2012 Atlanta Region Transportation Referendum (Douglas: tickets, charge, jobs)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I know they are debit cards now but they are still commonly referred to as food stamps. There are a bunch of able bodied people getting them, too. Like 1 of every 5 people in Georgia.

What's the diff? Stamps or debit cards...

[cqholt]

There are a bunch of able bodied people getting them, too. Like 1 of every 5 people in Georgia.

maybe that's more of a testament to the economic situation in GA. Republican lead everything has gotten us nowhere, the rich got richer and more people got on social programs.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

maybe that's more of a testament to the economic situation in GA.

Well, if we're at the point where 1 out of 5 people has to rely on the government to give them food this state is up the creek.


P.S. Ansley, where in tarnation have you been?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Republican lead everything has gotten us nowhere, the rich got richer and more people got on social programs.

Maybe the federal gov't (led by Democrats) started handing out more free stuff, and more people decided why not hop on board the gravy train? After all, we have to advertise to get more people to use Food Stamps, since we are obviously not doling out enough.

Government runs ads to get more people on food stamps - Jun. 25, 2012

Just an alternate view.

[PKCorey]

If Congress lives within its means — and you know that most people running for Congress, around here at least, are saying (that) — there’s this general attitude that eventually they’re going to say, ‘Whatever the gas tax brings in is what we’re going to spend on transportation,’” he said.

He said that gas tax revenues are declining based on people driving fewer miles as well as more fuel-efficient vehicles.

“You hear people talk about whether there is a plan B,” Long said, referring to what would happen if the transportation sales tax vote fails. “Plan B is the current course we’re on now, which keeps us at same (funding) levels for two more years and then, (there’s) a collapse.

DOT: Federal roads funding likely to see big drop-off

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by PKCorey

DOT: Federal roads funding likely to see big drop-off

Even more reason to vote YES on July 31st. There is no Plan B. We can enact a simple 1% sales tax to improve our transportation systems to 21st century standards, the tax will not last forever, no matter what the tea baggers tell you.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Even more reason to vote YES on July 31st. There is no Plan B. We can enact a simple 1% sales tax to improve our transportation systems to 21st century standards, the tax will not last forever, no matter what the tea baggers tell you.

Not having a Plan B strikes me as being a very poor way to govern. There should ALWAYS be one.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Not having a Plan B strikes me as being a very poor way to govern. There should ALWAYS be one.

Well there might be. There is none right now, because no one is going to go through the effort to come up with one until we vote on plan A and it fails.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Not having a Plan B strikes me as being a very poor way to govern. There should ALWAYS be one.

This IS Plan B -- or more accurately, Plan Z-7096.36 People have been trying for decades to get something going on metro Altanta transportation but it fizzles every time.

When Sonny Perdue was governor he would fume every year that the legislature had once again failed to pass a transportation bill. So when the current one finally passed in 2010 it was greeted with hosannas worthy of the return of the prodigal. "Hallelujah, the Georgia legislature has finally passed a transportation bill!!!"

So everybody went to work for the next year and half. There were more town halls and hearings and outreach sessions than anyone can count.

Yet here we sit, years after our peer cities have already made their transportation plans a reality. We haven't turned one shovel of dirt. From the looks of things it will be many years (if ever) before we do.

That's why people say we are gridlocked and paralyzed by local squabbling.

Farewell, O Can-Do Spirit of times past. We hardly knew ye.

[PKCorey]

arjay, sounds about right...

Interesting fact to me: The T SPLOST won't apply to gas purchases .