Foreign Companies Are Buying Up American Highways and Bridges Built by U.S. Taxpayers

Associated Press ^ | Saturday July 15 | Leslie Miller

[zeugma]

The problem with your argument is that local toll roads are not new to Texas. Most people accept them as a way to get roads built faster and don't mind paying for them. Others, want the taxpayer to pay for it. The same is true of the TTCs.

The difference is that previously tollways were not simply money making ventures for private companies. Also, tollroads in Texas used to go away once they had been paid for. That doesn't seem to be true anymore. As is the case with any bureaucracy, the tollway authorites are self-perpetuating. They can always come up with reasons to keep the tolls from a road rolling in even after they've long been paid for. This is how the yankees do things on the PA Turnpike and other similar roads. To them, it's just another tax. Another way to reach deeper into taxpayer's pockets. It seems that beating monies out of the citizens is what governments do best, be they republican or democrat. 

 For any public opinion that you, BobL, and the anti groups think you can generate against toll roads, it will never be but a small percentage of public opinion against raising the gasoline tax.

That's probably true, but is mainly because people are much more familiar with gas taxes. We' see it every time we fill up, and the government makes more money than anyone else does on every single gallon of gas. Of course, to you and others who never seem to think the government ever gets a large enough take from us taxpayers, it doesn't matter that huge amounts of the revenue from gas, registration, inspection and all the other ways you nickel and dime us to death with are not being used for infrastructure, but instead are just dumped into the black hole that is the general fund.

Like many Americans, I resent strongly the implication that we're not paying enough taxes. It is just simply not true. You tax and spenders in Washington, Austin, and just about every other capital across this nation are never  satisfied with how much we bleed for you. You are always on the lookout for more ways to suck some more of our lifeblood.

Perry is selling us out for a one time revenue boost because he can't think of enough ways to stealthily raid our pockets so he can have more money to spend. Typical short-sighted politicians. It amazes me how many people blindly follow in lockstep.

[Ben Ficklin]

You are definately mixed up.

As someone who wants free roads(which aren't free), you are advocating tax and spend. Or more precisely, you want to tax me so you can ride free.

Road tolls are a user fee. If you don't want to pay the toll, stay off the road. Pretty Simple.

[zeugma]

How the hell am I advocating free roads? We pay dearly for our roads every time we fill up our car or register our vehicle. Y'all just aren't happy unless you can find ways to extract even more revenues from the people. Find a new tune.

[Ben Ficklin]

You find a way to pay for your ride. Quit trying to extract more revenues from me.

[af_vet_rr]

You forgot to mention the no-bid contracts that were/are going on in Texas, as well as the "partnerships" were formed only so that the European companies involved had an American presence. If a democrat did half of what Perry and his people have done, people would be up in arms (and interestingly enough, Perry used to be a democrat until a certain Texas Senator convinced him that he needed to change parties if he wanted to go anywhere).

[af_vet_rr]

Not only has Perry sold us out but look what Cornyn did on June 29, 2006.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.3622.IS:

Very interesting, but not surprising.

[af_vet_rr]

Well said. The secrecy surrounding the TTC should be a red flag to anyone who thinks about this stuff. Perry is selling us out for short term cash. The troubling thing is that there doesn't seem to be a damned thing we can do about it.

I have yet to run into a Republican in Texas who can justify the secrecy, deliberate obfuscation, and the no-bid contracts. None. They make half-hearted attempts or try to attack my politics, and they get very uncomfortable when I ask them if they'd be okay if democrats were doing this instead of Republicans.

I expect we'll be attacked by the Perry supporters once they find this thread, and that's just it - they'll attack us rather than address what we are discussing and what concerns us.

One person told me that those in Texas who are divided over this "just need to get on the same page". My response was "lady, you and I aren't even in the same library, let alone the same book, and so I don't see us getting on the same page".

[zeugma]

I'm sorry, but it is you who are supporting creating new financing methods for the state, not me.

[zeugma]

I have yet to run into a Republican in Texas who can justify the secrecy, deliberate obfuscation, and the no-bid contracts. None. They make half-hearted attempts or try to attack my politics, and they get very uncomfortable when I ask them if they'd be okay if democrats were doing this instead of Republicans.

The secrecy of these deals is the weakest link. They know it. They also know that they can't withstand scruitiny in the light of day.

[Ben Ficklin]

You're just upset because the taxpayer doesn't want finance your free road.

[zeugma]

You don't read or comprehend very well do you?

[Ben Ficklin]

It has been noted that the gasoline tax would have to be increased at least a buck a gallon(probably more) to pay for your free ride.

[BobL]

You points are excellent. They also want SS numbers, and I have yet to find out about any privacy protections.

Heck, I was in Singapore a while ago, and they even let you buy toll tags anonymously.