Viable alternative? Raise the gas tax
Edward Lindsey asks for “viable alternatives” to the House leadership transportation plan (“Help wanted, but no critics,” Opinion, Feb. 3). My proposal is the obvious one: Raise the gas tax, whether we call it a sales tax or an excise tax. This proposal has three advantages over what Mr. Lindsey is defending.
First, it tends to target the drivers of heavier vehicles, which are, as most of us know, the vehicles that cause a preponderance of highway damage. Semis cause more roadway damage than SUVs, which cause more damage than lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. And of course, the heavier the vehicle, the more dangerous it is to other drivers. Second, a hidden cost of gasoline use is air pollution; an additional charge to electric vehicles, as proposed by the Legislature, only exacerbates the pollution problem. Finally, passing a gas tax increase would demonstrate some political courage — something lacking in legislatures not only in Georgia, but all across this country.
JOHN BILON, NEWNAN
Extending rail is best traffic answer
When I think of improving transportation, I think of rail as our first choice. We want to stay competitive in the business world, and by extending commuter rail, companies might settle in the suburbs again. MARTA plans to extend its rail service north through Alpharetta, which would ease our traffic a lot on Ga. 400 and even I-285. I hope our decision-makers would also consider a Maglev (magnetic levitation) rail service (like a monorail). It is less expensive to build than heavy rail, and very fast.
If we could get rail service up I-85 and I-75, we could solve a lot of traffic congestion problems. A transit tax and some money from tolls, the Lottery and federal money might pay for this, and we can really move into the 21st century.
HEIDI MANGINO, ROSWELL
Women should show self-control
For once, I find myself in complete agreement with Mary Sanchez (“Sorority limits a clueless reaction to sexual assault,” Opinion Feb. 3). Ordering sorority girls to stick to girls-only groups on Saturday nights to avoid sexual assaults is ludicrously unfair. I also agree with punishing males severely when they take advantage of a drunken woman.
However, one point I have never seen or heard made is, don’t the females bear any responsibility for drinking or drugging themselves voluntarily into complete senselessnes or total unconsciousness? In one case, a 19-year-old girl got so drunk in a local bar, she was not aware she had been taken to a dorm room and gang raped while unconscious until several days later when the police showed her a video of it. Instead of ordering females to stay in at night, why isn’t someone talking to them about staying in control?
JUDITH MCCARTHY, ATLANTA
