tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7582669.post5557294804494047626..comments2023-10-15T08:32:37.279-06:00Comments on A Nod to Nothing: The Last AmericanScooterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07264667176243327560noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7582669.post-22815304131640557762008-09-04T19:34:00.000-06:002008-09-04T19:34:00.000-06:00I don't think toll booths should be considered unc...I don't think toll booths should be considered unconstitutional. I simply think that state governments selling overall toll rights to private companies (often for extremely long term contracts) just to make a quick buck up front (for a small fraction of the the real take over time) is just short-sighted and stupid in the extreme. I think the same thing may happen with lotteries in some (many?) states?<BR/><BR/>In any case, if you (as a government) are going to set up a toll road, lottery, etc as a revenue stream to support various programs/projects in your state, make sure it serves that purpose. Don't just sell it off to create a short-term cash influx, or to cover up budget shortfalls that occur on your watch.<BR/><BR/>Toll roads in and of themselves don't get me wound up - you can choose whether to use them or not and pay for the convenience. I generally approve of use-based taxes. But when governments sell off public transit to private firms that use minimizing out-of-pocket expense as their starting point for supporting/maintaining facilities, I find that short sighted and inexcusable.<BR/><BR/>I'm stepping off my soapbox now :)<BR/><BR/>If you choose to adopt the "I America" philosophy, I would buddy up with the Germans in your hypothetical balkanized war. Despite what the Scandinavians might have everyone believe, while you're west of Sconie you're still firmly ensconced in the land of German transplants:<BR/><BR/>Minnesota 2000 population of Minnesota: 4,919,479 (2000 census)<BR/>Rank Ancestry % of Population<BR/>1. German 36.7<BR/>2. Norwegian 17.3<BR/>3. Irish 11.2<BR/>4. Swedish 9.9<BR/>5. English 6.3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com