Remember, we're talking about a specific geographic area here--the ICW.Your
general proposition that it's the "general taxpaying public" that is
responsible for silting in the ICW is so specious no one should take it
seriously. Road and other development in Arizona, Texas, Wyoming, Utah,
Michigan, Washington, etc. etc., etc. are responsible for silting up the
ICW? I don't think so. Even assuming that development in the general area of
the ICW has contributed to its silting, (and so far your only authority for
even that proposition is claiming that it's "well known") that's certainly
no argument for burdening the resident of the Arizona desert or the
mountains of Montana with the costs of dredging it so the local yachties can
have their fun.

Deltas build up from silt that is brought downstream. Areas that require
dredging to remain navigable are those ares near the mouth of a stream or a
river. Upland development exacerbates silting. Please don't take my word for it
alone, do a little research. I just now typed the phrase "upland development
and silting" into a search engine and got 86 hits. Suppose it's a fairy tale
conspiracy spanning a number of years? A trick just to make you look silly?

My point about the general tax paying public is in response to some opinions
that have been expressed stating that boaters should bear the entire cost of
dredging the
ICW, (and by extension of principle all other waterways). I maintain that the
silting problem is a consequence of a much more extensive problem, and that all
who participate in making the mess should participate in cleaning it up.

To say that only boaters should have to pay for dredging the nation's waterways
is akin to saying that folks who never fly shouldn't have to repay bonds sold
to build an airport. How about the communities all across the country going
hundreds of millions in debt to finance professional baseball stadiums. Should
people who aren't baseball fans be required to pay the taxes used to retire the
bonds?

Just as each of us can point out a use of tax money here or there that does not
benefit us as individuals, virtually everybody benefits from some expenditure
of tax money that somebody else could criticize as not directly contributing to
their
own immediate personal needs.

Got kids in school? Mine graduated years ago- but I don't mind helping to pay
for yours. Somebody paid taxes when my kids were in school, and now my kids are
paying taxes too. :-)