White House proposal could allow tolls along Ga interstates (Atlanta: middle-class, credit card)

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

It should have two lines. The Democrat and the Republican line. The Republicans can useit for free

Oh what a twisted world our politics has become. Where the Republicans expect to line up for a free government hand out and are calling for more taxes to pay for them.

What about you pay for what you use. You are not entitled to my taxes to pay for your commute to the suburbs and vice versa. You choose to live and work where you want and you should pay for your commute in between.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

Also, we (people without children or who are never going to have children) shouldn't have to pay taxes to fund schools. Let those children's PARENTS, not other adults, pay for their own children's education!

Just write to check to the police and fire dept when you want to use them too.

[Robbyb03]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Just write to check to the police and fire dept when you want to use them too.

Those are public safety needs... Paying for someone else's child to attend school is not even close to being in the same ball park...

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

Those are public safety needs... Paying for someone else's child to attend school is not even close to being in the same ball park...

And this type of thinking is why schools are underfunded and need the help of box tops to raise funds. Funny how schools are not fully funded, but prisons are? Maybe more school funding would result in less need for prisons and jails?

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

The Obama Administration just proposed a new law that would allow states to turn highways like Interstate 75 or 85 into toll roads

Awesome, one of the few things they've done right. Paying by use is the most equitable way to build and maintain highways.

Originally Posted by cqholt

The gas tax doesn't come close to paying for maintenance. We borrow money to fill the holes. This is such an tried argument.

Yeah, the days of borrowing are over, and it's about time.

Originally Posted by MattCW

I doubt they'll slap tolls on the existing highways. Fortunately, a lot of the influential tea party would consider a toll on an existing road to be just another tax and would fight it and most likely win. I'm not above fighting dirty and picking sides when I want. The comment above about the traffic being pushed off onto the surface streets is a good one too.

Half the traffic that's on the Interstates belongs on the surface streets anyway. They don't have the driving skills necessary for the Interstates.

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

With what's coming in regards to transportation funding in the not-so-distant future, tolls will not be easy to get away from. The only ways to get away from road tolls in the future will be to stay immediately around in the area where one lives or to use mass transit for longer-distance trips.

I've always wondered why we have to pay a fee every time we ride a train or bus, but never when we use a highway.

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

I will support toll roads, when traffic cops aren't allowed to write tickets for speeding, in areas where I have just paid a toll!

That would require -- -- raising the speed limit!

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

It would also force much more traffic onto local roads, which receive zero federal highway funds, and make traffic and wear and tear on them much worse.

Yeah, they're covered by local and state funds, which makes them more manageable.

Originally Posted by jsvh

Oh what a twisted world our politics has become. Where the Republicans expect to line up for a free government hand out and are calling for more taxes to pay for them.

You're not the only one who's noticed the irony, and I say that as a registered Republican myself.

Originally Posted by jsvh

What about you pay for what you use. You are not entitled to my taxes to pay for your commute to the suburbs and vice versa. You choose to live and work where you want and you should pay for your commute in between.

Well, you don't always choose to work where you want, but you certainly do choose to live where you want.

Ultimately, the main advantage to tolling is that states can control their own destiny when it comes to highway infrastructure. Fast-growing states can use tolls to build new highways, and slow-growing states can use tolls to rebuild existing highways. The population in fast-growing states is rising fast enough to take care of the need for new highways, and the slow-growing states can improve their highways enough to grow a little faster themselves.

Originally Posted by cqholt

Maybe more school funding would result in less need for prisons and jails?

Unfortunately, not necessarily. Better parenting has to happen first.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

Those are public safety needs... Paying for someone else's child to attend school is not even close to being in the same ball park...

So when those uneducated children turn to crime because they are not qualified to get a job, will your opinion change?

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

It should have two lines. The Democrat and the Republican line. The Republicans can useit for free

Did you just admit that Republicans are the real freeloaders?

[Robbyb03]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

So when those uneducated children turn to crime because they are not qualified to get a job, will your opinion change?

You're assuming that someone who is undereducated is a criminal while also assuming someone who is well educated is a star citizen... Give me a break. A criminal mindset starts with someone's household upbringing not whether they can do geometry or not. People should pay for their own children to attend school. Why should someone who has no children or a child pay the same for schooling as someone who sends three or more children?

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

You're assuming that someone who is undereducated is a criminal while also assuming someone who is well educated is a star citizen... Give me a break. A criminal mindset starts with someone's household upbringing not whether they can do geometry or not. People should pay for their own children to attend school. Why should someone who has no children or a child pay the same for schooling as someone who sends three or more children?

Because it is in society's best interest to have a well-educated population. Everyone, with or without kids, benefits from that.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Robbyb03

You're assuming that someone who is undereducated is a criminal while also assuming someone who is well educated is a star citizen... Give me a break. A criminal mindset starts with someone's household upbringing not whether they can do geometry or not. People should pay for their own children to attend school. Why should someone who has no children or a child pay the same for schooling as someone who sends three or more children?

because we have public education in this country whether you are rich or poor, white or black, muslim or christian. schooling helps break down economic barriers and gives every child an equal chance to succeed. if you don't see the value in that, i can't make you, but don't think that attacking a core american value is going to get people to agree with you on much of anything else.