# The future of the Democratic brand

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-democratic-brand/724312>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [July 5, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-democratic-brand/724312 "2015-07-05T13:43:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-democratic-brand/724312/141 "2015-08-10T12:27:50Z")

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I’m not so much pro-democrat as I am anti-republican these days. I am progressive on a lot of issues but I find that the democratic party, like the republican party, panders to outlier voting blocs a little too much.

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-democratic-brand/724312/142 "2015-08-10T12:44:16Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Total hijack … but given your expertise **BobLibDem** -
> 
> Thoughts you have about a mileage tax instead of gas tax? Ray LaHood had floated it during his tenure to a total lack of support but let’s be real, most of my miles in my plug-in hybrid are gas-free but I use the roads too. I am happy to benefit from others paying for it but fairness includes me paying my share. Without it gas taxes need to be raised substantially and on an ongoing basis as cars become more efficient.
> 
> Thoughts about how (semi)autonomous vehicles with V2V communication (that allow greater density on roadways as vehicles can function as “car trains”) will potentially impact capacity demands? Is that, to your knowledge, being modeled?

I don’t really have any great expertise on this particular topic. My field is bridges, and I often say once you’re off the bridge you’re on your own. That being said, we have to acknowledge that between fuel efficient cars and cars that use alternate energy sources, we need to find ways to make sure that all users pay their share. Fuel efficiency is great for the economy and the planet, but it’s been hell on highway funding. But how do you monitor miles traveled? I can’t see us enforcing having people tell us how many miles they drive. Personally, I’d favor hitting those vehicles with higher registration fees to make up for their lack of contribution otherwise. Alternatively, you could turn all the freeways into toll roads and make up for decreasing tax revenue that way.

These smart vehicles, car trains, etc. can allow us to focus on addressing condition needs as opposed to functional needs. We’ll be able to maintain the same level of service as traffic volumes increase without adding lanes. But realistically, it’s not going to make a difference in my lifetime. Capacity improvements aren’t that big a part of the budget in the first place and I can’t see us backing off of any plans to add lanes that we currently have. Still, adding lanes to an Interstate is a big fucking deal and if we can spare future generations that burden, great for us.

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**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-democratic-brand/724312/143 "2015-08-10T15:31:14Z")

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> [@asahi](#):
>
> I’m not so much pro-democrat as I am anti-republican these days. I am progressive on a lot of issues but I find that the democratic party, like the republican party, panders to outlier voting blocs a little too much.

+1

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