[Night Hides Not]

Don't play semantics with me. Roads are not an essential function of government. Pointing out that they are essential to get from point A to point B is childish.

Allow me to disagree with you, friend. I consider roads an essential function of government, and Ike did too, as another link in national defense.

[Ben Ficklin]

"and Ike did too"

Eisenhower favored the Interstate System being paid for by tolling, but was overruled by Congress.

Today, in retrospect, we know that the "free" IS System was a failure because it was "free".

First, there was never the political will or ability to tax at the level needed to maintain, replace, rebuild, reconfigure, expand. The system is worn out and inadequate. Today, the cost of just patching consumes huge amounts of money.

Second, the "free" roads promoted urban development that was detrimental to the condition and the capacity of the system.

[1rudeboy]

You do not understand the distinction that I'm making (and it's a conservative one). Roads are not an essential function of government in the same way the Post Office is not. The rule is, can the private sector perform the task or function more efficiently?

You are using national defense as an excuse . . . unless you are willing to demonstrate how the private operation of a road negatively impacts our national security.