There are approximately 8.7% of American households without * access * to a car. Note that figure excludes those who are carless by choice and implies (by the of lack access) poverty. These incredibly impoverished people are helping subsidize people who do drive. How can I say that? The bipartisan federal infrastructure bill (BIB) would increase the cumulative total of bailouts of the Highway Trust Fund by the General Fund to a net $271.8 billion since the Trust Fund first ran out of money in September 2008. The federal gas tax hasn't been raised since 1993 and is not keyed to inflation, meaning that the actual purchasing power of those whopping 18.4 cents per gallon has declined steadily for over a quarter of a century. The situation is similar in many or most states with state gas taxes. Freeways were sold under the premise that they would be self-funding by motorists. That hasn't been the case for sometime (if ever?).

I haven't heard anyone explain why those 8.7% of American households should continue to subsidize a harmful, unsustainable system they do not benefit from, nor why poor communities and communities of colors should continue to bear the brunt of the impacts of this system. So tell me, comrades, are you genuinely concerned about the poor or are you concerned about your wallet?