The Associated General Contractors said it all in a recent flyer.

"I don't want to create or preserve thousands of jobs, including my own.

"I support neglect of our state's bridges and roads.

"Our roads will fix themselves.

"That is what your signature on I-912 means."

The contractors are absolutely correct.

We cannot simply dismiss this massive Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson turkey. They have become so identified with this mess that a judge said their station, KVI, was making an in-kind contribution to the campaign.

The actual sponsor is Jane Milhans, a Pierce County Republican activist.

That said, the measure resonated with the "to blazes with the community, I want mine to be all mine" crowd.

The first phase of the tax went into effect in July with a 3-cent per gallon increase, which some say will mean an increase to the average driver of $1.33 a month. The entire 9.5-cent tax will phase in during the next four years.

Why do we in West Seattle care? Let us count the ways.

It will provide $2 billion to rebuild the viaduct, crucial to our future (the proposed tunnel will double the cost and is not likely to survive the political push it is getting now). The increase will also ease regional transportation problems, such as the need for work on Interstate 405, a new Highway 520 floating bridge, and needed improvements of Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass.

But just think viaduct. Last week we said the monorail was a must to permit West Seattle residents to get to downtown while the viaduct is being rebuilt. What if it collapses and there is no money for the viaduct? We doubt President Bush or the Republican Congress will give a Texas damn.

As the contractors said, lose the tax and "our roads will fix themselves."

If the selfish do win this battle, and there is every indication they can in a breeze if we don't fight it, we should fight back in a similar way. This paper will then strongly support an initiative to require that all gas tax funds be used in the counties which generated them.

According to the chairman of the state House transportation committee, Rep. Ed Murray, King, Pierce and Snohomish counties have in 10 years generated $1 billion in gas tax revenues that have built some incredible and wonderful highways in 29 of the smallest counties.

This newspaper will aggressively back changing the law to keep the money for our projects and let Grant, Asotin and Garfield counties drive on the ruts we now have to experience.

Fie on us? No, fie on you!