Progressive Railroading lists a few more election results, oriented of course to pro-rail transit. That article in turn links to the Center for Transportation Excellence, a group focused on government “investment” in infrastructure, which claims that the vast majority of transportation measures passed this year (including elections prior to November).
Many of the measures on CTE’s list were road measures (which, if they were funded by sales taxes, the Antiplanner would have opposed). CTE somehow managed to not count the Dane and Kenosha county rail measures that lost. Two of the rail measures that passed were bond measures in Arlington and Fairfax County, Virginia, to support capital improvements (really maintenance) on the DC MetroRail system. Other cities that accept federal funds for rail transit should take note: they will ultimately be responsible for rebuilding the system when it wears out.
Kamagra tadalafil for women dosage pattern Users are required to have a good check of their erection and hyper tension levels to have proper diagnose of ED issues in men appropriately. Vitamin deficiency is one of the major causes for mood swings, lack of motivation, fatigue, mental fogginess, tingling in the extremities than normal. levitra 20mg There is no doubt that one of the viagra generic wholesale best prescription drug or generic drug satisfying your needs. The real treatment must be gotten essentially 1 cheap cialis tadalafil ED pill before the sex. Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner, a fiscally conservative news outlet, reports that tea-party Republicans just elected to Congress can expect to do battle with the “Republican Beltway establishment and the K Street wing of the GOP”–in other words, Republicans who support government “investments,” i.e., corporate welfare. The good news is that Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative John Boehner seem to be siding with the tea partiers, though time will tell if they are serious.
As I noted yesterday, Representative John Mica, from Florida, is backing off on his pro-high-speed-rail stance. “I am a strong advocate of high-speed rail, but it has to be where it makes sense,” Mr. Mica told The Associated Press in a post-election interview. “The administration squandered the money, giving it to dozens and dozens of projects that were marginal at best to spend on slow-speed trains to nowhere.” He thinks any remaining funds should be focused on the Boston-to-Washington corridor, which he suggested is the only place in the country where it might make sense. Considering that he was once a strong supporter of high-speed rail in Florida and now is likely to chair the House Transportation Committee, that is a refreshing turnaround.
Next year, Congress is expected to revisit federal surface transportation funding. Last year, Mica supported James Oberstar’s expensive, and unfunded, plan. Now the word is that he will only support a bill that can be funded with available funds. Moreover, John Boehner is actually talking about keeping earmarks out of the bill. All of these ideas are good news for those who believe in efficient, user-fee-driven transportation.
The Autoplanner; All of these ideas are good news for those who believe in efficient, user-fee-driven transportation.
THWM: So bring on the red tape of use-fee-driven side walks, yee-haw! =)
Looks like the Highwayman is up late….been smoking that high speed rail pipe right? Who pays you, and how much, to constantly harass and slander the Antiplanner?
Dude, suburban trains are not anti-suburban, also I’m not against suburbs.
Also if you want to find a good example of socialism then look at the street in front of your house.
Hey, even O’Toole has admitted that roads are there regardless of economic conditions!
At least “Market Urbanism” is pretty much ideologically consistant, unlike O’Toole.
highwayman: Also if you want to find a good example of socialism then look at the street in front of your house.
JK: It was built and paid for by the builder and the cost included in the sale price of the home. Like most neighborhood streets.
Where is the socialism in that?
In this town the only streets being put in with tax money are around TODs and other subsidized high density development.
Thanks
JK
How do tax-built street roads come under the category of a government-owned business or as redistribution, for 2 aspects of socialism?
Why do people think that any government is socialism?
Why do people think that if you want limited gov, then you want anarchy?
There is a huge range, with gov being about 44% of GDP now.
Why do people think that if you are “anti-big gov”, then that means “anti-any gov”?
Oh, brain shortcomings, that’ why some people have a hard time with processing facts, concepts, principles & logic.
Gov provision of a public good , is not socialistic.
To learn more, listen.
We all know it’s unlikely that Highman wants to learn or even has that ability.
Gov provision of consumer goods is socialistic, like a sports stadium or housing.
metrosucks wrote:
Looks like the Highwayman is up late….been smoking that high speed rail pipe right?
