Reserving interstate lanes for the affluent
There has always been something disturbingly elitist about the idea of HOT lanes, also known as high-occupancy toll lanes, also known as Lexus lanes.
The notion that some Americans would be able to drive on uncrowded lanes reserved for those who could pay for the privilege while drivers in the next lane are condemned to bumper-to-bumper traffic — it just doesn’t sit right. It brings to mind that line from “Animal Farm,” about all animals being equal, but some are more equal than others.
The idea is particularly galling if taxpayers who are stuck in traffic are forced to pay for construction of the HOT lanes that they can’t afford to use. And let’s make that clear — the whole idea is to make HOT lanes so expensive that most people won’t be able to use them regularly.
That just doesn’t seem right.
Having said that, however, the concept of HOT lanes does have legitimate, practical applications. For example, new lanes that are built specifically as HOT lanes and financed through tolls collected on those lanes don’t raise the same fairness concerns. In that case, the infrastructure is being paid for by the people using it, and that’s fine.
Here in Georgia, the state Department of Transportation is proposing a second approach. It wants to take existing HOV lanes along a stretch of I-85 — one lane in each direction — and convert them to tolled HOT lanes. Car pools could still use the lanes for free, but single drivers wanting to avoid traffic would also be able to buy their way into the lanes. The toll would vary; in times of heavy traffic, the cost would rise to discourage use and thus keep traffic flowing freely.
Potentially, that’s a useful idea. According to Ginger Gooden, a research engineer at the Texas Transportation Institute, allowing motorists to buy their way into under-used HOV lanes can speed travel, raise revenue and even decrease congestion in remaining general-purpose lanes. She cites studies of such conversions in Seattle and Minneapolis that have documented an improvement in traffic flow even in untolled lanes.
However, the Georgia DOT has more controversial ideas as well. On the Downtown Connector and a stretch of I-20 inside the Perimeter, it proposes to convert both an existing HOV lane and an existing general-purpose lane into toll-only HOT lanes.
If that proposal is approved, it would take an already overburdened highway and shrink its availability even further to the general public. Those lanes — infrastructure already bought and paid for by taxpayers — would be reserved for the exclusive use of those able to pay for that luxury.
According to DOT projections, someone using the high-priced toll lanes during rush hour in 2030 would be able make the 21-mile trip from Pleasant Hill Road to downtown in just 30 minutes. Not bad.
But for the rest of you, it would take 90 minutes.
According to Gooden, no other state has taken the step of converting existing general-purpose lanes to HOT lanes; in fact, she knows of no other states seriously considering such a step.
In his visit to Atlanta last week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also expressed surprise the idea was being proposed. He predicted that once people understand the proposal, public outrage would build pretty quickly.
That’s certainly been the pattern here in Georgia. A few years ago, when the DOT proposed converting Ga. 316 to a toll road, the political backlash forced the department to withdraw the idea. To calm the outrage, it also adopted a policy outlawing the conversion of existing lanes to privately financed toll lanes. That policy remains in effect, at least so far.
Overall, the state DOT is studying construction of a whole network of “managed lanes;” if approved, it would represent the department’s most significant transportation investment in metro Atlanta of the next 20 years.
In a presentation to the state Transportation Board last week, DOT planning director Todd Long estimated the cost of the network at $16.2 billion. Private investors would contribute almost $9 billion in return for a cut of the toll revenue, leaving taxpayers to pay the remaining $7 billion.
Given that Georgia is expected to have only $20 billion to spend statewide over the next 20 years, that $7 billion would represent the lion’s share of state spending in metro Atlanta. Spending it on a project that would speed travel for only a relative few makes no sense to me.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
242 comments Add your comment
Matilda
September 24th, 2009
4:53 pm
I’m not surprised that Georgia’s current “leaders” would think this is a good idea. That it’s probably the WORST idea I’ve heard yet for alleviating our transportation problems going forward is a good indicator that it may just happen. “Some people matter; the rest of you don’t.” For truth in advertising, they should put that on the Welcome to Georgia signs at the airport.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
4:58 pm
Well, damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Why not do somethng to encourage more car-pooling and van-pooling instead? And public transit has to be made convenient, clean and safe.
Kamchak
September 24th, 2009
5:03 pm
The HOV lanes were an after-thought. Without every exit having a corresponding HOV exit, there’s always gonna be some jerk trying to cross six or seven lanes in a quarter of a mile just to get off. I don’t see how changing HOV to HOT is gonna solve this.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
5:12 pm
“I don’t see how changing HOV to HOT is gonna solve this.”
I should imagine that the plan is to “wall” the lanes off from the regular lanes. How else would you be sure that those who should pay do? I say this every time: what we REALLY need are express lanes similar to what they have in Washington, DC. As far as I know they are free, but you can only get on at a very limited number of places and they are “walled” off from the regular lanes. AND they switch them: IN during morning rush hour, and OUT during evening rush hour.
professional skeptic
September 24th, 2009
5:13 pm
So… here we are, almost one year after the TPB’s “Concept 3″ report was released (tpb.ga.gov), and the only substantive talk we hear at the state level regarding the improvement of transportation in Metro Atlanta amounts to another $16.2 billion to be spent on roads.
Only this time, we’re not talking about more roads. Rather, we’re talking about taking existing lanes on the interstate that have already been paid for by taxpayers, and then asking those same taxpayers for an additional $7 billion to convert them into lanes that most of these taxpayers won’t use. If they DO choose to use these lanes, they’ll have to pay yet again in the form of a toll.
And this reduces traffic how?
Details, details! But wait… A private corporation will gets a hefty cut of the profits, so I suppose that makes everything A-OKAY in the eyes of our esteemed state authority figures.
Kamchak
September 24th, 2009
5:17 pm
DoggoneGA
Walling off is a great idea, but I don’t see them spending that kind of money in this economic climate.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
5:17 pm
“And this reduces traffic how?”
