[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Jim,
The reality is that the private sector could build roads. But they prefer to have the government do it, because they don't want to invest the trillions of dollars necessary to build and maintain a system like we have in the US. All of these "free market" proponents love to make the argument that government should leave the infrastructure building to the private sector, since it can do it more efficiently, etc. Well, why didn't the free markets step in and and start building those roads back in the early days of the auto, as they were doing for horse and wagons, as you correctly pointed out? The reality is that there is no profit to be made in it. The markets won't bear the actual costs associated with driving. This is evident in voters' resistance to tax increases necessary to pay for maintainence and modernization.
Oregon created its State Highway Department in 1916 and was the first US state to enact a gas tax to build roads. Other states began building roads during this time, primarily due to pressure from groups like the AAA. Granted, highway building really took off after WW II, but there was significant govt. involvement prior to the war. The Eisenhower system was built partly for security reasons, but also due to pressure from auto manufacturers, who understood that having a good network of roads was paramount to them selling a ton of cars.
The greater problem is that our transportation system is all out of whack. After WW II, we've put all our transportation eggs into two baskets - cars and airplanes. We've ignored trains and transit. More efficient transit systems in our cities would make it a more attractive mode for urban mobility, thus creating more highway capacity for those who need/want to drive and for freight mobility. Most transit was provided by private companies until the highway building orgy put them out of business and the government had to step in to bail them out. Same thing happened to railroads after the government's investment in airports. The US is geographically a big country, so cross country rail would never really work again. But, high speed rail lines such as European nations have built would serve certain corridors much more efficiently than air travel. LA/SF, Portland/Seattle, Chicago/Milwaukee, etc. Cars are a great mode of travel and I love them! But, they aren't always the best means of transportation. We collectively need to recognize that and start pushing our governments to create a more balanced transportation system. I think we would have learned something from the fiasco that occured after 9/11 when our air transportation system was brought to its knees.
I'm unclear as to what your point about gas prices is. Sure, there are a lot of taxes added to the cost of gas, but still not enough to cover maintenance costs of the highway system. Other than GPS-based tracking systems, :) what is your solution?
Dan
posted by 12.81.21...
, Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:00:06
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