Maybe he was drinking some of that rail-flavored Kool-Aid?
The Antiplanner wrote:
Two of the rail measures that passed were bond measures in Arlington and Fairfax County, Virginia, to support capital improvements (really maintenance) on the DC MetroRail system.
The above is correct. Those bonds are to fund the so-called Metro Matters program of heavy repairs to station infrastructure (elevators, escalators and HVAC), tracks and right-of-way, and railcars.
The other government partners in WMATA (the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland) are putting up proportionally similar shares to fund these capital subsidies of rail transit in the Washington region.
The Antiplanner also wrote:
Other cities that accept federal funds for rail transit should take note: they will ultimately be responsible for rebuilding the system when it wears out.
And wear out it will. Even if the system looks shiny and new (as Washington’s still does), the costs for repair and rehabilitation are considerable.
Unlike investments in highways, rail transit involves not just the rails and associated signal and control systems, but also:
(1) rail vehicles, which will need at least one (expensive) “mid-life overhaul;”
(2) traction power systems for powering the overhead power lines or third rails;
(3) rail station infrastructure, especially for underground segments, where heating, air conditioning systems, escalators and elevators wear out;
(4) in many cases, rail tunnels leak water – sometimes a lot – and tunnel repairs can be very expensive; and
(5) signal systems also wear out and can fail (defects in the signal system were in large part to blame for the 2009 fatal wreck on the Metro Red Line wreck at Fort Totten).
Scott,
Opposed to our conversation a few days ago, I love your comment today. Bombastic political and ideological exaggerations paint too many conservatives as plutocrats or anarchist (I’ve been guilty of this from time to time. I’m working on it).
We all want to draw the line in the sand at different places, but I’ve found that the Americans I know are considerably closer to the middle of the fascism-communism ideological spectrum.
“Also if you want to find a good example of socialism then look at the street in front of your house.”
In my case, the street in front of my house was not only paid for by the builder (nearly 40 years ago), now that it is wearing out, the county is going to pay for repaving it by creating a “limited improvement district” and charging me and my neighbors the cost. As a cyclist, I am actually more eager to pay the cost than some of my auto-oriented neighbors because I notice the potholes a lot more than they do. So this is a good example of a user-pays system, not socialism.
In my case, the street in front of my house was not only paid for by the builder (nearly 40 years ago), now that it is wearing out, the county is going to pay for repaving it by creating a “limited improvement district†and charging me and my neighbors the cost. As a cyclist, I am actually more eager to pay the cost than some of my auto-oriented neighbors because I notice the potholes a lot more than they do. So this is a good example of a user-pays system, not socialism.
Don’t confuse Highwayman and Dan with the truth. They’re only here to flog the “high speed” rail position and attack the actually useful roads we all drive on. 15% subsidy to a service used by over 80% of Americans: theft!….100% subsidy to a “service” used by 2% of Americans: great idea!
The Antiplanner wrote:
In my case, the street in front of my house was not only paid for by the builder (nearly 40 years ago), now that it is wearing out, the county is going to pay for repaving it by creating a “limited improvement district†and charging me and my neighbors the cost. As a cyclist, I am actually more eager to pay the cost than some of my auto-oriented neighbors because I notice the potholes a lot more than they do. So this is a good example of a user-pays system, not socialism.
In much of the East (and perhaps elsewhere), many newer communities are built as “planned unit developments,” and a homeowners’ association (HOA) is put in charge of common elements, including streets and sidewalks, which are then maintained by the owners of the homes served by those streets. That makes the streets private (though usually not gated), and the owners bear all costs of street and sidewalk maintenance, including snow removal (last winter in Maryland was brutal in terms of huge and budget-busting snowfalls and other precipitation).
I am willing to wager that those shiny condo buildings in the Pearl District of Portland, in parts of the District of Columbia and Arlington County, Virginia, are on public streets, and the owners of the condo units don’t pay extra to maintain the street(s) in front of their buildings.
The Autoplanner; Many of the measures on CTE’s list were road measures (which, if they were funded by sales taxes, the Autoplanner would have opposed).
THWM: Though gas taxes are sales taxes.
