Hutch, maybe it's because I'm old, I remember back to when Ronald Reagan was forced to raise gas taxes to pay for the freeway system in the 70's, and when Pete Wilson was last forced to raise gas taxes in the early 90's, where they stayed for another 25 years, as construction costs and other prices continued to rise, as our roads, (also as old as I am) continued to deteriorate at an ever worsening, and increasingly costly, rate of accelerating decay.

At least the gas taxes goes for something we've been putting off, and it is something we actually have some benefit from. As opposed to the ethanol benefit, which is strictly a "gubmint" mandated "socialist" income transfer by lead by your pal Chuck Grassley (who is from what party again???).

Since when in the last 10,000 years or so of recorded history has there ever been a particular monopoly on stupidity, corruption, or vanity, in the pursuit of money and power?

If it's bull$hit, it's bad for you... If it's bull$hit you like...it's still bull$hit, too.... No matter what the flavor they tell you it is, or what it's called, on the package it comes in..... Some folks even like to mix their poison with Koolaide, so it tastes better.... If it's bull$hit, it's still bad for you....

Meanwhile, it is a thread that has nothing to do with trains, does it?