Do you support Trumps infrastructure improvement position?

[Blackjack200]

As for 'rotting cities', you better hope not! Remember, suburban and rural areas like the ones you live in depend on the massive wealth and economic productivity produced by cities. You need cities, cities don't need you. Better keep that in mind in case one day those cities decide that you are more trouble than you're worth.

It's clearer and clearer that Republican politics are animated by hatred and spite. They would much rather not spend a dime on infrastructure than spend a large amount on rural infrastructure and risk that cities might get some of that money.

It's why states refused Medicaid expansion. It's completely senseless, but the broad benefits to that expansion, including less strain on the hospital ER's, more federal money for health care providers, etc., don't compare to the intolerable thought that a poor person might get health care.

 

[repoman0]

My well-being isn't adversely impacted in the least by your potholes, long commutes, abandoned buildings, and dying mass transit systems. Meanwhile the suburbs have brand new infrastructure and I guess we'll just need to make do.

lol have you ever lived in a city? Most of the people I know have a short walk to work. I personally drive (<20 minute commute) and have logged nearly 100k miles in and around Boston -- the only times I have ever had trouble due to potholes are two popped tires, once in suburban Pennsylvania visiting my mother, once in suburban Maine visiting the countryside. There are literally zero abandoned buildings here because land and property is some of the most in-demand and valuable in the nation. And your article is based on a historic 100+ inch of snow winter, the situation with the MBTA has improved significantly since then.

You appear to not have a clue. Enjoy your dead overbuilt sprawl though and keep foolishly raving about America's centers of culture, innovation and wealth generation.

 

[glenn1]

Of course it isn't, why would it be? Please explain. I do think I'm starting to hear the classic glenn1 jealousy of cities peeking out again though.

Nah, plenty of suburban and rural areas have large infrastructure needs and unlike cities they frequently lack the tax base or economic power to effectively address them. You'll be able to make do for a little while I guess but without the money and economic opportunities present in cities suburban and rural areas will face economic collapse. I hope it's all new because that infrastructure you have is the last you'll be able to afford, lol.

LOL, wow I'm really scared by your imagined race between the suburbs and cities to see whose infrastructure will become intolerable first. Since ours is about 75 years or more newer than yours, is less stressed by population density, and the spare capacity to raise tax rates for stuff like infrastructure instead of starting from the already ~10% sales tax base in most cities I'm not too worried about the results. Not to mention the GOP in charge of government in like 2/3rds of states and POTUS and both branches of Congress right now.

 

[fskimospy]

LOL, wow I'm really scared by your imagined race between the suburbs and cities to see whose infrastructure will become intolerable first. Since ours is about 75 years or more newer than yours, is less stressed by population density, and the spare capacity to raise tax rates for stuff like infrastructure instead of starting from the already ~10% sales tax base in most cities I'm not too worried about the results. Not to mention the GOP in charge of government in like 2/3rds of states and POTUS and both branches of Congress right now.

Huh? Who was trying to scare you? If you actually think suburbs are economically viable without proximity to an urban center you're delusional. Also, you would probably really, really not like your tax bill if you wanted to keep your current investments and services without tax subsidies from cities.

Unlike you I have no desire to spite the suburbs or rural areas, I'm just pointing out to you that instead of endlessly raging against cities you might want to thank them for all the help they give you.

 

[theeedude]

Cities are where educated young people want to live. Higher population density + more desirable and expensive housing = more property tax revenue per mile of road.
Less infrastructure and public transit primarily impacts people who commute from suburbs to the cities, and will be stuck sitting in traffic for hours a day. This makes cities even more attractive places to live and suburbs less attractive.

 

[fskimospy]

It's clearer and clearer that Republican politics are animated by hatred and spite. They would much rather not spend a dime on infrastructure than spend a large amount on rural infrastructure and risk that cities might get some of that money.

It's why states refused Medicaid expansion. It's completely senseless, but the broad benefits to that expansion, including less strain on the hospital ER's, more federal money for health care providers, etc., don't compare to the intolerable thought that a poor person might get health care.

Yeah, the whole 'spite based policy' thing never made any sense to me. I genuinely don't understand people like glenn who are motivated by hatred of their imagined enemies. It's equal parts gross and sad.

