Trapped Gas

Here’s the headline of a recent regional news story: “Pa. highway funding at risk as drivers log fewer miles, buy less gas.” In other words, because people aren’t driving as much, the share of federal highway money going to Pennsylvania is going to decrease. Oh, the humanity! Imagine the economic chaos that would ensue if the Keystone State received less of a highway handout. Anyone who has driven Pennsylvania roads during the summer months realizes that highway maintenance and repair in this state is one of the biggest patronage scams on earth – virtually every mile of highway is bedecked with orange cones, announcing the presence of “crews” who are, typically, nowhere to be seen, or if they are, are doing anything but working. These guys make the Pasha of Baghdad, sitting on his perfumed cushions, look like a Chinese coolie. So now they’re afraid of – what? Obviously of a “jobs” cut based on the fact that – shazam! – people are driving less. But wait – doesn’t the fact that people are driving less mean that the rate of wear and tear on our highways will decrease? And that new roads, and improvements to old roads, won’t be as necessary? In other words, aren’t we talking about, basically, good news here? One would think so – but to the state highway bureaucracy it’s a disaster in the making.