Tax per mile

The new bright idea that will not die in Washington is the replacement / supplement of the gas tax with a tax per mile driven. (Ironically, some of the same people who complained of Bush administration intrusion in our private lives want the government to install a GPS in everyone's car and monitor where and when we travel).

Supposedly, this will increase tax receipts and discourage bad behavior, i.e., driving a car.

Of course, by taxing your commute, this will irrevocably destroy suburban home values. In turn, this will worsen the banking, foreclosure and property crises.

If this becomes law, it would erode wealth and further impoverish the suburban middle class.

It will be interesting to see if this becomes an issue in the California senate race.