Transportation Referendum - Support! (Atlanta: low income, high, taxation)

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by JPD

Really, this is how low you guys are going to sink? A p*ssing contest over which political party pays more gasoline tax?

Pathetic.

Did I mention political parties....ANYWHERE? I try not be confrontational, but sometimes, some of you seem so eager for it.

All I did was to state the obvious....if you don't drive, you don't pay gasoline taxes. Others made the anecdotal claim that somehow people driving were of one political stripe or another.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Did I mention political parties....ANYWHERE? I try not be confrontational, but sometimes, some of you seem so eager for it.

All I did was to state the obvious....if you don't drive, you don't pay gasoline taxes. Others made the anecdotal claim that somehow people driving were of one political stripe or another.

Thin skinned much?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by JPD

Thin skinned much?

No, just tired of the knee jerk reactions to things that aren't written. Think my contribution to this forum has about run its course.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by neil0311

No, just tired of the knee jerk reactions to things that aren't written. Think my contribution to this forum has about run its course.

I wasn't even responding directly to you. Talk about knee jerk.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Maybe not dollar for dollar, but isn't the assumption that conservatives are paying the lion's share of the taxes that go for these roads and bridges?

It's not my assumption. Is it your assumption? If so, do you have any evidence that it's true?

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Honestly, the real problem here is one of ideology.

It's ideology in the rhetoric and forum discussions, but out in the real world it's just self-interest and tribalism. Conservatives want public goods and services just like everybody else: roads, exurban/rural water and sewer, farm subsidies, health care ("Get your government hands off my Medicare!"). What they don't want is public goods and services they don't personally benefit from. People are guilty of this across the politcal spectrum ("We don't need more roads!"). The only thing different about conservatives is the stories they tell.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

It's not my assumption. Is it your assumption? If so, do you have any evidence that it's true?

No, I'll have to admit I haven't seen any statistics on who pays for the roads. Based on what you hear on the radio and in general conversation, though, it stands to reason that the folks fighting against higher taxes (i.e., conservatives) would be those who are already laying out a bundle. When you read about 30,000 people lining up to get a form for Section 8 and that 1 in 5 people is on food stamps, you have to wonder whether they are putting in a lot for roads.

Maybe they are, however. I'd certainly be open to seeing the numbers.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

My point is that some aspects of our society are necessarily collectivist rather than individualist. Non-crazy conservatives realize that fact. They know when it's important to reign in this INDIVIDUAL-IS-SUPREME mentality to talk about how collectives--such as private companies and government--can work together on such larger goals.

In stark contrast, the crazy conservatives, be they in Cobb County or elsewhere, refuse to acknowledge the logical flaws in their puristic obsession with individualism.

Thanks for the link and the comments, K-SawDude.

(I also have to agree with you on the gay marriage issue. How can somebody claim to be conservative while at the same time having the government stick its nose into when consenting adults can and can get married?)

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by arjay57

No, I'll have to admit I haven't seen any statistics on who pays for the roads. Based on what you hear on the radio and in general conversation, though, it stands to reason that the folks fighting against higher taxes (i.e., conservatives) would be those who are already laying out a bundle. When you read about 30,000 people lining up to get a form for Section 8 and that 1 in 5 people is on food stamps, you have to wonder whether they are putting in a lot for roads.

The piece I'm not following is where you equate "taxpayer" with "conservative" and "Section 8" with..."non-conservative," I guess. I'm comfortably in the top 10% and paid about $20,000 in federal income tax last year after all deductions and credits. I'm not anti-tax, and I certainly wouldn't call myself a "conservative" by today's (extreme) standards. On the other hand, I was in the southern Appalachians last weekend and saw a whole lot of very conservative, very poor people who no doubt benefit from a variety of public assistance programs (including food stamps, juding by the signs at the convenience stores). I'm guessing they don't kick in much in the way of taxes, either, despite their anti-tax, tea-partyin' conservative credentials.

In other words, your suggestion that conservatives pay their own way, while those of us with different political views don't, is without foundation. It would be nice if you simply acknowledged that, instead of continuing to dodge and weave.

[cqholt]

2 people died this morning commuting to work. Atlanta's road are not safe, the TIA will improve the safety of the roads for drivers and pedestrians. After the work is complete of course.

[cqholt]

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.