Is it possible to start a Facebook rumor that Antifa or at least people from Cleveland are coming to riot on the Pennsylvania Turnpike? Now that is an entity that deserves disruption and protests.

Once again, the annual announcement has been made that fares will go up. It is no secret because the rate hikes are scheduled far in advance and planned for the next couple of decades.

It used to be the Turnpike Commission (yes, that is a paid board) would hide behind upkeep as the reason for the constant increases, despite the road being in terrible condition and always under repair with long backups as the result.

But it has become somewhat more transparent and the real reason more obvious.

The fees generated by the use of toll roads across the commonwealth are a substantial part of the mass transit budget for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. So, while the highway is used predominantly by people passing across the state in their own vehicles and not using mass transportation, the funds it generates pay for busses in the two metropolitan areas. That makes so much sense, doesn’t it?

You will notice that we make no political reference to whether this atrocious policy started under a Republican or Democratic governor or which party controlled the state House or Senate at the time. It doesn’t matter.

Regardless of who put this policy in place, it is extremely unfair to the people not living in the cities and not using the mass transit to be paying for it.

We already share in the burden of paying one of the highest gas taxes in the country. And why is it so high? To pay for the upkeep of the state road system. Remember that the next time you hit one of the craters on Main Street in Butler and your car goes out of alignment. You paid for that hole with the gas tax.

The new twist is that employees have been eliminated, and by doing so the Turnpike went to a no-cash policy, encouraging the use of EZ-Pass, which carries a $3 annual fee and a $4 monthly fee for a printed statement.

And if you don’t subscribe to EZ-Pass, there is a 45 percent mark-up on the Turnpike fee. You probably need to read that again because it is as unbelievable as a post from a Facebook doctor. You can either pay a monthly fee on top of the use fee or you will be assessed an extra 45 percent.

Thank you members of the Turnpike Commission. The only real surprise will be if they don’t take advantage of the opportunity and add a COVID-19 service fee as well. Where are those rioters when you need them?