why are our roads crap? (approval, interstate, year)

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by Cinema Cat

We do have the money. We even pay the money necessary to maintain the roads. It's called the gas tax.

The problem is that the public employees keep stealing the gas tax for their inflated salaries and pensions.

Why we can't have nice things

[Western Urbanite]

Originally Posted by Cinema Cat

We do have the money. We even pay the money necessary to maintain the roads. It's called the gas tax.

The problem is that the public employees keep stealing the gas tax for their inflated salaries and pensions.

The gas tax doesn't nearly cover the cost of roads. It needs to be roughly doubled to do that--about 1/2 of funding comes from the general funds, and that is just for highways. City streets are barely covered by the gas tax at all.

I do agree that public employee pensions are too high, however.

One solution is to overturn prop 13.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by Western Urbanite

The gas tax doesn't nearly cover the cost of roads. It needs to be roughly doubled to do that--about 1/2 of funding comes from the general funds, and that is just for highways. City streets are barely covered by the gas tax at all.

I do agree that public employee pensions are too high, however.

One solution is to overturn prop 13.

Try it. I dare you.

[Western Urbanite]

Originally Posted by taimaishu

LA is heavily overpopulated.

No it isn't. Not even close.

[Western Urbanite]

Originally Posted by jm1982

It wasn't red states that decided CA should be a sanctuary for illegals and the billions that come with that .

That is both false and off topic.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Educating anchor babies and paying for their healthcare ain't free you know.

It's an investment in the future. Those babies will someday become contributing taxpayers. If you have kids, they're currently a drain on public resources as well. People pay that back over their working life.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Also our pension costs are out of control is that the "red states" fault?

No, our pensions are actually out of control. However, they're out of control because California, when it was a red state, promised ridiculously big pensions to the people who are in their 60s and 70s and collecting them today. Young people today won't get big pensions.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Liberal media outlets like CNN and LA Times never mention the billions illegals cost us .

Undocumented immigrants are net tax contributors. Just because mainstream (factual and respectable) media doesn't agree with your false worldview doesn't make them deceitful.

Originally Posted by jm1982

They only talk about the sob stories of those that crossed the border illegally for "a better life"

People's lives shouldn't be determined based on where they're born.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Illegal Immigration Costs California Taxpayers More Than $25 Billion a Year, Finds FAIR

This is coming from a far right lobbying group defined as a hate group. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-f...n-reform-fair/

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by Western Urbanite

That is both false and off topic.


It's an investment in the future. Those babies will someday become contributing taxpayers. If you have kids, they're currently a drain on public resources as well. People pay that back over their working life.


No, our pensions are actually out of control. However, they're out of control because California, when it was a red state, promised ridiculously big pensions to the people who are in their 60s and 70s and collecting them today. Young people today won't get big pensions.


Undocumented immigrants are net tax contributors. Just because mainstream (factual and respectable) media doesn't agree with your false worldview doesn't make them deceitful.


People's lives shouldn't be determined based on where they're born.


This is coming from a far right lobbying group defined as a hate group. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-f...n-reform-fair/

It is on topic because there are a finite about of resources . Resources spend on illegal aliens is money that we can't spend on fixing roads .
Investment in the future ? That's a good one .

Nonsense . Tons of businesses hire illegals and pay them cash off the books .This is beneficial for the employer and also for the illegal alien.
You really think all the illegals in L.A are being paid on the up and up ?

Cash under the table is typical for these businesses such as restaurants , car washes ,etc

Many illegals own their own business too . Gardening service , handyman service , etc .

anyone that lives in Los Angeles knows this is reality .

If you don't like the FAIR estimates disprove them .
How much does it cost to educate an illegal alien child ? Zero ?

How much does it cost for a hospital to deliver an anchor baby ? Zero ?

[C_A_Braun]

Quit your whining you bunch of freeloaders!!!

[Western Urbanite]

Originally Posted by C_A_Braun

Quit your whining you bunch of freeloaders!!!

Who would that be?

[Western Urbanite]

Originally Posted by jm1982

It is on topic because there are a finite about of resources . Resources spend on illegal aliens is money that we can't spend on fixing roads.

False. That isn't how capital works. If you know you'll have a guaranteed return in the future (ie. the tax dollars of undocumented immigrants' children) you can borrow against that. Besides, as I have already stated, undocumented immigrants PAY MORE IN TAXES THAN THEY RECIEVE. Therefore, the more we have results in a larger city budget as a whole which means we can spend more on roads (or transit, preferably.)

Originally Posted by jm1982

Investment in the future ? That's a good one.

I'm glad you agree.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Nonsense . Tons of businesses hire illegals and pay them cash off the books .This is beneficial for the employer and also for the illegal alien.
You really think all the illegals in L.A are being paid on the up and up ?

Indeed, they are paid far less than they deserve, but they still are making more here than otherwise. This is beneficial to the employer because of lower costs, the consumer because of lower prices, the taxpayer because of a larger tax base, and the immigrant because they have more money than they would in their country of orgin.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Cash under the table is typical for these businesses such as restaurants , car washes ,etc

Yes it is. However, many taxes are paid using false social security numbers and in other forms, such as property and sales. Besides, immigrants receive few benefits, so they cost the state less than citizens.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Many illegals own their own business too . Gardening service , handyman service , etc .

Yes, they do help the economy in that way.

Originally Posted by jm1982

anyone that lives in Los Angeles knows this is reality.

That our economy would be worse off without undocumented immigrants?

Originally Posted by jm1982

If you don't like the FAIR estimates disprove them.

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles...lions-in-taxes

Originally Posted by jm1982

How much does it cost to educate an illegal alien child ? Zero ?

The same as it costs to educate your child. And the economic benefits of education over the long run make it worthwhile. Or should be abolish public education?

Originally Posted by jm1982

How much does it cost for a hospital to deliver an anchor baby ? Zero ?

The same as it costs to deliver your child. And the economic benefits of that child over the long run make it worthwhile. Or should be abolish childbirth?

[goodheathen]

I've had a little involvement in this. The status of local roads (not state or interstate) is largely influenced by representatives on the city council. If enough people complain to the local rep, something likely will be done, though I suspect any large project will take at least half a year after approval to begin.