These people absolutely HATE paying for anyone else's anything for any reason.

But the states – and local communities – can't run deficits. Whether dealing with a massive drop in tax revenues as a result of a recession, or gaps they created by pandering to voters with endless tax cuts, they have three ways to go. They can: a) cut services, which is politically unpopular and also can lead to situations such as in Texas, most of which is on fire after it slashed firefighting budgets; b) make up the gap with federal funds, as so many conservative governors who rail about federal spending are happy to do; or c) hike the fees their citizens pay for government services – fees for everything from motor vehicle registration to hunting licenses and user fees for recreational areas.

This last option has proven appeal with conservative politicians because they can say, with only technical accuracy, that they didn't raise your taxes. Across the country, state and local governments are squeezing ordinary people for every penny they can lay their hands on, and the burden these fee increases can put on ordinary families is often significant. Make no mistake: these fees are completely regressive -- it costs a billionaire the same amount to renew his or her driver's license as it does a pauper.