General Discussion

TheWraith

(24,331 posts) Wed Mar 14, 2012, 12:25 PM Mar 2012

I can't believe I have to say this: highway tolls are not a conspiracy to destroy freedom. [View all]

One of the proposed amendments to the current transportation bill in Congress is to add highway tolls to some federal interstates in order to help pay for the cost of repairing and rebuilding transportation infrastructure, by directly billing the people and organizations that benefit most such as trucking and long-distance travelers.

For gobsmacking reasons, some people seem to have come to the immediate conclusion that this is a massive conspiracy to destroy American freedom, by privatizing all roads and instituting a massive government program to track the movements of all Americans via toll booths. And no, this isn't something off Freeperville, it originated right here on DU.

I didn't think I'd have to say how ridiculous that is, but apparently I do. It's ridiculous in the extreme. Not only are the concerns ridiculous, but they run directly opposite to most of the premises that we ostensibly believe in, i.e. that investing in transportation infrastructure is good for the economy, good for the public interest, and good for the future. Leave the rants about how the Big Gubmint spending a few bucks to rebuild roads and make safer bridges is going to destroy America to the Glenn Beck wannabes.

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76 replies

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I can't believe I have to say this: highway tolls are not a conspiracy to destroy freedom. [View all] TheWraith Mar 2012 OP

I am not a fan of tolls, but I concur with your evaluation. MADem Mar 2012 #1

I concurrently concur with your concur. HappyMe Mar 2012 #3

I'm not a fan either, but nor do I overly dislike them. TheWraith Mar 2012 #8

Here in New York, the yahoos constantly whine hedgehog Mar 2012 #21

I think the fear is that Lawlbringer Mar 2012 #27

I think we need to fight any attempt at privatizing any utility - hedgehog Mar 2012 #29

This is a massive corporate giveaway and profit-making scheme, woo me with science Mar 2012 #52

That will be difficult to do. LiberalFighter Mar 2012 #74

Thing is, there is NO privatization. TheWraith Mar 2012 #32

Tell me something atreides1 Mar 2012 #2

Prior to 9/11, Congress wouldn't have passed it. TheWraith Mar 2012 #5

People need to turn off Coast To Coast AM and remove their tin foil hats. Initech Mar 2012 #4

Oh wait, it's a great place for story ideas! nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #58

They are not a conspiracy to destroy freedom. It's just another regressive tax. denverbill Mar 2012 #6

Frankly ProSense Mar 2012 #13

Some people might be more comfortable thinking of it as a luxury tax. TheWraith Mar 2012 #15

And so does the former. sudopod Mar 2012 #18

I don't think taking the less regressive option necessarily makes it progressive. denverbill Mar 2012 #19

Exactly. It's super regressive. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #38

Tolls can be made less regressive through discounts FarCenter Mar 2012 #62

Our Government unionworks Mar 2012 #7

There was a time when I would have laughed at the idea Mojorabbit Mar 2012 #26

The only problem I have with tolls on the Interstate system is if there MineralMan Mar 2012 #9

I can't speak to Pennsylvania. TheWraith Mar 2012 #17

And to continue on... pipi_k Mar 2012 #73

One of the reasons people that live on the East Coast of this country pay inflated prices Ikonoklast Mar 2012 #47

The only problem I have with planned tolls is the privatization of them. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2012 #53

Tee Hee! unionworks Mar 2012 #10

Why aren't we raising taxes on the rich? Starry Messenger Mar 2012 #11

We already have, and it's happening again at the end of the year. TheWraith Mar 2012 #14

Yes, I'm aware of the make-up of the House, thanks Wraith. Starry Messenger Mar 2012 #37

no we already didn't and we won't again at the end of the year. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #49

Yes, we did. Check your facts. TheWraith Mar 2012 #51

Income tax increase from 35 to 39.6? Not in your link. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #54

It's right there in line item 1: "Broaden Medicare tax base for high-income taxpayers: $210.2 bil" TheWraith Mar 2012 #56

here is what you said Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #60

If you strategically oppose tolls, it is easier tactically to whip up opposition on privacy grounds FarCenter Mar 2012 #12

Heya Dorothy, this is the Tin Man! sudopod Mar 2012 #16

How predictable, that corporate giveaways woo me with science Mar 2012 #20

It really is amazing that your view is so faith based you can't acknowledge facts. TheWraith Mar 2012 #25

Government doesn't need to raise revenue via regressive taxation. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #39

woo. just more woo. dionysus Mar 2012 #31

Corporatist woo at that. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #43

"Cronies get rich, people who have to drive to their jobs get screwed." woo me with science Mar 2012 #45

Or labeled as post hoc ergo prompter hoc. LanternWaste Mar 2012 #42

Between the toll fee and the cost of gas, it's cheaper for me hedgehog Mar 2012 #22

we could spend a tiny bit less on the welfare parasite military and not NEED highway tolls at all nt msongs Mar 2012 #23

Just raise registration fees and get rid of tolls Politicalboi Mar 2012 #24

I live in the Bay Area dana_b Mar 2012 #63

Actually the gas tax is the least regressive and closest to a true user fee tularetom Mar 2012 #28

But already some jurisdictions are worried hedgehog Mar 2012 #30

Toll Roads Do Not Pay For Themselves kemah Mar 2012 #33

I'd much rather see a federal tax rather than toll roads to maintain and improve highway LanternWaste Mar 2012 #34

You had to make a post about it? Rex Mar 2012 #35

What seem to have escaped everyone so far is that the Federal Government used to RC Mar 2012 #36

What seems to be escaping some here is, this is not about private companies. TheWraith Mar 2012 #40

Great obfuscation here by you. woo me with science Mar 2012 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author woo me with science Mar 2012 #50

While I don't like the regressive nature of toll roads, I otherwise agree with you totally NeedleCast Mar 2012 #41

Toll booths are DANGEROUS KamaAina Mar 2012 #46

High-speed EZPass lanes don't slow traffic significantly FarCenter Mar 2012 #55

Not on the Garden State Parkway KamaAina Mar 2012 #57

GSP high-speed lanes are 55 mph, converted booths and on-off booths are 15 mph. FarCenter Mar 2012 #61

If you are too stupid to avoid a tollbooth you shouldn't be on the road in the first place snooper2 Mar 2012 #76

raise the damn gas tax. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #48

Here is the problem at a policy level nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #59

CA St Rte 91, AKA Riverside Freeway has 10 miles of "toll" lanes privately administered cherokeeprogressive Mar 2012 #64

How ironic they continue to call it s freeway. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #65

it's all a bunch of 'woo', don't ya know KG Mar 2012 #66

You can't believe you have to say it because you have not really considered your position jpgray Mar 2012 #67

It's a regressive tax that shovels the money of a captive market into private hands. myrna minx Mar 2012 #68

How is a toll any more regressive than a fuel tax or federal highway use tax? Robb Mar 2012 #69

Is a toll system free to build and maintain? jpgray Mar 2012 #70

Inefficiency is not in and of itself regressive. Robb Mar 2012 #71

But if both methods are regressive, and one is less efficient... jpgray Mar 2012 #72

So you don't mind adding one regressive tax on top of an existing regressive tax? Zalatix Mar 2012 #75