer: take the money from Medicaid. To quote Murphy, if we could provide Medicaid services “for lower costs, funds would be available for transportation, public safety, natural resources and education, without relying on tax increases.” In short, his solution is to let the poor suffer, just so we can spend a few less bucks getting to Ocean City.

Reading Murphy’s solution, one wonders about his priorities. The fact is our state has enough wealth to provide health care for the poor and to keep our bridges in shape. We, as responsible citizens however, have to learn to be a bit less tight-fisted when it comes to the issue of taxes. Good roads, bridges, and high schools, cost money to fund and maintain.

The WWII generation is often called “the greatest” because they were able to put their own wants and needs on the shelf to defend their nation. This generation is at risk of becoming known as “the selfish generation” for the simple reason that many of us refuse to provide the funds needed to maintain a viable society. We need to remember that taxes not only allow us to fund bridges, schools and space shuttles, but are, in fact, the price we pay for civilization. See you on the other side of the bridge!