You’re making the assumption that the goal is to reduce traffic. Of course that’s NOT the goal. The goal is to give the “I got mine” crowd even more of what is “rightly” (get it?) theirs – meaning more of what is actually ALL of ours.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
September 24th, 2009
5:19 pm
Frankly, that’s a great idea. Is society better off if everyone sits in traffic or I, and others similarly positioned pay $20 to drive to Pleasant Hill Road? The whole would clearly be better if the few contribute a lot of $. Other than hurt feelings among the ACORN and near ACORN crowd no one would be upset that I have earned a shorter trip – the same way that I have earned nannies and education at the finest schools for my children, a Maui retreat, a country estate, an in-town residence, hot cars, private jet travel, and hot, young chicks on my arm. I do not see why traffic should be the only frontier where my money is not good enough.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
5:23 pm
“Walling off is a great idea, but I don’t see them spending that kind of money in this economic climate”
Are you kidding? They’ll claim it will “pay for itself” – borrow the money and then stick the taxpayers with the cost that WON’T be covered by the tolls.
Pogo
September 24th, 2009
5:24 pm
Seen the video yet? The cult of personality is being cultivated at a very young age by these Obama-ites. Let’s see, historically, what other leaders and their followers have used these tactics? Oh that’s right, dictators like Hitler, Castro, and Chavez and what’s his name in N. Korea. I have no illusion that Obama was personally not behind this pathetic puppet play but I do believe that he would approve of it. He would never admit to loving it but knowing his egomania, he probably gets really, REALLY stoked by it. Self-enamoured, fascist idealogues always do.
Indoctrination of the minds of the innocent. The hypnotized progressives should be proud of themselves. Even they should be disturbed by this fiasco that happened in NJ.
Kamchak
September 24th, 2009
5:28 pm
They’ll claim it will “pay for itself”…
Well if you’re gonna throw past performance in my face…
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
September 24th, 2009
5:29 pm
One thing, the HOT lanes should be closed to athletes, musicians, party promoters and other nouveau riche as this folk have already ruined far too many places for my circle.
Brad Steel
September 24th, 2009
5:32 pm
I will continue to use my gold plated, Medicare provided Rascal to cruse by the little people stuck in traffic.
professional skeptic
September 24th, 2009
5:32 pm
Society would be better off if *MORE* people, not fewer, could spend less time sitting in traffic. Less time sitting in traffic translates to more time available to spend eating out, taking the family to a movie, recreating, etc. I imagine some of that increased economic activity would indeed “trickle up” and help fund additional country estates and Maui retreats. Maybe even some additional clandestine trips to Argentina to scope out more hot chicks.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:35 pm
Typical. Taxpayer fund an expensive entity for the select few who can afford it, and not one penny for the 8th largest public transit system in the country.
Typically Republican and typically inane.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
5:36 pm
How about, uh, more lanes, period?
duh
bookman whines about the unfairness of it all but also states that the proposal has merit.
Added lanes reduce traffic congestion.
She cites studies of such conversions in Seattle and Minneapolis that have documented an improvement in traffic flow even in untolled lanes.
Where have we heard this before?
Tank
September 24th, 2009
5:36 pm
I hate to admit it, but this is the FIRST time I’ve agreed with Bookman on an issue. HOT and “Lexus Lanes” are pure BS.
Tamye Bobyie Huntyr
September 24th, 2009
5:39 pm
I have to agree with my old pal and frat brother Wyld Byll. We privileged few with really small wangers need this lane to boost our feelings of insecurity when the young hot chicks we buy laugh at us behind our collectively large arses.
Normal
September 24th, 2009
5:40 pm
Where’s Dusty’s and my stalker Whistlin’? I left him a note downstairs.
Hmmm?
September 24th, 2009
5:41 pm
There seems to be a disconnect in the article’s logic:
Saying …allowing motorists to buy their way into under-used HOV lanes can speed travel, raise revenue and even decrease congestion in remaining general-purpose lanes.
doesn’t seem to jibe with:
Spending it on a project that would speed travel for only a relative few makes no sense to me.
There seems to be reliable evidence that buy-in toll lanes speed up the traffic for everyone. Albeit there is no quote regarding the conversion of an existing non-HOV lane, there is no evidence to the contrary.
Maybe the proposal seems unfair and will goad public outrage, but populist outrage doesn’t really seem to have a strong basis in reality these days.
Cherokee
September 24th, 2009
5:43 pm
I know I will likely regret asking this Pogo, but what in the world are you talking about?
GEORGE AMERICAN
September 24th, 2009
5:45 pm
IT’S A GREAT IDEA. IF THE SLOW-LANE LOSERS DON’T LIKE BEING PAST, THEY CAN COUGH UP SOME PESOS OR KISS MY 12-MPG HUMMER CARBON FOOTPRINT.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
September 24th, 2009
5:49 pm
AND HAVE TO AGRESS WITH MY FELLOW SCREAMING EAGLE ABOVE. I LIKE TO TYPE AND TALK REALLY REALLY LOUD BECAUSE MY WANGER IS SO SMALL I CAN’T EVEN BUY A HOT CHICK
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:49 pm
Since $40 million out of a projected $50 million of the cost of the new football museum will be funded by two entities who have no money for it, Atlanta and Georgia, I’m sure they could construct it over teh HOT lanes so the paying customers could drive through the museum.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:51 pm
Chicago boy exactly where in the hell do you think those more lanes would be put? It’s a little like getting money for the football museum the city and state don’t have or getting hundreds of thousands of troops for Afghanistan from the United States of Mythical Delusions.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
5:52 pm
Cap America–when you agress do you agree and digress at the same time?
md
September 24th, 2009
5:55 pm
“And public transit has to be made convenient, clean and safe.”
I guess that rules out atl.
mike
September 24th, 2009
5:56 pm
Here is a nice article about truly violent protesters, only they are left-wing.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6848176.ece
I guess all of the “protesters are racists” crowd will denounce liberal pundits for this violence in the same way they blame conservative pundits for the “angry” conservative protesters (who seem to be far less angry and violent than their left-wing counterparts).
GEORGE AMERICAN
September 24th, 2009
5:57 pm
CAP’N UNAMERICAN,
OH I CAN BUY ‘EM. BUT I DON’T NEED TO. NOT WITH THE HUMMER AND THE GUNS!!! I CAN’T KEEP ‘EM AWAY.
BUT WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW??? YOU COWARD BED-WETTING LIBERAL!!!
mike
September 24th, 2009
5:58 pm
CAPTAIN AMERICA -
Yeah, not only is the “parody” completely lame, the shouting in caps and bold is totally obnoxious.
It’s bad enough when intolerant folks like George and Redneck Convert do their ignorant stereotypes. It is even worse when George feel the need to scream his bigotry at us.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:00 pm
GEORGE AMERICAN –
I live in midtown and a large percentage of the Hummers and other SUVs I see are driven by black folks. Unless these folks are the some of the few conservative black folks, they are likely to be liberal like you, so spare us you childish and incorrect stereotypes.
