Comments on: Why Paying Taxes Is OK

By: LuckyAdam

LuckyAdam — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:06:49 +0000

I agree in total. I think it’s very telling that Pawlenty is now saying he may support that gas tax that he vetoed twice before. I think a gas tax has two positive benefits.

1) It generates revenues that are obviously needed
2) Republicans will like this: Consumers will demand from the free market more efficient vehicles, thereby reducing emissions and dependence on foreign oil

By: Toby Dayton

Toby Dayton — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:02:22 +0000

The best long-term (50+ years) investment in transportation involves a diversified mix of investments in roads, buses, and light-rail. Given the growth projections for the Twin Cities in the next 50 years, there will never be enough roads to handle the demand. Basing an opinion about light rail on a single initial line, only the first of what must become a network of connected lines across the entire metro region, is, at best, premature and at worst, absurd. Ridership since the line became operational has been significantly higher than projected, and those numbers will continue to rise as investments in infrastructure continue. For the Twin Cities to remain competitive as a dynamic, modern, high-growth, workable community, we must continue to invest in light rail, along with roads and buses, at a level far higher than what we have done in the past 20+ years.

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:29:42 +0000

We’re going to be without a bridge that carried 100,000 commuters per day for at least the next 2 years, but at least we have that expensive light rail system which carries about 10K per day.

Insufficient funding is a valid argument, but it’s most important that the money that is there is spent wisely.

By: Willow

Willow — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:04:18 +0000

Bravo Toby! This is horrible and if we had government in this state who had a clue .. this never would have happened. The latest from the Trib says this bridge was rated Structurally Deficient in 2005. I would gladly pay more in taxes – property, gas, tags, whatever .. to assure no one ever need go through this horror again.