 

[glenn1]

Yeah, the whole 'spite based policy' thing never made any sense to me. I genuinely don't understand people like glenn who are motivated by hatred of their imagined enemies. It's equal parts gross and sad.

I don't hate you or cities. But unlike you I'm also not motivated primarily by concerns about boogeymen like 'public private partnerships.'

 

[Blackjack200]

Yeah, the whole 'spite based policy' thing never made any sense to me. I genuinely don't understand people like glenn who are motivated by hatred of their imagined enemies. It's equal parts gross and sad.

This is just my take, but I think you hit it with your last post. Rural areas could not afford infrastructure without subsidies from the cities, and the self-styled rugged individualists resent that.

The central conflict is their stubborn refusal to accept that they're part of a community. It explains their fascination with guns ("I protect and serve myself"), hatred for taxes, hatred for social programs, and hatred of cities, which could not exist without massive amounts of public cooperation. I mean, try being individualist on a subway car. lol.

The idea that their roads, bridges, sewers, schools, utilities, ports, and security rely on massive amounts of public investment and spending infuriate them. They can't wait to show the rest of the world that they don't need any of it. Look at Kansas for shit's sake. They've all but buried their own fucking state in pursuit of their imagined self reliance.

 

[K1052]

I don't hate you or cities.

This claim is not only contrary to your posting history it's contrary to the content of this thread where you brought up your pet urban/suburban fight.

 

[Jhhnn]

LOL, wow I'm really scared by your imagined race between the suburbs and cities to see whose infrastructure will become intolerable first. Since ours is about 75 years or more newer than yours, is less stressed by population density, and the spare capacity to raise tax rates for stuff like infrastructure instead of starting from the already ~10% sales tax base in most cities I'm not too worried about the results. Not to mention the GOP in charge of government in like 2/3rds of states and POTUS and both branches of Congress right now.

Winning the race to the bottom? FYGM?

Of course. We never expected any different from you.

 

[glenn1]

Winning the race to the bottom? FYGM?

Of course. We never expected any different from you.

You're the ones who are saying you'd prefer no infrastructure spending than any of it be done via public-private partnership. I'm happy to accommodate that preference if you insist, it's your city after all.

 

[agent00f]

LOL, wow I'm really scared by your imagined race between the suburbs and cities to see whose infrastructure will become intolerable first. Since ours is about 75 years or more newer than yours, is less stressed by population density, and the spare capacity to raise tax rates for stuff like infrastructure instead of starting from the already ~10% sales tax base in most cities I'm not too worried about the results. Not to mention the GOP in charge of government in like 2/3rds of states and POTUS and both branches of Congress right now.

Look at the dumbshit who can't figure out suburbs only exist due to cities.

 

[Jhhnn]

You're the ones who are saying you'd prefer no infrastructure spending than any of it be done via public-private partnership. I'm happy to accommodate that preference if you insist, it's your city after all.

Nice strawman! Why should the govt of the people essentially borrow money that we could take rather painlessly in taxes?

Had Eisenhower thought of it when building the interstate highway system every highway could be a toll road, much to the joy of the rentier class.

 

[mect]

I don't hate you or cities. But unlike you I'm also not motivated primarily by concerns about boogeymen like 'public private partnerships.'

Public private partnerships aren't inherently bad. Some states have saved significant amounts of tax revenue utilizing these. For example, some states use these to ease the cost of rest stops. Rest stops along freeways are placed next to gas stations and restaurants, and the businesses assist with the maintenance. They didn't turn into toll areas, but rather the businesses found it worth investing in these because of the increased business they experienced. This made sense. The problem with republicans is they have this hammer called privatization, and everything they see becomes a nail.

 

[Jhhnn]

Public private partnerships aren't inherently bad. Some states have saved significant amounts of tax revenue utilizing these. For example, some states use these to ease the cost of rest stops. Rest stops along freeways are placed next to gas stations and restaurants, and the businesses assist with the maintenance. They didn't turn into toll areas, but rather the businesses found it worth investing in these because of the increased business they experienced. This made sense. The problem with republicans is they have this hammer called privatization, and everything they see becomes a nail.