In my case, the street in front of my house was not only paid for by the builder (nearly 40 years ago), now that it is wearing out, the county is going to pay for repaving it by creating a “limited improvement district†and charging me and my neighbors the cost. As a cyclist, I am actually more eager to pay the cost than some of my auto-oriented neighbors because I notice the potholes a lot more than they do. So this is a good example of a user-pays system, not socialism.
I suspect the builder floated a bond that the city (taxpayers) funded, guaranteed and maintained, and the builder had to set up a district/corporation to pay it back. If a district was formed, then it likely was run by an amateur government, and if they weren’t given power similar to government, then they didn’t get economy of scale and were less efficient when pricing.
Nonetheless, I’m glad you finally after all these years are getting some maintenance on your road.
DS
The Autoplanner said: “Also if you want to find a good example of socialism then look at the street in front of your house.â€
In my case, the street in front of my house was not only paid for by the builder (nearly 40 years ago), now that it is wearing out, the county is going to pay for repaving it by creating a “limited improvement district†and charging me and my neighbors the cost. As a cyclist, I am actually more eager to pay the cost than some of my auto-oriented neighbors because I notice the potholes a lot more than they do. So this is a good example of a user-pays system, not socialism.
THWM: Once again, even you have admitted that roads are there regardless of economic conditions, that is socialism. Even what you just cited as the “limited improvement district” is again socialism.
Scott said: Gov provision of a public good , is not socialistic.
THWM: Public transit is a public good.
Don’t let facts get in the way of Dan’s and Fraudman’s touchy-feely “intellectualism”.
JimKarlock said: It was built and paid for by the builder and the cost included in the sale price of the home. Like most neighborhood streets.
Where is the socialism in that?
THWM: There’s no on going profit or loss judging basis for the continued existence of the street in front of your house.
THWM: There’s no on going profit or loss judging basis for the continued existence of the street in front of your house.
There’s no on-going activity in your brain…is that socialism? Are we redistributing brainpower from troll Dan to lunatic Fraudman?
Highman, You falsely classified transit as a public good.
You didn’t read the definition.
The USPS mail is not a public good, nor are medicare or similar.
Just because gov provides something that & all can use, it’s not necessarily a “public good”, which does not equate with:
A good that is publicly available, provided by the gov.
Highman, several times you have typed “is there, regardless of economic conditions”.
That doesn’t make sense.
Is that creation by magical existence, without money or resources?
Then you claimed that to be being socialism.
Regardless of those errors, you have again failed to know what socialism is; it is an economic system.
BTW, there are not that many claims here about socialism.
If you really understood, you would know that.
The main points here, for fairness & such, are for justice in financing for urban goods & little government interference.
Highwayman, the gas tax is an excise tax. I fail to understand why that’s so difficult for you to understand.
Highman, You falsely classified transit as a public good.
You didn’t read the definition.
The USPS mail is not a public good, nor are medicare or similar.
Just because gov provides something that & all can use, it’s not necessarily a “public goodâ€, which does not equate with:
A good that is publicly available, provided by the gov.
The “public” in public transit only differentiates it from private transit/transport, i.e. auto and to some extent taxi (with only one person/party using the service); it has nothing to do with ownership, much less what kind of good that it is. Privately-owned transit services are still considered “public transit” (this is at least the definition provided by Vukan Vuchic). So two leaps of logic by h-man on that one.
Scott said: Highwayman, You falsely classified transit as a public good.
You didn’t read the definition.
The USPS mail is not a public good, nor are medicare or similar.
Just because gov provides something that & all can use, it’s not necessarily a “public goodâ€, which does not equate with:
A good that is publicly available, provided by the gov.
THWM: Like with the DOD, it’s good for the public.
prk166 said: Highwayman, the gas tax is an excise tax. I fail to understand why that’s so difficult for you to understand.
THWM: Which is still a sales tax.
True, that defense is good, and for the public.
That’s not why defense is a public good.
Would it be good for the public, if Highman & other retards, who cannot process information, be euthanized?
Scott said: True, that defense is good, and for the public.
That’s not why defense is a public good.
THWM: Scott, why don’t you just hire mercenaries to defend your property from illegal alien/foreign invasion in a time of need?
