“How about giving some specific solution to our highway probem? Assumming that you agree that we need more highway capacity here in Texas; how do you suuggest they be built, and how do you suggest they be paid for? How about we focus on this if you want to have an intelligent discussion.”
First suggestion: how about we cut the entire non-roadbuilding budget from TxDOT and use it on roads? That’s about $2.1 billion right there that is either being diverted to other agencies (like DPS) or spent on non-road crap like public transit.
Second suggestion: instead of low-bidding everything, set an amount we will pay for major projects and make builders bid for the NUMBER OF YEARS THEY WILL MAINTAIN THE ROAD AFTER THEY BUILD IT. That’s the German way. That’s how you end up with long-lasting, solid roads. And if you’re worried about bidders skipping on maintenance, make them have to bond for the whole amount you’ll pay out before you bid. Then we save maintenance money in the long run as well as know our transport schematic in advance based upon the money we have to spend, not upon what we are guessing the low bidder will come up with (not counting various cost overruns).
Third suggestion: cut funds for THECB in its entirety and sell stock in each of the the state university system campuses, i.e., privatize four-year education in Texas, and use the money for roads. If universities in Texas are so worthy and Texas is such a conservative state, people will buy in like crazy. The U of Phoenix is the biggest ed provider in the country. Why can’t a conservative state take its higher education private again? That IPO would generate a fortune. What Texan wouldn’t buy stock in UT, A&M, or Texas Tech?
Fourth suggestion: Offer vouchers to all public school students at the elementary, secondary, and community college level for 3/4 of the cost of their current yearly enrollment outlays, on the condition that they instead attend a private school, of course. This would likely save that entire 1/4 in salaries, postpone new fixed costs for education in new public school buildings, and should have been done a long time ago in a conservative state. That 1/4 of the current education outlay could all be spent instead on roads.
I’ll eagerly await your intelligent discussion.
And I thought you were going to make nice, LOL!
Suggestion #1: Agree, and have for a long time. Not sure how to do it. Public transit is usually a total failure, big money hog for sure, i.e. AMTRAK. But, I live in the DFW Metroplex and our DART system is being well received and is being utilized to transport working folks from the suburbs to downtown jobs. Now, is it paying for it self? Don't know. But, each municipality in the metro is paying for initial cost through bonds. If gas continues to go up I think DART may turn out to be self funding, we'll see.
Suggestion #2: Excellent. Agree for sure.
Suggestion #3: Never gonna happen, just wishful thinking. As for University of Phoenix; it started from the git go as a for profit school. And, frankly, a degree from it is not looked upon very favorable at Fortune 500 companies. In fact, many won't even bother to interview a grad from UP.
Suggestion #4: As someone who achieved my bachelors degree via the GI Bill (along with working the night shift at a truck stop) I am a proponent of vouchers. Voucher systems do indeed work if structured and managed properly as the GI Bill is proof for sure. In fact, many social scientists, economists, etc, credit the post WWII GI Bill as the primary engine that drove the boom that lasted from post WWII up to the 70’s. I could go on but will stop. The only suggestion I would make to your model would be to allow vouchers to be used for both private and public schools, thereby creating competition in both sectors. Not sure about your factors, but it's a good thought so all’s good. Although we are supposed to be sparing over Texas roads, let me just finish up on vouchers by saying this is we (Texians) last great hope for saving our educational system. It's the only way to force competition upon the public sector, unions, union members.
Well, you didn't address the land issue. So, I will do that. Texas can certainly update road right of ways, widen them, even double deck or tunnel (as Loop 635 project in Dallas). But, we need new highways moving traffic in or near new populations and businesses. This will require new right of ways. Unfortunately, the only way to acquire this land is by use of imminent domain. We're going to have to do that. And, yes, some ranchers, farmers, land owners will have to sell. Now, I am a supporter of pay fair market value for this land. But, where the rub is, many of these landowners want far above what's fair market. But, that's going to have to be worked out in the courts I suppose.
Well, not too bad LibertarianInExile - so, you reside in the Austin area? Where do you hail from previously? Just curious..