That's a whole different kind of sharing. Most privatization efforts are just rent seeking-

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2013/08/05/8-ways-privatization-has-failed-america

Repubs would have us paying for air if they could figure out how to do it.

 

[glenn1]

Nice strawman! Why should the govt of the people essentially borrow money that we could take rather painlessly in taxes?

Had Eisenhower thought of it when building the interstate highway system every highway could be a toll road, much to the joy of the rentier class.

Most were tolled when first built and many (almost exclusively in blue state Northeast) still are, so please provide another one of your patented faulty arguments. All aboard the SS Jhhnn Failboat.

 

[werepossum]

The entirety of communism and socialism isn't sufficient?

 

[agent00f]

The entirety of communism and socialism isn't sufficient?

Many if not most of those gubmint planned asian economic miracles and "socialist" western europe have better infrastructure than us.

 

[werepossum]

yes, it's a bit of hyperbole, but the assertion that an employee in work sector A will move over to work sector B, simply because "it is there" and without any assumptions of transferable skill requirements, is as laughable and mythical as the unending republican fantasy that supply side economics is anything better than completely toxic and destructive to a market-based economy. And here we have Trump offering his own version of meth-induced supply side economics, and his little lap-puppies are slobbering all over it.

So we shouldn't do infrastructure projects at all since the only people capable of working construction are already busy working construction. Yeah, that doesn't sound crazy in the least - by the new Trump Derangement Syndrome standard.

Plenty of people have multiple skill groups. When Americans were largely supplanted in drywalling by illegal aliens, those Americans did other things. Some of them stretched and grew new or extended skill sets; some of them settled for lower wages and did other things. Probably some of them simply settled for being permanently unemployed or cashing in disabilities - but probably not many. Americans tend to be workers.

 

[Jhhnn]

Most were tolled when first built and many (almost exclusively in blue state Northeast) still are, so please provide another one of your patented faulty arguments. All aboard the SS Jhhnn Failboat.

And they were financed by bonds. Ownership remained in the public domain. All the tolls ever collected went to state govts. Well, unless the roads have been privatized in the meanwhile.

Your claim of "most" is bullshit-

Today, the 46,730-mile Interstate System includes approximately 2,900 miles of turnpikes.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/tollroad.cfm

 

[brycejones]

LOL at Glenn1 claiming he doesn't hate cities. Who has previously referred to as being populated by HG Wells' Morlocks.

 

[glenn1]

Public private partnerships aren't inherently bad. Some states have saved significant amounts of tax revenue utilizing these. For example, some states use these to ease the cost of rest stops. Rest stops along freeways are placed next to gas stations and restaurants, and the businesses assist with the maintenance. They didn't turn into toll areas, but rather the businesses found it worth investing in these because of the increased business they experienced. This made sense. The problem with republicans is they have this hammer called privatization, and everything they see becomes a nail.

LOL at Glenn1 claiming he doesn't hate cities. Who has previously referred to as being populated by HG Wells' Morlocks.

Guess that hit a bit close to home. Don't worry, the Morlocks actually work (eating Eloi) instead of just asking for government handouts so the comparison isn't completely apt.

 

[brycejones]

Guess that hit a bit close to home. Don't worry, the Morlocks actually work (eating Eloi) instead of just asking for government handouts so the comparison isn't completely apt.

Nope, but it does reflect poorly on you and really shows what kind of POS you really are calling urban dwellers non-human. I hope some event happens in your life that leads you to reevaluate your world view so you can become a better human being.

 

[glenn1]

Nope, but it does reflect poorly on you and really shows what kind of POS you really are calling urban dwellers non-human. I hope some event happens in your life that leads you to reevaluate your world view so you can become a better human being.

No you guys and your political views are just more evolved humans.

 

[agent00f]

Nope, but it does reflect poorly on you and really shows what kind of POS you really are calling urban dwellers non-human. I hope some event happens in your life that leads you to reevaluate your world view so you can become a better human being.

Don't worry, glenn's taken plenty of gubmint handouts. But he's white which I guess makes him immune in his eyes.