Pogo
September 24th, 2009
6:02 pm
Cherokee,
Youtube: Children sing the praise of Barack Obama. Happened on 09/02 in a NJ elementary school. Scary stuff no matter what political persuasion you are. Saw something akin to it on the History Channel when the subject was German children singing the praise of Hitler in the 1940’s. The teacher in the video was involved with Obama’s campaign and is the author of a Children’s book titled “I am Barack Obama”. I do not like adults with an agenda playing with the minds of children. Let them be children for God’s sake. Adults that are not the childrens parents that play with their minds are the lowest form of life on this planet.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:02 pm
The 16000 people near Atlanta and in Atlanta who filed claims for damages from flooding to companies where they have no flood insurance must have gotten that bright idea from the 14000 people a day in the US who get their insurance dropped when they get sick.
They’ll get an excellent idea of how that feels very very soon.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:06 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell –
Huh? Looking for flood payouts from companies with whom you have no flood policy is like losing your insurance when you get sick?
Michael
September 24th, 2009
6:07 pm
This is uberconservatism at its worst. These are the kind of things that extreme free market principles will bring you. As Jay said, if we already paid to put roads in through tax money, they shouldn’t be changed to profit centers. Also, HOT lanes aren’t about reducing traffic. They’re about reducing money. Carpool lanes can encourage the same amount of people into fewer cars on the same roads. HOT lanes just force you to pay more money.
We need a lot of new lanes/roads and a lot more mass transit. Places like Ga. Highway 316 are sitting there just waiting for money to be expanded because there’s room along that road for at least 4 lanes each way. But when you talk I-285, I-85 and I-75, there’s no room left. That’s when you have to reduce the amount of cars either through carpools or transit. If MARTA were to work its rail line up the I-85 corridor, we could get a LOT of cars off that road in rush hour. Same goes with the East Line going out I-20. I’m all for the Brain Train because the tracks are already there and it would be the cheapest to get started, but we’re going to need a LOT of commuter rail or businesses will leave.
Why many Atlanta-area residents keep sitting in traffic day after day and don’t elect leaders who will change things is beyond me.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:08 pm
Folks like George American and Redneck Convert are pathetic. They have nothing to contrbute to the conversation except letting us know that they hate people who don’t share their narrow views. The worst part is how much effort they go to to say absolutely nothing.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:08 pm
“Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday that he has instructed state employees to stop doing business with Hyatt hotels until it rehires 100 housekeepers it fired last month.”
Another wonderful knee jerk reaction by those in power. Force the hotels to lay off the rest of their employees – that’ll teach em.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:11 pm
Why does Georgia have the 8th largest transit system in the country and refuse to fund it for 27 years?
Seems like they’re bighting nose to spite face since it’s been well documented that Atlanta has been losing company after company to Dallas and Charlotte to name a couple.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:12 pm
Yay, now Public Option’s Doing Swell is on the pathetic and ignorant stereotyped “parody” game.
Actually. Public Option is revealing how much he is like the parody he is doing. He is just as hateful and intolerant as any Obama critic. Obama’s most ignorant critics call him a socialist. Public Option calls any who disagrees with his narrow minded views as a racist.
The only difference between the mindless and hateful conservative partisans and Public Option is that they hate different people. Other than that, they are the same: hateful, ignorant and intolerant.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
6:12 pm
So, Jay, under this new half-baked GOP (in association with Georgia businesses) scheme, executives of companies would be sitting at ‘work’, likely in near empty meeting rooms, waiting hours for the lowly underlings that do the real work to show up and give all those presentations so the executives can make their decisions and move on to the next big task of the day, golf course, svedish sauuuna, etc. Somehow, I find that end result strangely appealing. How long before the executives start offering to pay the toll for the underlings.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:13 pm
Or is it bitin’?
An awful lot of people who commute from Gwinette, North Fulton and Cobb could use public transit and clear that congestion.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
6:13 pm
“The worst part is how much effort they go to to say absolutely nothing.”
But, OF COURSE, you’re bitching about it is of the UTMOST interest, RIGHT? Guess again.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:13 pm
“Seems like they’re bighting nose to spite face since it’s been well documented that Atlanta has been losing company after company to Dallas and Charlotte to name a couple.”
What crap. We just added a big development lab from RIM and landed the College Football Hall of Fame.
Companies are moving here, not leaving here. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:14 pm
If we build the new football museum over the Hot Lanes, then the executives could spend their time learning NFL and College trivia.
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:14 pm
DoggoneGA –
Thanks for the Pavlovian response, complete with the shouting in caps.
Have you ever directed a post at me that has more than two sentences together? Please, you bore me,
Road Scholar
September 24th, 2009
6:17 pm
Pogo: Get it under control; Obama has nothing to do with this!
Jay, one think you missed is that the HOV to Managed lane idea calls for a free ride in the managed lanes for HOV 3: that is to ride free, you must have at least 3 people in the car. Buses would be able to use these lanes free of charge.
GDOT Board policy states that no previously operating SOV lanes can be used /converted to HOV/Managed lanes. That would have to be chaged for the manage lane “take over” to occur.
In the original HOV Strategic Plan conducted by GDOT, seperate HOV interchanges were proposed, since the existing SOV interchanges are operating at a poor level of service.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:18 pm
Nope Mike. A lot of them are refusing to move here in fact. You want to force me to pull links from ABC’s account of speeches delivered at the Chamber of Commerce type meetings, or the AJC’s accounts in the last few months? Do you just look at the pics in the newspaper, or get all your news from Faux Noise? They cite traffic and schools as the main reason for not locating and it’s easy to find the articles. You can’t just make it up the way you did earlier.
We also lost Dell and we lost a panoply of plants and they told us why and they have come to meetings to talk about it for two years–traffic and schools. A broken clock is right twice a day.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:19 pm
Are you privately funding that $40 million dollars that the broke state and broke city won’t talk about to pay for the Football Museum Mike? Can we name it Mike?
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
6:19 pm
“complete with the shouting in caps”
YOU’RE WELCOME. GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION: WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING WORTH MORE THAT TWO SENTENCES YOU’LL GET IT.
