Posted on 05/21/2007 4:21:51 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
this is a scam for rich international investors.
I still want to know who or what is behind Cintra. Mulsim money? Chinese? The Spanish sure don’t have this kind of change just sitting around.
In the case of the current "FAA reauthorization", it's the Congress that is setting up Air Traffic Control to be "privatized", meaning a private company is allowed to take profit from the natural monopoly of ATC.
Private companies have already taken over in Canada and Europe, and the user fees they charge have almost entirely destroyed general aviation that's affordable by non-millionares. All that's left in Europe are the ultralight hobbyists. Your standard Cessna 172s or Beechcraft Bonanzas are all but gone.
The US airlines are standing in line to set up their private ATC, and are itching to destroy the advancing "Very Light Jet" market, before the VLJs can take away their first class business.
The sad thing is we've got the technology in hand to almost totally automate ATC, that would give the freedom to pilots to get clearances automatically. I fear the technology will be put on infinite hold. The FAA claims they need the changes to build their "NEXTGEN" ATC, but won't say what the technology is. But you can get a hint at what it isn't, because they're even now beginning a rapid hiring binge of new controllers to actually increase the number of people in ATC, rather than automate it and reduce numbers. I'm sure the unions love it.
OMGSTFULOL
Do you blame everything you cannot understand on the Chinese, or the Muslims? A majority stake in Cintra is held by Grupo Ferrovial, S.A. Both are publicly-traded companies on the Madrid Stock Exchange. Bet you're wondering how the Spaniards can have a stock exchange when they don't have running water or electricity.
Easy going there bubba. If we need to we can draw pistols at 10 yards.
It still does not explain the money behind them. Why, it appears until proven other wise, does Cintra have its’ little pinkie involved in all these new toll roads in North America? Including Canada and now Oklahoma. Just because it is a publicly traded company does not mean something is not sinister in their intentions.
Their operations in Canada have proven to be a disaster for the Canucks with sky high tolls.
Your handle is appropriate, at least you know what you are.
Maybe they have experience building and operating toll roads? LOL!
You think Muslims back Cintra so they can build IEDs into the roads?
Just because it is a publicly traded company does not mean something is not sinister in their intentions.
Wow, something sinister. Like what?
That's because the Canadians don't know how to draft a contract. The Chicago Skyway is operating quite nicely, and this summer I'll get to (repeatedly) see how the Indiana Toll Road is doing. Looking forward to it, actually . . . Cintra runs a tight ship.
And my original comment stands. You admit to know nothing, and speculate about the Chinese (or Muslims). Why not space aliens?
Ever heard of Enron? World Comm? Ah, thought everybody had!
I just feel that we have paid once for our highways and they should belong to Americans.
And don’t say our fuel taxes would not pay for new roads and upkeep to the old ones. If the thiefs in Washington would use the money for what it was intended, there would be plenty. Just like Social Insecruity.
They just want OUR money.
So your problem is the fact that the funding (tax) system is broken. Complaining that someone found an alternative method of financing is an odd way of trying to solve it.
Good grief—Oklahoma is already chock full o’ toll roads. You practically have to pay a toll to get to the restroom here. We don’t need another toll road.
As it happens I'm in central Texas right now visiting liberal in-laws, and there was a big meeting at the high school cafeteria a little while ago because this Spanish company was thinking of putting the road right past our family farm. I'm telling you, the NIMBY's went absolutely psychodelic!
My brother-in-law was commenting on the 100 year toll rights and saying that the company was going to make 'excessive' profits. I suggested that he and I buy up stock in the company so we could be on the inside track for this super-sweet deal but he declined.
The profits are going to be too much for those evil foreign CEO's, but not excessive enough for him to consider taking on the risk...
It's easier to whine than to risk your own money.
I oppose toll roads categorically and refuse to travel on them. You don’t need to use the toll roads; just take the side roads.
Why do I oppose toll roads? Because we already pay a tax on gasoline and diesel fuel to fund the roads. The tolls simply represent a double tax. If state transportation departments need more money to construct and maintain roads, then state legislatures should use the existing fuel tax revenues exclusively for that purpose without redefining the word “road” so broadly as to include social-welfare spending.
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