Scott; Would it be good for the public, if Highman & other retards, who cannot process information, be euthanized?
THWM: I just process information in a different more constructive manner, that’s all.
Though oddly enough Scott, I don’t find your genocidal mind set ironic.
Hahaha, put down the pipe Fraudman.
“Legislation won’t change the heart, but it will restrain the heartless.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Highman,
I don’t know why are talking there being about only privately provided security, police & military, and I’m assuming, no government at all.
Neither me, nor any other commenters (that I recall), here, are advocating anarchy or the private funding for the basic gov services, such as protection.
How is it that you & many others get confused & mixed up about the points here? Which are about urban issues, particularly housing & transportation. Then, upon addressing issues, facts & principles, the angle is to: twist, distort, avoid, avoid, misrepresent, etc.
Just because it is appropriate for one to pay for certain items that, one uses, it doesn’t necessarily apply to all items. There are many reasons to differentiate among various types of “goods & service” that people use.
None of my posts have related to genocide.
Even if you misunderstood my sarcasm about euthanasia, that clearly does not fall under the genocide category.
If taken as serious, it could fall under the category of eugenics (based upon brain ability), cutting dead weight, thinning the herd, survival of the fittest, or other similar. I am not seriously advocating murder. Although, you might do society a favor by…
I have not typed anything against peoples on account of race, ethnicity, culture, origin or similar.
This race card fallacy might work for some who have a hard time at processing information, like most Dems.
Scott, I’m not telling you how to live your life, but don’t tell others how to live their lives either.
Just be reasonable, that’s all that I ask.
Highman,
Why are you making comments that have no relation to anything mentioned?
None of my comments had to do with how others live, unless you’re talking about the morality & justice included in my reasoning, similar to, “People should not mooch off other”.
You are the one who want to coerce other into transit, take way roads (or hardly expand), and take many taxes from many sources, for just a very few people (<4%).
Unbelievable that you refer to being reasonable, when you have shown any, including avoiding any meaningful dialogue.
From each according to his ability, and to each according to his needs.
Right, Fraudman?
I mean, you probably know the words better than I do.
The problem is that HSR and light rail’s parasitical/anti-mobility-based “needs” are greater and greater every day. But a hypocritical leech such as yourself probably doesn’t concern himself/itself with that.
metrosucks said: From each according to his ability, and to each according to his needs.
THWM: That’s a good point, we don’t inherit the world, we borrow it from our grand children.
Acts 4:32-35
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
You see, moron, the difference is that they did it voluntarily, as all charity should be. Your communist idols didn’t mean that the giving would be “voluntary”. How am I not surprised that you simply tried to twist it to fit your purposes?
Thanks, I’ve done volunteer work with seniors, food banks & etc.
*Shaking my head in disbelief*
ROTFLMAO!:)
Any ways, so long as there is government, taxpayers money will be moved around, wether we like what it is spent on or not.
prk166 wrote:
Highwayman, the gas tax is an excise tax. I fail to understand why that’s so difficult for you to understand.
Stated a little differently, the tax on motor fuels is a tax collected from all motorized users of the public highway network, except for certain tax-exempt government vehicles (including, but not limited to, most fire/EMS and police vehicles, transit buses and some school buses), which are excused from paying those taxes.
Rather like the postage that people pay to use the U.S. mail system (which is supposed to cover the costs of same) or the taxes that people pay to fish and hunt (which are in most states used for government activities which benefit fishing and hunting).
Though unlike motor fuel taxes, postage and fishing and game fees are not diverted to subsidize the operation of urban mass transit systems.
Highman, Why quote a book of fiction (“Acts 4:32-35”)?
It might even have value & good advice, but no relevance.
However, I see that it is about the collective & other immoral Marxist ideas.
Within that was a point that you clearly violate: “no needy”. You are very needy (& nerdy), needing much mass transit, needing others to pay, needing gov to force behavior changes. You need help.
O’Toole & Rand wrote fiction. Yet that is part of your dogma.
As for morality, you laugh at people who get hit by cars while riding bikes.
The apple on top of the spoke, for the chemist charged dandelions in the barnyard surrounded by majestic music upon the dress it wore..