California adds 12 cent gas tax and 20 cent diesel tax

hpdrver wrote:
Texas is in the process of building a high speed rail from Dallas to Houston with no public money. It is being built through private investors. Unlike California, no tax money is to be used. Look at Texascentral.com

Not entirely true. They are using eminent domain (a government power) and requesting government grants and loan subsidies.
If the project is successful and does not use public funds then go for it.
Unfortunately high speed rail does not pay for itself. Only a small number of HSR systems worldwide are profitable or breakeven.
I am not against any form of transportation as long as its benefit outweighs its cost but it should be the people of the areas choice not people from far away.
If a method works for that population then by all means use it but no one has the right to tell others how it will be for them.

And to the original subject of this string; if taxes are levied for a specified purpose and that purpose is delivered then great but if they are stated for one purpose and then used in some other way without the say of the people that is wrong.