First, bad news about the fuel price crisis. Drivers are reducing their mileage and thus slowing the stream of sales tax revenues to state and federal road improvement coffers.
Now, good news: higher gasoline and diesel prices prove drivers will conserve when faced with price increases and lower demand for imports that funnel more dollars to petro states.
The loss of highway fund tax revenues will have a profound effect on already poorly maintained roadways throughout the nation. Some $40 billion was expected to be spent on roads next year. However, with dwindling revenues, the federal highway trust fund could find itself short by $3.2 billion or more.
States and private engineering groups have been pleading with states, congress and presidents for years to step up repair and maintenance of the nation's infrastructure -- roads, dams, schools, water and sewer systems, railroads and the like -- that by now will need more than $1 trillion to bring services and systems up to par. Now the revenue setback means even worse conditions.
Of course, congress and President Bush find no difficulty in spending $10 billion per month halfway around the world on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Total spending on those expeditions is now three-fourths of a trillion dollars.
It's a cruel reality that the United States is so quick to spend lavishly abroad, especially on wars, while neglecting urgent needs of Americans at home.
The deteriorating condition of America's once-modern public systems is one of several compelling reasons to sharply reduce and finally end adventures in Iraq an Afghanistan.