Highway Robbery in Texas! -Literally

vanity ^ | October 13th, 2004 | illumini

[illumini]

Remember the Boston Tea Party?

Get ready for the AUSTIN TOLL PARTY.

Bumper stickers in Austin read: "AustinTollParty.com Stop The Double Tax Toll Plan". A billboard near the 8th-street downtown exit from I-35 echos the theme.

Go to website: http://www.austintollparty.com to get the details. There you will see a map outlining the plan to make all of Austin's EXISTING commuter highways part of a toll road system. The filthy rascals started building toll booths before the plan was "officially" approved by CAMPO. We have uncovered evidence of conflict of interest on part of some appointed politicans on the CAMPO board.

If you live in or around Austin, Texas your daily commute is about to become a LOT more expensive.

Your car may as well get 2 miles to the gallon!

Please attend the RECALL RALLY this Monday, October 18th. We are seeking signatures of Austin voters on a petition to hold early elections for Mayor and two city council members identified on the Austin Toll Party website.

"There will be live music and speakers from across the spectrum. This is the most populist political drive ever in the State of Texas, and we need your participation".

We The People need to take back our city and our roads. You can help: Got to the website, and follow steps one through five. Sign a petition.

RECALL RALLY:

SPEAKERS: Citizens of all persuasions, along with any politician who will take a stand with the people of central Texas.

VOLUNTEERS!! Call us or email us today if you want to volunteer. We plan to be at all the polls starting with early voting on the 18th through the 29th and on election day. Lets get the recall election on the May ballott. WE NEED YOU!

RADIO HOSTS: Please mention this on the air through election day. THANK YOU!

[Xenalyte]

I'm the dandy highwayman who you're too scared to mention
I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention
The devil take your stereo and your record collection
The way you look you'll qualify for next year's old age pension
Stand and deliver- your money or your life
try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife

I'm the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashion
The clumsy boots, peekaboo roots that people think so dashing
So what's the point of robbery when nothing is worth taking?
It's kind of tough to tell a scruff the big mistake he's making
Stand and deliver- your money or your life
try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your souls
Your conscience will be mine

We're the dandy highwaymen so tired of excuses
Of deep meaning philosophies where only showbiz loses
We're the dandy highwaymen and here's our invitation
Throw your safety overboard and join our insect nation
Stand and deliver- your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your souls
Your conscience will be mine
Qua qua da diddley qa qa da diddley qa qa

Stand and deliver- your money or your life
Stand and deliver- your money or your life...

[Xenalyte]

Well, hell, you were at SXSW. That's a loser magnet second only to Burning Man. Duh.

[Jarhead1957]

You nailed it. That is why so many here are up in arms about the whole idea.

I have no problem with new toll roads, if all the monies collected remains in a fund that can be used for the highways only. I fear that this money will go the way of the highway tax on gasoline. Anyone know where that went? It sure did not stay in the highway fund.

It's just a new way for politicians to raise money and not call it a tax.

[Deek]

I for one would like to pay for a road only once. I would like to see roads to be built with bonds. (a way to set aside a set portion of future tax revenue)

As would I, unfortunately that's not possible. That's like saying "I would like to pay for the military only once". Sounds great, but doesn't work in practice. Roads are expensive. The gas-tax is a crappy way to pay for roads, as almost 30% of the money goes to other states. I agree local bonds are better, but the bond must last as long as the road must be maintained, which is not altogether appealing either.

[Deek]

So what will happen when everyone takes to the side streets genius?

ROR!! Is that to get out of the way of the flying pigs?

[pwatson]

Here is the states response:
http://www.texastollways.com/tta/faq.asp#02

[Swankette]

You cannot be serious???? Side streets??? You stickin with that? You really think people will take to the side streets?? Uh...ok....good luck with all that...

[Bikers4Bush]

People will take to the side streets whether either of you wants to admit it or not.

[Swankette]

Hey- I have no doubt SOME people will take to the side streets....probably all the people that have no concept of how valuable their time is and really don't mind taking an extra 30-45 minutes to get to work or anywhere else...more power to 'em...I am not one of those people. My time and my life is more valuable.

Good luck...

[Bikers4Bush]

And before either of you says anything stupid I will tell you that it has happened here in Ohio.

There is currently a major push to direct traffic back onto the toll roads. Specifically truck traffic. They have stopped using the toll roads to save money.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Welcome to my world. Oklahoma places tolls on every interstate and turnpike they can. (Thanks so much Susan Savage.)

[Swankette]

My time is money.

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

Over the life of a road, most of the cost of that road is in the form of operating and maintenance expenses.

Huh? Interstate Highways cost anywhere between $3-24 million a mile. Even if that were true, Trucks pay a "road usage tax" and everybody pays gas taxes and tag fees that are supposed to go for road building and maintenance.

If you want to toll new roads, that is one thing, but to convert existing roads to toll is just wrong. Toll roads have an entire bureaucracy built in (toll collectors, administration personnel, security) that has to be supported by the toll as well as paying for the road itself.

The problem we have is that Texas is a gas-tax "Donor State". We are paying for everyone else's roads.

Last I checked, state taxes collected do not go the federal government, or any other state.

[MAWG]

This is why I left Austin 24 years ago. Used to be a great place to live. Now, every body wants to change everything, like 19th. street. Think they have a better idea. Mostly, they're just full of shit.

[Bikers4Bush]

Bears repeating.

"Toll roads have an entire bureaucracy built in (toll collectors, administration personnel, security) that has to be supported by the toll as well as paying for the road itself."

This obvious truth will fall deaf on many stupid ears.

[Swankette]

Hey you have a right to live wherever you wish- but change is absolutely unavoidable anywhere, in any aspect of your life.

[MAWG]

..... but change is absolutely unavoidable anywhere, in any aspect of your life.

What a huge load of crap. In ANY aspect of my life? Would that include who my family is or my religon or my own sense of integrity or ... I think you get the picture. You sound like you're recently out of college, yeah I went to U.T. too. Gonna take a while to get all that socio/politico/activist crap outa your system. In the mean time, try to minimise the damage.

[Swankette]

Nope wrong...not right out of college. You cannot deny that everything changes- maybe not WHO your family is - but relationships within, you religion may not change but your depth of belief probably will....

Not crap- truth. Unless of course you choose to live in a bubble.

[Chode]

but ya gotta make sure it's a dedicated fund...

IIRC here in NY, the NY State Thruway's toll money goes straight into the general fund and not a dedicated highway fund and neither do state gas taxes... all right into the general fund blackhole

[MAWG]

Swankette has been posting since September 15, 2004. You just trolling or are you really a conservative? Cause you dont sound like one.