[gooseman_1]

And I thought toll highways in the U.S. were stupid. $8 to enter the city?! And they use automated cameras to bill people?! Why didn't we think of that? Oh yeah, we're not completely socialist.....yet.



I can just see people getting billed for their stolen cars (maybe they get refunds).



What's really sad is that a majority of people support it (those who don't have to pay for it, I'm sure). But what comes around goes around, they'll get their turn.



Said a London commuter: "I'm just glad to do my part in giving money to the govt. You know, so they can by more cameras and stuff."



Oh yeah, it's great that motorcycles are exempt from paying (snicker).



What a truely STUPID idea.

 

[gooseman_1]

Re: Socialism?

"Having the users of the roads bear the cost of construction and maintenance is much LESS socialistic than having this borne by the taxpaying public.."

Agreed. I guess I was thinking about their socialistic policies in general, not this particular one.

I DO think that mass transit is a good idea (I live near Boston, which the experts have determined is the most congested city in the world). It should be subsidised as in L.A. but.....

I'm very conservative, but roads are one area that economically benefit *everyone*. For this reason, I believe the cost of road constuction, improvement, and maintainence should be born by all. I also don't agree with tolls, for this reason and the one you site.

Except for the tolls part, I would agree with BMW's post below. Excise taxes on fuel (as in aviation) are a better solution. Those who use the roads the most will pay the most, regardless of what stretch of road they happen to use.

The Brits DO have the right idea in supporting motorcycle use as a fuel effecient, low impact way to travel.

 

[gooseman_1]

"It's sort of like expecting the KKK to eliminate racism."



Great analogy. If you look up the definition of racism it states: 'any policy concerning race.' By definition Affermative Action IS racist, and most polititions are also racist. This is news to some, because the term racist has been corrupted to mean something else.



I also agree with your take on socialized medicine.

 

[gooseman_1]

Re: Socialism?

Oops, BMW's post is above.

 

[gooseman_1]

I love using England as an example in discussions with gun control people. They inevitably say 'bobbies don't even need to carry guns because they're illegal'. The I tell them bobbies do carry guns now because criminals have black market guns. Often they don't believe me!

Look no further than Austrailia for more proof. Within one year of the govt. requiring all gun owners to turn them in the murder rate jumped 400% All other violent crimes went up too. Most of these crimes were against the elderly. Who would've thought the criminals wouldn't turn their guns in? They could commit these crimes secure in the knowledge that thier victims had no means of defence.



Bring on Gun Control!