DISQUS

All nice and sweet, but there is one huge difference between all the examples you gave and having a toll Tax. Before there is a toll, there usually is a highway project. And that project needs millions of $ to simply get on the way. Setting up a toll, for a certain number of years, can help cover the cost for the highway construction & help construct new ones.

FYI, there already is something simliar to an oxygen tax with the now infamous carbon tax in some countries. Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily, tax do not only have a purpose to milk people, they can also change behavior.

All this, of course, starts from the principle that the government is working for the people...

True it is annoying. True some taxis are in for a quick buck and don't care what you may think afterward. But having used taxis daily for many years those are exeptions. Most are neutral and some are even very nice. I once came in a taxi where we discussed french politics for 20mn - a very enjoyable experience.

Unfortunately we remember them because they are bad experiences and make us loose time. My answer to them is to leave their taxi door open while i walk away - then they at least have to work a little to close it - they don't like it !