When people buy gas, they don't sit there and think...."wow....I'm helping pay for this nice road I'm driving on". Even though their gas tax is doing just that.
People take roads completely for granted and think they just appear out of nowhere because that cost is hidden in a gallon of gas and they don't think about it.
Instead, they may think..."Hmmmm......Casey's has nice gas stations that are convenient for me to drop in, buy gas, pop and a pack of cigs."
The benefit of Casey's Corporation is evident and easily recognized that this is what I'm paying for. The benefit of the road I drove on to get to and from Casey's is much less evident as coming from that same purchase.
Instead, when the state wants to raise gas tax...they blow up saying...."Why the hell do they need that?" because they don't realize the road needs replaced at some point.