Pogo
September 24th, 2009
6:19 pm
PO, some pretty offensive words and inflections you are spouting up there. Of course, you are no stranger to offensive babble are you? Do you really like adults with political agendas playing with childrens minds? If you do, you are as pathetic as I already thought you were. Your bitterness is very, very deep, isn’t it?
In keeping with your own writing style, I offer the following; I surmise that your life is pretty much summed up by “Somebody done did me wrong, and I gonna make dim pay”.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:19 pm
“An awful lot of people who commute from Gwinette, North Fulton and Cobb could use public transit and clear that congestion.”
Until its safe, it will remain underutlized. And safety is doubtful anytime soon. I recently had a friend that returned to a Marta lot to find his windows smashed in and the radio missing from the dash. Marta’s response – so sorry, sucks to be you.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:20 pm
Ah think evrahthing would be okay with Metro traffic if it weren’t for &%$@ Acorn.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:22 pm
What happened to your friend can happen any place a car is parked, particularly outside in a public place. And I’m betting you don’t take MARTA ever, and don’t have a clue about its safety.
From what I’ve seen over the years, the interstates are pretty damn dangerous around here.
Ray
September 24th, 2009
6:22 pm
I love it, but I love the vote not to extend unemployment benefits even better. This will, inevitably, kill off a boat load of the lazy free-loaders who don’t want to work in the first place. This country and it’s freedoms are for those of us who worked for them, those of us who can afford them. The rest here are next to worthless, here only to serve. And when they cease to do that, they can cease to exist. The idea that I no longer have to rub bumpers with those who don’t perish is just icing on the cake. The rest of the nation ought take note. God Bless America. God Bless Georgia. God Bless mike.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
6:23 pm
“Yay, now Public Option’s Doing Swell is on the pathetic and ignorant stereotyped “parody” game”
There you go Mike…did your standard response for you so you can avoid being accused of being “Pavlovian”
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
6:23 pm
md
September 24th, 2009
6:08 pm
“Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday that he has instructed state employees to stop doing business with Hyatt hotels until it rehires 100 housekeepers it fired last month.”
Another wonderful knee jerk reaction by those in power. Force the hotels to lay off the rest of their employees – that’ll teach em.
Smart move. I would not want to stay there knowing that they got rid of the folks that clean the rooms. ewwwwww.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:24 pm
When I’ve seen the MARTA lots they look pretty full. I think your friend was an unfortunate statistic.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
6:25 pm
MARTA has a good safety record.
Methinks there is something else afoot…
melancholy, melodious, moody, miserable mournful mike
September 24th, 2009
6:26 pm
Mainly the mimicking malcontents are not more than mildly amusing, but for me, mikey, I mostly rely on mirthless and mindless maligning of merriment.
Jackie
September 24th, 2009
6:28 pm
@Ray
Wonder what your unemployed neighbor would say about your being glad he will not have an opportunity to take care of his family, through no fault of his own.
Wonderful person, you are!
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
6:28 pm
” I would not want to stay there knowing that they got rid of the folks that clean the rooms. ewwwwww”
No kidding!
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
6:28 pm
“Somebody done did me wrong, and I gonna make dim pay”.
Is that Billy Ray Cyrus’s latest hit.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:28 pm
Well spoken Ray like a true American tryin’ to take back mah country with me. All them people who worked for companies during the best years of their lives and got laid off with their pensions trashed don’t deserve any “freedoms” which should be allocated by you. Of course they’re worthless.
Why don’t we just incinerate them?
You shouldn’t be bothered to rub your bumper with anyone’s bumper but Sarah Palin and Katy Abram–or Joe the fake plumber. Your sophistication just bleeds.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:34 pm
I live for your fact filled posts Doggone, and your unparalleled grasp of just about anything.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:35 pm
LOL Doggone would have rathered I just said more people bring the stupid here than anywhere else?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
September 24th, 2009
6:36 pm
Well, this seems like a fine idea. It will make the bums that don’t make much money get off of their duff and start trying to make more so they can afford to go on this lane for rich folks and get to where they’re going faster. Us Conservatives beleive money talks and the guvmint should just butt out and let us make more of it by taking away these taxes. Maybe they could just build a special walking path for the people that got no money. And maybe they should hire valets to park the cars of the people that travel the HOT lane.
It’s beginning to sound like mike don’t like me much. Bookman should step in and put a stop to him calling me and others pathetic. I thought that was illegal on this blog. Anyway, I don’t never call mike names. Have a good night everybody.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:37 pm
From the looks of these posts, the parody is right on point and the stereotyping of the right wingnut whackjob intolerants is precise.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
6:38 pm
“and your unparalleled grasp of just about anything.”
Now see, you’re going to criticize and all I did was try to make things easier for Mikey.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:39 pm
As a real general put it a century ago, “The purpose of an Army is to fight.” And the purpose of going to war is to win (that dirty word). It’s not to sacrifice our own troops to make sad-sack do-gooders back home feel good.-Ralph Peters, NY Posy.
That was a century ago, when being a coward was not a badge of honor.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:39 pm
” And I’m betting you don’t take MARTA ever, and don’t have a clue about its safety.”
I’ll take that bet, how much ya want to lose.
And the “safety” also includes getting to and from the trains/buses. The kids at GSU and GaTech are getting mugged by the boatloads, where have you 2 been.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:40 pm
To be just a little realistic, I don’t see how the HOT lanes can possibly fly given the very current DOT funding reports.
jconservative
September 24th, 2009
6:41 pm
I will consider this as soon as the the state returns the homestead exemption it eliminated. How about stop spending until we get some money to spend? The State of Georgia’s credit card is about maxed out.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:41 pm
I Report have you been out demonstrating to get the Draft going tomorrow?
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:42 pm
The Obama administration has decided not to seek new legislation from Congress authorizing the indefinite detention of about 50 terrorism suspects being held without charges at at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, officials said Wednesday.
Instead, the administration will continue to hold the detainees without bringing them to trial based on the power it says it has under the Congressional resolution passed after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, authorizing the president to use force against forces of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.Washington Post
Bwahahahahahahaha.
How’d you like that one, Code Pinko?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:43 pm
Whoa hey hey. We gots the money for that $40 million kick-in for the football museum. We gots our priorities here. Screw roads and healthcare and screw making the resevori system so it doesn’t dump feces into the rivers. We needs the football museum.
