Politics Thread

[X-man]

Amazing how that is exactly what Liberal Canada did. Ever drive on the fully privately funded and tollled 407 north of Toronto? Genius.

Canada got a group of investors from Mexico to build a whole new expressway north of the incredibly congested 401. And it is working beautifully. It is totally electronic toll so if you're a Yank like me, they take a pic of your license plate and send you a bill. Great highway with good design and a real time saver.

You do realize that driving on toll roads is also the go to move in NY, Chicago, New Jersey, and almost all of New England. At least with a new road funded the Canada way, there isn't a capital expenditure required from the state.

I am from New England, and that is an "alternative fact". I have no problem with toll roads, but there are very few of them in New England...anywhere. And there is no reason to have toll roads privately managed, and some good reasons not to. But this misses the point; infrastructure users should pay the costs of building and maintaining said infrastructure. That's why the Brent Spence bridge should be tolled, and why gasoline taxes should be increased to replenish the highway trust fund. Why don't Republicans see this?

[Masterofreality]

Isn't that what E-470 in Denver is like as far as camera tolls?

Was that privately funded....by investors from Mexico? Or paid out of my exorbitant Ohio tax dollars in the kitty?

[Masterofreality]

I am from New England, and that is an "alternative fact". I have no problem with toll roads, but there are very few of them in New England...anywhere. And there is no reason to have toll roads privately managed, and some good reasons not to. But this misses the point; infrastructure users should pay the costs of building and maintaining said infrastructure. That's why the Brent Spence bridge should be tolled, and why gasoline taxes should be increased to replenish the highway trust fund. Why don't Republicans see this?

Really? Uh, Mass Pike, Connecticut Tpke, almost every expressway bridge, and almost every limited access highway is tolled. WTF?

[Masterofreality]

I am from New England, and that is an "alternative fact". I have no problem with toll roads, but there are very few of them in New England...anywhere. And there is no reason to have toll roads privately managed, and some good reasons not to. But this misses the point; infrastructure users should pay the costs of building and maintaining said infrastructure. That's why the Brent Spence bridge should be tolled, and why gasoline taxes should be increased to replenish the highway trust fund. Why don't Republicans see this?

Except when the administration for the last 8 years passes a "Stimulus Package" where the money should have been spent on infrastructure, but instead was spent on stupid boondoggles that created no stimulus at all. Then still didn't put infrastructure money back out there.

[boozehound]

No, the spending by both parties is out of control. I'm just saying that Democrats have all of a sudden acted like they give a shit about spending on federal projects and also that we have a moral responsibility to keep the borders open while Obama shut everyone else's down.

And I've said it a million times and I'll say it again, I didn't vote for Trump.

I don't give a shit what Obama thinks about walls. He's not the President anymore. I do care about the guy who is the President and wants to spend what will likely amount to $30B on hastily planned border wall to prove a point and keep his poorly-informed base riled up.

Here's my thing: I don't really even care about the wall itself, I care about the $10B-$20B. If he could build the stupid wall for under $1B than I wouldn't really care because it would be an immaterial sum of money in the scope of the federal budget. We spent 8 years complaining about government waste, we finally get a 'Republican' in office, and we still want to spend money like we think it's going to rot. WTF happened to fiscal responsibility? I would expect this kind of shit from Democrats, but not Republicans.

The irony of Dems now complaining about government spending isn't lost on me, just like the irony of the Republicans now decrying obstructionist policies from a Democratic Minority isn't lost on me. This whole thing is a complete shit show, that is likely to get worse before (if) it gets better.

[Tardy Turtle]

We have always been at war with Eurasia.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I am fine with this idea. However, if a company wants to get in the road building/toll business there can and should be no government guarantee of any acquired debt related to construction or purchase of said road/bridge. I have done some light reading already of Maquaerie or however you spell that company. I believe that is the one that is buying these assets. This company (investment fund) screams scam as some well known business insiders have stated.

Amazing how that is exactly what Liberal Canada did. Ever drive on the fully privately funded and tollled 407 north of Toronto? Genius.

Canada got a group of investors from Mexico to build a whole new expressway north of the incredibly congested 401. And it is working beautifully. It is totally electronic toll so if you're a Yank like me, they take a pic of your license plate and send you a bill. Great highway with good design and a real time saver.

You do realize that driving on toll roads is also the go to move in NY, Chicago, New Jersey, and almost all of New England. At least with a new road funded the Canada way, there isn't a capital expenditure required from the state.

[X-band '01]

Really? Uh, Mass Pike, Connecticut Tpke, almost every expressway bridge, and almost every limited access highway is tolled. WTF?

New Hampshire and Maine have tolls on their turnpikes, but Connecticut no longer does. They still have service plazas on the CT Turnpike for some reason. I'm guessing that's because CT paid off their toll road bonds like Kentucky did about 10-20 years ago - that's why tolls on Kentucky's parkways have been done away with.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I think the idea here for tolls is they they....1 - pay for the construction of said project and 2 - pay for the maintenance. When you put it in the hands or private industry, you introduce a profit motive. What incentive is there to lower the toll once the project cost is recouped and only maintenance remains? What incentive is there to build/repair crumbing roads and bridges that aren't heavily used where the profit possibility is minimal?

New Hampshire and Maine have tolls on their turnpikes, but Connecticut no longer does. They still have service plazas on the CT Turnpike for some reason. I'm guessing that's because CT paid off their toll road bonds like Kentucky did about 10-20 years ago - that's why tolls on Kentucky's parkways have been done away with.

[Masterofreality]

I am fine with this idea. However, if a company wants to get in the road building/toll business there can and should be no government guarantee of any acquired debt related to construction or purchase of said road/bridge. I have done some light reading already of Maquaerie or however you spell that company. I believe that is the one that is buying these assets. This company (investment fund) screams scam as some well known business insiders have stated.

My initial post on who controls the 407ETR in Canada was in error. (Halfsheimers). It is actually a Spanish, not Mexican, company named Cintra Infraestructuras that has things like this all over the world. No matter, because it is a way to get infrastructure done and the actual users, rather than taxpayers who live thousands of miles away with no benefit, pay for it. Makes sense to me as a way to reduce government expenditures and deficits.