Editor:

Iím speechless at Sen. Howard Stevenson and The Utah Taxpayers Associationís (TUTA) thought process behind their argument for road congestion pricing.well, almost. ##M:MORE## So let me see if I got this straight. We need to cut down on peak discretionary travel times in the morning and evening, or in other words, when we discretionarily get to go to work and back. Rest assured our politicians will no doubt figure out an efficient way to tell the difference between a commuter and a lollygagger. Stevenson and TUTA want us, the tax payers, to first pay for all these road construction projects by paying over 40 cents a gallon gas tax, numerous vehicle registration fees, and multiple transportation tax increases. Secondly, even before they are complete, they want to charge us to use these roads, too! But wait, as Sen. Stevenson says, ìCongestion pricing is the opposite of toll roads.î You know those pesky roads back east where you have to pay to use them? Congestion pricing is much different...Itís where you have to pay to use the roads. You see the difference, right? Even better is the Wheel of Fortune pricing scheme theyíve devised. You never know what price youíre going to pay, as Sen. Stevenson put it, ìThe price changes in real time.î Ingenious! Now if only we can get grocery stores to adopt such a pricing strategy, it would end long lines at the checkout. Phew! Thank goodness for Sen. Stevenson and The Utah Taxpayer Association! For a minute there, I thought I was in America; you know: where the average citizens can do discretionary things when they want to, and their political ruling class doesnít punish them for it.



Jared Southwick, Centerville