I remember 2 years ago when there was a big hoopla about a Medical History museum. That project went South fast.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:43 pm
“Smart move. I would not want to stay there knowing that they got rid of the folks that clean the rooms. ewwwwww.”
yea right – they have others doing the cleaning. But that won’t save the jobs of the current employees when the state causes them to be laid off with their boycott. Its childish and stupid.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:44 pm
Speaking of parodies, does Mad Harris ever stfu?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
6:45 pm
What I like is that the best litigator to prevent indefinite detention happening is now in the schizophrenic position of filing briefs that argue against his own briefs that he filed 12 months ago–one Neal Katyal from Georgetown law now the Deputy SG.
The Obama administration is starting to lose every one of those illegal stances, just like Senor Bushie did when Neal whupped up on him. Neal will lose against his old self in what has to be one very interesting situation for a killer litigator.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
6:47 pm
A hanging question and an answer for it-
“No nation can or should try to dominate another nation,” Obama intoned. “No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. No balance of power among nations will hold.”
Has an American president ever expressed such implicit hostility toward his own nation’s pre-eminence in world affairs?-Rich Lowry, NY Post
Well, he does hate us.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:47 pm
“What happened to your friend can happen any place a car is parked, particularly outside in a public place”
Funny you should say that, but he said it never happened when he drove to work and parked at his office. Wonder why that is.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
6:48 pm
“And the “safety” also includes getting to and from the trains/buses. The kids at GSU and GaTech are getting mugged by the boatloads, where have you 2 been.”
WOW!
Using such “logic”, the air safety numbers would take a beating (get it md?) when one factored in all those people getting hurt and killed when driving from gawd knows where to get to the airport.
md
September 24th, 2009
6:53 pm
“Using such “logic”, the air safety numbers would take a beating (get it md?) when one factored in all those people getting hurt and killed when driving from gawd knows where to get to the airport.”
No comparison considering to get to Marta’s stations these kids have to navigate the predators, many of which stalk out the same stations. Last I checked, people wern’t getting mugged in their cars on the way to the airport.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
6:54 pm
Oh the maddening “parodizing” that goes on here!
It is to me hysterical that the self-righteous get their knickers in such a twist over it.
That damned pesky First Amendment. With a little luck it will go the way of habeus corpus…
mike
September 24th, 2009
6:59 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell –
“Nope Mike. A lot of them are refusing to move here in fact. You want to force me to pull links from ABC’s account of speeches delivered at the Chamber of Commerce type meetings, or the AJC’s accounts in the last few months?”
Yes, please do.
“Do you just look at the pics in the newspaper, or get all your news from Faux Noise?”
This is an ignorant and useless statement.
” They cite traffic and schools as the main reason for not locating and it’s easy to find the articles.”
Then do so.
“You can’t just make it up the way you did earlier.”
Didn’t make a thing up. Please tell me what I made up.
“We also lost Dell and we lost a panoply of plants and they told us why and they have come to meetings to talk about it for two years–traffic and schools.”
Can’t find any source for this. Please provide one.
“A broken clock is right twice a day.”
Well then broken clocks have an edge on you. Provide some sources for your blather.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:02 pm
Public Option –
“Whoa hey hey. We gots the money for that $40 million kick-in for the football museum. We gots our priorities here. ”
You are showing you ignorance. Mayne if you were knowledgeable you would know how important tourism and conventions are to Atlanta’s economy.
“Screw roads and healthcare and screw making the resevori system so it doesn’t dump feces into the rivers. We needs the football museum.”
Please explain how moving a major attraction here is taking away from any of these projects. As usual, you are just venting hate.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
7:03 pm
At least Andy you’re starting to read about Obama’s positions in court, and if you keep it up you’ll realize he’s taking the same stands exactly that Bush took in the area you reference above–indefinite detention, warantless wiretapping, against revision of FISA ( a bill is in the Senate) and State Secrets as an knee-jerk shield for any way the gov screws a prisoner who is released after no evidence is found and 8 years of solitary and torture.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:06 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell –
“… State Secrets as an knee-jerk shield for any way the gov screws a prisoner who is released after no evidence is found and 8 years of solitary and torture.”
Only three terrorists were waterboarded. You expecting innocent old Khalid Sheik Mohammed to be released soon?
PJ
September 24th, 2009
7:08 pm
They have this system in the Minneapolis area on one of their freeways. These lanes are walled off as suggested on a different comment, and not in other areas. If you are a driver who wishes to participate in the HOT lane program, you have to register for it. You then get a sensor that you would place in your car. Costs are based on specified distances, usually by the mile, and get be quite steep depending on the level of traffic. If there are a great deal of legitimate car poolers, then the rate is extremely high, several dollars to drive one mile. There are state patrol units stationed along the route, and there numerous video cameras also monitoring. If you have not registered for the program and enter the HOV/HOT lane, the fine through the roof. I do not know of the successes or failures of the program as I no longer live there. I would guess that they still have their traffic woes even with the program. They’ve had metered ramps in Minneapolis for years, and they’ve done little to solve the problem… just like here.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
7:08 pm
@ Mike–
We’ve had a number of situations like the football museum before. The hype about tourism dollars never panned out. The finances are $10 million (maybe) in private funds–the rest from Georgia and the city. Last time I checked, the city is in tough financial straits with layoffs and the state has been laying off a number of people from agencies including Public Defender, DAs, Judicial, and several others.
You’re projecting delusions again. I hate what? Football? Museums
If private funding wants to put up that museum fine. Atlanta and Georgia will be taking a big gamble with no guarantee, and nothing new there. Hell Purdue threw away $8.5 million paying outside counsel for a sure loss on the water appeal when Supreme Court precedent was clearly in place. He’s going to no pun p_ss away a lot more. And if there is a tenth amendment choo choo train of federal appellate litigation that will be millions of dollars for another stupid lost cause.
LOL
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
7:13 pm
@ PJ–
Traffic was backed up on the I-35 W bridge that collapsed. That highly regulated heavily policed system you described sounds expensive and again I don’t see why taxpapyers should fund something relatively few would use or could afford when the taxpayers’ representatives racially refuse to fund public transit and are the only state to do so.
GEORGE AMERICAN
September 24th, 2009
7:19 pm
mike
YOU ARE SO SMART AND INSIGHTFUL. PLEASE, WE ARE WAITED WITH BAIT-N-BREATH AT YOUR NEXT DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR RETARDEDNESS!!!
