Arizona Moms Beware…
Beware the oppressive tyranny of those in power who, ‘in good intentions’ rob families of our hard-earned money, as well as our freedom to move and thrive. Reminds me of a well-known quote by C.S. Lewis: “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive... “
Thank you to Darla Gonzalez of Arizona Free Enterprise Club, who reveals the harsh reality coming for parents (and all residents) if cities, counties and municipalities get their way and pass dystopian policies like “15-Minute Cities”, “Vision Zero”, and taxes on your “Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)”. It’s crazy what will happen to everyday life! We’re grateful to Arizona Free Enterprise Club for informing us on how to take action! ~ Kim
Arizona Moms Beware: Leftwing radicals are working around the clock to hijack your freedom to move around your towns, cities, and state.
Many other municipalities and states already have various policies that tax or track their citizens’ transportation around streets or highways. Hard-working moms and dads, who are already worried about making ends meet for their present, or saving for their children’s future, are increasingly being faced with a slew of fees for driving their vehicles from point A to point B.
That’s right. If the left has their way in our state, parents may be forced to shell out more dollars to the government for trips to the grocery store, school field trips, soccer games, church services, or drives to vacation destinations.
This is not just a conservative complaint or conspiracy. Even Whoopi Goldberg, a hardened leftist, has taken serious issue with the reality of this authoritarian principle in her state and city. Last month, Goldberg talked with New York Governor Kathy Hochul on the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing toll. Goldberg said, ““This is a huge deal because I can afford it, don’t get me wrong, I can afford it, but a lot of my friends who drive in every day, who left here because they couldn’t afford to live here anymore, can’t.”
Goldberg later added, “The idea of having to pay, I’m a lifelong New Yorker, the idea of having to pay to get from point A to Point B without really having the conversation only to see those things go up anyway … it made me feel like nobody was listening.”
Whether transportation tolls, or taxes on vehicles miles traveled – or any other hairbrained idea to take more of Arizonans’ money from use of the roads-- these harmful ideas must come to an end before continuing to compromise our future.
Arizona conservative legislators have been working on a proposal to stop a version of this leftwing utopia from taking shape in our state. State Representative Travis Grantham sponsored a ‘Freedom to Move’ resolution in the legislature that would “prohibit this state and any city, town, county, municipal corporation or other political subdivision of this state from imposing a fee or tax, based on vehicle miles traveled, by a person in a motor vehicle or enacting any rule or law to monitor or limit the vehicle miles traveled by a person in a motor vehicle.” Since this proposal would likely never be signed by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, lawmakers drafted this measure in the form of a ballot referral so that state voters would have the opportunity to enshrine it into the Arizona Constitution.
We need to be aware of the dangers from the left on all fronts – especially when it comes to what they are concocting to steal our hard-earned dollars. If we aren’t careful, we could be waking up one morning to a horrific transportation nightmare like the one residents and employees from New York City are experiencing, where they are taxed for travel into and around their city. It’s important that we support initiatives such as Freedom to Move in the Arizona State Legislature and ensure that this proposal makes its way to voters in November. Our families’ futures depend on it!
Darla Gonzalez serves as the Grassroots Director at the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Executive Director at the AZ Liberty Network. She is a wife and mom who lives in Chandler, and is highly involved with community outreach with various ministries in the Valley.