This has got to be a bad idea. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lebenz · #1 06-14-2006, 12:21 PM

When states and the fed grab ever more revenue from folk, yet turn to foreign entities so they can lease basic infrastructure, because they can’t afford it!?!?!? WTF!?!?!?

Strapped States Try New Route, Lease Toll Roads to Foreign Firms

By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 14, 2006; Page A01

ELKHART, Ind. -- Its official state motto is "the crossroads of America." Yet Indiana is about to turn over its entire toll road for the next 75 years to two foreign companies, making it more expensive to drive.

The decision to hand the Indiana Toll Road to an Australian and Spanish team for $3.8 billion at the end of this month has blown up into one of the biggest brawls here in a generation. It has unsettled the state's politics in the months before the November elections, pitting a governor who was President Bush's first budget director against the people of northern Indiana, which the highway passes through.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901775.html

Dee8go · #2 06-14-2006, 01:04 PM

You wait and see. These politicians are crazy like a fox! Once we've sold the rights to our highways to these foreign companies, we won't be able to afford the gas to drive our cars anymore. Then the companies will go bust trying to operate roads with no toll income. Ah-ha!!!

GottaDiesel · #3 06-14-2006, 01:28 PM

Very sad.

It's like the fool who sells his fishing pole to buy a fish sandwich. -- Sad indeed.

But this is the new government we have.

Kuan · #4 06-14-2006, 02:35 PM

So... we expect increased shipping charges from Tire Rack?

aklim · #5 06-14-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GottaDiesel

Very sad.

It's like the fool who sells his fishing pole to buy a fish sandwich. -- Sad indeed.

But this is the new government we have.

It makes sense if you cannot fish for beans in the first place and have no ability to learn.

GottaDiesel · #6 06-14-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

It makes sense if you cannot fish for beans in the first place and have no ability to learn.

No, that is called natural selection. S/He becomes fertilizer.

Wes Bender · #7 06-14-2006, 05:57 PM

I've said it before:

"Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day.

Teach him to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day."

(Now, where did I put those oars.....)

Botnst · #8 06-14-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes Bender

I've said it before:

"Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day.

Teach him to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day."

(Now, where did I put those oars.....)

Wonder what's Mrs B would say if I told her I mislaid my 'ores.

t walgamuth · #9 06-14-2006, 07:41 PM

there was a big article in the chicago trib recently called "living out of the attic" regarding the selling of the toll roads there.

you know, you are running low on money so you look in the attic and see what you can sell.

it is ok for us but for our state it seems like a bad idea.

tom w

kramlavud · #10 06-14-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

It makes sense if you cannot fish for beans in the first place and have no ability to learn.

so we don't know how, and can't learn how; or can't learn how before it s too late.
mark

Hatterasguy · #11 06-14-2006, 08:58 PM

So if they sell the roads to a company based in another country, can they still enforce traffic laws on said roads?

Thats how you challange this, if they don't own the roads how can they ticket you for speeding on them?

Is it their a law somewhere that says you have to have an IQ of 2 and no spine to be in office or what?

Botnst · #12 06-14-2006, 09:09 PM

Why shouldn't a willing buyer and willing seller reach an amicable agreement? The government has demonstrated a capacity for f**king-up every money-making enterprise it has ever entered. Starting with the post office. The postal service retained absolute control over the most profitable parts of delivery and allowed competition in the unprofitable parts. The result is... the postal system is the only part of the delivery network that STILL hasn't turned a profit while UPS, FedEx, and goodness knows who else are profitable on the "unprofitable" portion.

How much did airline tickets cost when air travel was strictly regulated?

etc.

I like to seeing the gov get out of highways altogether and let for-profit enterprises take a shot. If there's a profit, then there will be investors who hope to cash-in on the profit. they will risk their money of their own choice and free will, in contrast to the current model in which our wealth is forced from us into enterprises that we may (or may not) choose to support, and on which we get no profit.

Open the gate. Let the investors from whatever country buy whatever they can afford. You and I will choose whether or not to buy their product. Whether it is roses, beef, electronics, or highways.

Bot

aklim · #13 06-14-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GottaDiesel

No, that is called natural selection. S/He becomes fertilizer.

Yes but I still don't see a problem of selling it off. Last a few days more anyways.

aklim · #14 06-14-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Why shouldn't a willing buyer and willing seller reach an amicable agreement? The government has demonstrated a capacity for f**king-up every money-making enterprise it has ever entered. Starting with the post office. The postal service retained absolute control over the most profitable parts of delivery and allowed competition in the unprofitable parts. The result is... the postal system is the only part of the delivery network that STILL hasn't turned a profit while UPS, FedEx, and goodness knows who else are profitable on the "unprofitable" portion.

How much did airline tickets cost when air travel was strictly regulated?

etc.

I like to seeing the gov get out of highways altogether and let for-profit enterprises take a shot. If there's a profit, then there will be investors who hope to cash-in on the profit. they will risk their money of their own choice and free will, in contrast to the current model in which our wealth is forced from us into enterprises that we may (or may not) choose to support, and on which we get no profit.

Open the gate. Let the investors from whatever country buy whatever they can afford. You and I will choose whether or not to buy their product. Whether it is roses, beef, electronics, or highways.

Bot

I think you missed the boat on this one. The problem is that when they cannot make money, what do they do? hint (tax)

Emmerich · #15 06-15-2006, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Open the gate. Let the investors from whatever country buy whatever they can afford. You and I will choose whether or not to buy their product. Whether it is roses, beef, electronics, or highways.
Bot

Not a good plan, how do you "not" select a highway to get from A to B? Taken to the extreme, we could save a ton of money by eliminating our military, defense is our biggest budget item. Using your idea we could just hire mercenaries as needed.

Some things need to stay at home.