PLEASE SAY SOMETHING ITELLIGENT, LIKE A QUOTE FROM THE GLENN BECK BOOK OR SHOW!!!
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:19 pm
Mad Harris- You reckon?
So what happen to the thunder and fury in the kampaign about mistreatment and the civil rights of detainees? And just imagine, he had the exact same accusatory position against himself yesterday at the UN.
All just hot air blowing for the kult?
Maybe he’s illiterate?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
7:21 pm
Mike you don’t have a clue who or how many were “waterboarded” because that information ain’t yours. And hundreds were tortured and State Secrets is used in every law suit that has been filed by people released by the Bush administration. I don’t know where you get your classified torture information, but the filings I see are in open courts in places like the ND California and other federal districts.
The biggest case for the Obama administration was argued yesterday morning in Judge Vaugh Walker’s courtroom in ND Cal.
As to Holder’s policy that ole Andy Chitown invoked, it is being immediately challenged in court by ACLU and the current Deputy Solicitor General’s old collegues before he went to work for the government at the Center for Constitutional Rights.
http://ccrjustice.org/
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:22 pm
Obozo is a common moron, nothing more, nothing less.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:25 pm
Ever wonder why no charges have ever been brought for “water boarding,” only huge releases of hot air?
You seem enthralled and swept up in the propaganda gasbagging, Mad, did they send you your lapel button yet?
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:27 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell –
“We’ve had a number of situations like the football museum before. The hype about tourism dollars never panned out. ”
Yes like the Medical Museum which was a stupid idea that nobody cared about. The Aquarium dumps about $200 million a year into the Atlanta economy.
“The finances are $10 million (maybe) in private funds–the rest from Georgia and the city.”
Yes, there is 5 million from Chick-fil-a and 5 million from the Chick-fil-a Bowl. What is the source for the rest of your statement?
“Last time I checked, the city is in tough financial straits with layoffs and the state has been laying off a number of people from agencies including Public Defender, DAs, Judicial, and several others.”
Yes and this attraction will bring in tax revenue and create jobs that will bring in more tax revenue.
What is your point?
“You’re projecting delusions again. I hate what? Football? Museums”
No. As your ignorant stereotyped comments show you hate Georgians who don’t share your ill-informed views. Who else were you directing your bigoted minstrel show at?
“If private funding wants to put up that museum fine. Atlanta and Georgia will be taking a big gamble with no guarantee, and nothing new there.”
Yes and we have such a guarantee that the public option that you worship will not end up costing us too. Please let me know what other major projects have guaranteed outcomes.
“Hell Purdue threw away $8.5 million paying outside counsel for a sure loss on the water appeal when Supreme Court precedent was clearly in place.”
And this is relevant because Perdue is a Republican or something?
“He’s going to no pun p_ss away a lot more. And if there is a tenth amendment choo choo train of federal appellate litigation that will be millions of dollars for another stupid lost cause.”
Yes we need to put government money into sure successes like the massive stimulus/pork bill or your dear public option. LOL
thomas
September 24th, 2009
7:29 pm
public option,
Do you have anything to back up the claim of yours that the representatives are basing their decision to not fund public trans. because they are racist, or that their motives are race related?
Or are you just engaging in some good ole fashioned slander and lies?
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:32 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell –
“Mike you don’t have a clue who or how many were “waterboarded” because that information ain’t yours. And hundreds were tortured”
Right, so I don’t have the numbers but you do. LOL.
” and State Secrets is used in every law suit that has been filed by people released by the Bush administration.”
And the Obama admin, but who cares about that. I mean he is a Democrat and hence above criticism.
“I don’t know where you get your classified torture information, but the filings I see are in open courts in places like the ND California and other federal districts.”
Hmm, you mean that if a terrorism suspect claims he was tortured, he was certainly tortured. You do know that the AQ manual instructs captives to claim they were tortured whether they were or not, don’t you?
I notice that you get your “facts” from the Center for Constitutional Rights. You sneer about other people’s news sources and you rely on hyper-liberal outlets for your information? LOL
thomas
September 24th, 2009
7:33 pm
Public,
those filing law suits claiming they were tortured……..
Could they possibly be lying, or do you think that all who file such suits are honest and without deception?
If you do think that all claims are fact, did you feel that Obama was not a citizen since it has been filed in a law suit?
Ray
September 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
GEORGE,
I’d expect no less from a typical lib who thinks he’s funny. mike ought charge you for lessons tonight. People like you ought have to pay to comment. All you do is detract from those of us who actually make America work. At the very least you should read Glenn Beck. The man is brilliant and because of his patriotic efforts this great nation will never fall to socialists like yourself.
Report/Whine,
You do the cause no favors by being a jerk.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:22 pm
As opposed to an uncommon one? Like I said yesterday, it takes one to know one. It’s this type of comment that makes me wonder why Jay doesn’t ban you permanently.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
Ever wonder why I can see these blowhardings for what they really are, but the democrats can’t?
Remember months ago when bookman gushed and burbled about the Cap and Tax bill passing the House and saving the world, what did I say then and where is it now?
Buried, right where I said it would be.
They don’t have to do nothing else, 95% of the kult is nothing but mouthbreathing cucumbers who have no idea what the Senate is. They have been properly sated and can now move on to important things, like American Idol.
Every once in awhile, a thought emerges from the fog and plunks down squarely into their empty heads, I thought he was gonna pay for mah gas, duh.
Ain’t that right, Mad?
Tank
September 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
The flood in North Georgia was Bush’s fault.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:36 pm
TN- No, Obozo is a dime a dozen moron.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:36 pm
GEORGE AMERICAN –
Whatever. Keep on doing your hateful and ignorant stereotypes. You are too intelelctually deficient to say anything else.
BTW: I love how every angry liberal loves to say “you watch Fox” or :you watch Glen Beck”. I don’t watch any of that crap and I bash Beck here regularly. The angry liberal on tis board are so wrapped up int their stupid stereotypes that they are incapable of addressing anyone as an individual. If you disagree with an angry liberal they will immediately project their ignorant stereotypes on you. Must be part of being tolerant. LOL
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
7:38 pm
“Whatever. Keep on doing your hateful and ignorant stereotypes. You are too intelelctually deficient to say anything else”
WARNING! WARNING! Pavlovian response ALERT!
