Originally Posted by
squirtdad
OP here....there is a current discussion in a local newspaper column about how to fund road repairs.
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IMO trust funds or schemes that link revenue and spending are simply a political scam. I'm not arguing for or against various "use" taxes if that makes sense, just the linkage.
Money is fungible, so the so-called earmarked monies simply replace monies from other funds. Think about how much money the treasury is holding in the Social Security or highway trust funds. In New York the lottery was proposed and passed as funding for education. Is there any additional funding? Of course not, just less coming from the general fund.
Taxation is about allocating the cost of government fairly. Spending is about providing necessary government services. Like East and West, never the twain shall meet.