Foreign Control of U.S. Interstates Encouraged By Feds

American Chronicle ^ | June 29, 2006 | Diane M. Grassi

[A. Pole]

In your attempt to illustrate the problems with these foreign interests owning U.S. highways, you actually managed to highlight the one point (the elimination of overpaid toll collectors) that most people would actually consider a benefit of this kind of arrangement.

So you think that toll collectors are overpaid if they make more than $10 per hour?

And if they get paid less and get the food stamps and subsidized housing (they will qualify if they have children), how will it benefit the economy?

Or maybe you think that toll collectors deserve to be poor and should commute to their work on bicycle or on foot?

[A. Pole]

Part of the problem is the fantasy wages that people often believe. When I tell people that I used to be in the UAW they assume that I made at least $20 an hour. I didn't, I made just over $12 an hour.

You are are overpaid as long as you are paid more than Mexican laborer. USA should follow Latin American example.

[muawiyah]

Uhhh ~ a long route ~ cut off and go through Michigan to Mackinaw City via I-75. Then traverse the Upper Peninsula on 2 lane roads (and there's no parking on those roads from October 15 to June 15 due to snow regulations).

Not too smart if you ask me!

[raybbr]

In your attempt to illustrate the problems with these foreign interests owning U.S. highways, you actually managed to highlight the one point (the elimination of overpaid toll collectors) that most people would actually consider a benefit of this kind of arrangement.

Good grief! In you anti-union zeal you fail to mention that toll collectors are about one one-hundredth of a percent of the cost of running a toll road.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Phyllis Schlafly nails it, here...

http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2005/july05/05-07-13.html

[cripplecreek]

You are are overpaid as long as you are paid more than Mexican laborer. USA should follow Latin American example.

Apparently true. Once the shop figured out that they could use a temp service to hire "temps" for $6 an hour, they started cutting everybody's hours till we were all part time. Eventually nearly all the legal employees went seeking new jobs and the "temps" filled the positions.

[Alberta's Child]

The skill set required for a toll collector is about the same as the skill set for a cashier at Wal-Mart or Safeway. So any toll collector who is paid more than a grocery store cashier is basically overpaid.

The fact that the toll collector is part of a government racket doesn't change this.

[Hydroshock]

I find this distrubing on so many levels. One question, since my tax dollars are no longer needed to maintain this road we will see a reduction in our taxes. I wish, but think not.

[F.J. Mitchell]

We are being sold out to Foreign interests by the slimy sonovabitches we are paying and trusting to look after our own interests, and learning about the treason, after the fact.

We are like a roadkill carcass being eaten by vultures,opossums and maggots, while being swarmed by green flies.

[Alberta's Child]

It has nothing to do with "anti-union zeal." And I don't give a damn how little toll collectors are paid compared to the rest of the cost of running a toll road. There is an enormous "hidden" cost in toll collection in many parts of this country -- primarily in the form of lost productivity and increased travel time associated with traffic congestion.

[cripplecreek]

Not too smart if you ask me!

Nor is going a cheaper but more expensive route when a longer but less expensive route is avaliable. It's not up to the drivers, it's up to the trucking company because they're paying fuel costs and tolls.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Road use tax will continue to be collected. It'll go for inner city buses or light rail in Minneapolis.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

You missed the point.

This is one more step in the globalization and balkanization of America, the loss of national soverignty, the merging with Canada and mexico. It has nothing to do with "funny little foreign people", and has everything to do with a metered step-by-step process of turning America from a 'First World Melting Pot' into a 'Third World Chamber Pot'.

[seasoned traditionalist]

"In your attempt to illustrate the problems with these foreign interests owning U.S. highways, you actually managed to highlight the one point (the elimination of overpaid toll collectors) that most people would actually consider a benefit of this kind of arrangement.

So you think that toll collectors are overpaid if they make more than $10 per hour?

No problemo!

I predict that withing a couple of years, most of the toll collectors will be those who are just doing jobs "American don't want to do," and for a lot less than what is being paid today.

[muawiyah]

Gad ~ Indiana started out full of tollroads. That's what the Founders intended. You guys don't like the Founders do you?

[Alberta's Child]

Does anyone wonder why there are no American companies bidding on these contracts? I wouldn't bid on one of these contracts under any circumstances, since I suspect this kind of business venture is a bad deal in the long run.

[Hydroshock]

In other words it will not be spent for what it was originally intended and used to finace more wasteful government projects.

[Young Scholar]

$20/hour to collect tolls? Are you calling that a good thing? Only a ridiculous government union could arrange that kind of deal.

[Trust but Verify]

No, toll collectors should be paid according to the skills it takes to collect tolls. $20/hour is ludicrous. The people who work in grocey stores need more skills than a toll collector. They sure as hell don't make $20/hour.

[Young Scholar]

You're paranoid.