Tank
September 24th, 2009
7:38 pm
I think it is AWESOME that the leaders of Iran, Libya and Venezuela are singing praises to Obama.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:38 pm
Apologies to Sluggo. I was in a particulary foul mood this morning.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:39 pm
DoggoneGA –
Aw jeez, now you are stealing my lines.
Still waiting to see if you can put two sentences together. Apparently, you can’t.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:39 pm
mike- Do you think a name change to “Ray” will make everything better?
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:41 pm
Whiner –
“mike- Do you think a name change to “Ray” will make everything better?”
I am confused.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:41 pm
Andy needs a hug. Perhaps mike should volunteer for that one. After all, there are some things that even I, the most kindest person I’ve had the pleasure of living with my entire life, would not touch with a ten foot pole that someone else is holding while I direct them from a distance. ewwww.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
7:42 pm
“Still waiting to see if you can put two sentences together”
Only when it’s worth the effort. If you haven’t seen longer responses from me you haven’t been looking hard enough.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:44 pm
And the “hug” talk comes out. This is what happens when angry liberals have nothing to say but cant resist the urge to keep flapping their gums, no matter how inane the commentary.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:44 pm
Whiner needs to come up from the rabbit hole. He’s been down there too many years.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:45 pm
Ray
September 24th, 2009
7:34 pm
GEORGE,
I’d expect no less from a typical lib who thinks he’s funny.
Report/Whine,
You do the cause no favors by being a jerk.
If that is not you, mike, than you should complain about somebody stealing your shtick.
You’ve been robbed!
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:46 pm
mike needs a hug but he is just too wedgied out to appreciate that fact. It’s OK, mike. You’ll be back to your loving self as soon as you get unwedgied.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:46 pm
Tank
September 24th, 2009
7:38 pm
Who better? OPEC members all:
“The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The five Founding Members were later joined by nine other Members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962) – suspended its membership from January 2009; Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973) – suspended its membership from December 1992-October 2007; Angola (2007) and Gabon (1975–1994). OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence. This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965.”
http://www.opec.org/aboutus/history/history.htm
http://www.opec.org/home/Monthly%20Oil%20Market%20Reports/2009/pdf/MR092009.pdf
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:46 pm
DoggoneGA –
“Only when it’s worth the effort. If you haven’t seen longer responses from me you haven’t been looking hard enough.”
Nah, I see plenty of your comments.You basically respond with some meaningless drivel to every post I make. You are like my groupie.
You make short and silly comments because when you try to make a logical argument of more than two sentences, it gets destroyed so quickly that you have decided not to bother.Good choice. Stay down.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
7:47 pm
“but cant resist the urge to keep flapping their gums”
Pot, meet kettle
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:47 pm
Whiner –
It aint me,but I don’t thin it is a particularly unique idea that you act like a jerk
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
7:48 pm
Taxxie- I look forward to receiving critiques from you, it greatly helps me to control my conduct, every new thought I have for the remainder of this beautiful evening will have been influenced and shaped by your wise and timely words, oh wait, no they don’t.
Never mind.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:49 pm
DoggoneGA –
“Pot, meet kettle”
Reminds me of the Bing Crosby song. “Three Little Words”.
Thanks for thinking of me though, groupie. I am pleased to know what an important part of your day I am.
godless heathen
September 24th, 2009
7:49 pm
Double deck the freeways through Atlanta. Let anyone driving a Lexus, Mercedes, Caddie, BMW drive on the top lanes – poor suckers drive on the bottom. Give people a reason to better their lot in life.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:50 pm
Whiner and mike! They do make such a lovely couple. This is better than reality teevee — it’s commercial free. mike, give whiner that hug. Do it for the children. You’ll feel so much better later, especially when the video gets posted on yourspace.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
7:50 pm
“You are like my groupie”
That’s right. You’re just the plaything of an idle moment.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:51 pm
Taxpayer said:
Blah, blah, blah. Look at me. I am talking! Hugs! Wedgies!
Tank
September 24th, 2009
7:52 pm
From AP:
“Struggling with a contentious issue, world leaders have reached basic agreement on limiting the bonuses of bankers whose risky behavior contributed to the global financial meltdown, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday at a summit of the world’s largest economies.”
I am really digging this New World Order. Can’t wait for the new 5-Year Plan.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:52 pm
I love you too, whiner. But not as much as mike loves you. Go to him.
mike
September 24th, 2009
7:53 pm
OK, looks like only barely sentient people like Doggone and Taxpayer are left, so there is no point in staying for the lame zinger-thon.
It was fun owning you guys today, particularly Doggone.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:53 pm
hi mike. How many have you had today. It sounds like you’ve put away quite a few already. Are you ready for your hug. Come on now. I know you are. You need a hug.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:55 pm
mike, don’t go. I so much enjoy your company. Don’t you enjoy mine. Please come back. Pretty please. I’ll give you an extra huuuuuggg.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
7:57 pm
Well, I guess mike don’t want no hug.
TnGelding
September 24th, 2009
7:59 pm
The rest of the story:
“At a news conference, Geithner also expressed optimism that summit partners would endorse the broad outlines of a U.S. proposal to deal with huge imbalances in the global economy such as large trade surpluses in China and record budget deficits in the United States. He also said the U.S. supports China’s efforts to gain greater voting rights in the International Monetary Fund over the reservations of European nations, who would lose influence.”
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/G20_SUMMIT?SITE=GACAT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-09-24-19-33-56
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
7:59 pm
Anyone want to start timing how long it takes Mike to come back?
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
8:01 pm
I have it on credible sources that “president” Barak Obama has taken offense with two ply toilet paper. Can you say Sheryl Crow? Do the words “Dhimmi Carter” ring a bell?
And you think I am off base for calling him a two bit moron?
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:01 pm
This one is in memory of those that gave their lives in order to sweeten the billfolds of a few more greedy ones. And, Saxby. You are an evil man to have ever even tried to divert blame onto the guy that tried to prevent that catastrophe. I spit on you.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:03 pm
Doggone,
mike probably had to go.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:05 pm
Explaining to Mike is like explaining to a vegetable.
$40 million of the $50 million from the city and state–they don’t have it.
Purdue is the state and he’s wasted a ton of money. He’s a Republican and yeah that makes him stupid and vice-versa.
Public option is competition for insurance companies that are gouging middle America. Has zero relevance to a Football Museum in Atlanta. It is opposed by Republican hookers who took millions from insurance companies for the privilege of bankrupting middle America and killing them.
Arguing with you Mike is like arguing with a kid who turns into a block of wood. It’s a waste of time.
Try school..
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:07 pm
TnGelding,
China is going to own the IMF in a few more years at the rate their going, or at least the US influence there because they’ll just threaten to quit loaning us money and then start dumping what they already have. We’d better start learning all those dialects of Chinese.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
8:08 pm
Taxpayer, remember this is the same gutless turd neo-con who called Cleland a coward.
Hands down the most loathsome US Senator of them all…
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:09 pm
Public Option Good 公共選擇好。
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:11 pm
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
8:08 pm
Taxpayer, remember this is the same gutless turd neo-con who called Cleland a coward.
Hands down the most loathsome US Senator of them all…
I agree, AmVet. I’ve seen a lot of congressmen pull some rotten stunts but he takes the cake.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:13 pm
Public Option’s Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:09 pm
You gotta learn how to say it. Then, there’s the bowing and the presentation of the business cards. Remember to hold your business card with both hands and to bow your head slightly while presenting it. You gotta learn the customs if you expect to survive.
Finn McCool
September 24th, 2009
8:14 pm
Public Option Headed For Vote Tomorrow
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/public-option-headed-for_n_299232.html
WOOOOOOOT WOOOOOOT WOOOOOOOT
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
8:17 pm
Now that the plaything seems to be gone for a while:
“If MARTA were to work its rail line up the I-85 corridor, we could get a LOT of cars off that road in rush hour.”
I agree with this up to a point, but to me the biggest mistake MARTA made was to not go around the Perimeter. For instance, if I wanted to take MARTA to Perimeter Mall I’d have to get the train at Doraville, ride it down to the Lenox station (I think that’s right) then wait for a train to Perimeter. In that time I can drive to Perimeter, probably quicker actually.
And putting stations close to me out I85 wouldn’t help any…I’d STILL have that “2 sides of a triangle” ride to endure.
In fact, a LOT of the places I would take MARTA – I can’t, because MARTA doesn’t go there. And I can’t even use the HOV lanes because the most often times that I am driving through Atlanta (aka usually around the Perimeter) I’m driving my van on the way to an event with my dogs…and the dogs don’t count as “passengers”
Tank
September 24th, 2009
8:17 pm
I constantly see blogs where Republican politicians get slammed for having taken kickbacks from Wall Street, insurance companies, big oil, and pharmaceutical companies. I also read blogs where it is only Repugs who stash money in overseas accounts.
I have to ask, where are the Democratic politicians getting their money? Are they not courted by the same lobbyists?
Also, do you really think it is only rich Repugs who’ve been stashing money overseas?
C’mon. You’re really not that naive, are you?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:21 pm
Public Option headed for vote tomorrow in one of five committees–the one with the most insurance hookers in it by far so it won’t pass there. But it passed the other four. It will pass on Senate Floor and in Conference Committee and if necessary we’ll slam it through via Reconciliation.
Glad people are keeping up. What you’ll hear tomorrow if you tune in is all the hookers chirping for their johns who don’t give a damn about health care because they have theres.
Why are Repubozotards yammering that Obama is taking his eye off Afghanistan to focus on health care when Bushotards eye wasn’t anywhere near Afghanistan for eight years? Bush didn’t dent Al Quaeda any more than he dented Hannible Lecter. I didn’t see Bush addressing “Afghanistan quickly.” I didn’t see him addressing it worth a flying F. Jim Demint=Sarah Palin=Dead on Arrival.
Repubozotards irrelevant.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:21 pm
Public Option headed for vote tomorrow in one of five committees–the one with the most insurance hookers in it by far so it won’t pass there. But it passed the other four. It will pass on Senate Floor and in Conference Committee and if necessary we’ll slam it through via Reconciliation.
Glad people are keeping up. What you’ll hear tomorrow if you tune in is all the hookers chirping for their johns who don’t give a damn about health care because they have theres.
Why are Repubozotards yammering that Obama is taking his eye off Afghanistan to focus on health care when Bushotards eye wasn’t anywhere near Afghanistan for eight years? Bush didn’t dent Al Quaeda any more than he dented Hannible Lecter. I didn’t see Bush addressing “Afghanistan quickly.” I didn’t see him addressing it worth a flying F. Jim Demint=Sarah Palin=Dead on Arrival.
Repubozotards irrelevant.
But also.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
8:22 pm
Dogone,
You should call your representative. I saw where one congressman had proposed a bill to give dog owners a tax deduction so maybe you could get one of them to make a law that allows pets to count for using the HOV lane.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:28 pm
Question from the tank actually on an issue.
Naive? Ya think. As to health care reform, Tank millions over years and hundreds of thousands over the summer have been very specifically funnelled at two groups. Republicans opposing anything Obama tries and Blue Dogs.
They are insurance company hookers and I can document it. There has never been more money funnelled faster to specific people in the history of the US. Think rainy rain comin’ down on 16000 Atlantans so dumb they’re filing insurance claims but they have zippo insurance.
This is a specific list of money being funnelle to insurance and pharm hookers–Repubozos and Blue Dogs and Bob Menendez because he is from New Jersey where the pharms mostly are:
http://www.campaignmoney.org/threevotes
I’ve been getting these lists since I got outta school. Are you naive Tanky?
Public Options Doing Swill
September 24th, 2009
8:32 pm
Blah, blah, blah, arrghh.
ruff, rufff.
Bark, bark.
grrrrrr.
Public Options Doing Swill
September 24th, 2009
8:33 pm
hiccup
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:35 pm
These commie pinko socialists just comin’ at us from all directions. He was the Repubozo Blue Dog’s best friend, and now the CBO is turnin’ into a traitor and making them look stoopid. I want my country back from the CBO Dr. Elmendorf. Cause:
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0909/CBO_estimate_deals_blow_to_Blue_Dogs.html?showall
“The Congressional Budget Office dealt Blue Dogs a blow Thursday by notifying House Democrats that tethering a public option to Medicare reimbursement rates would save the government $110 billion more than a public option in which the government has to negotiate rates with doctors and other health care providers.
The initial projections showed the difference between the two was $65 billion. But this shows it would cost the government a lot more money to heed moderate demands.
House Democrats need to trim as much as $200 billion from a bill that most estimates peg at $1.1 trillion in order to meet President Obama’s $900 billion target.”
Gimme my country. You got it Tank? You hidin’ it?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:41 pm
Justice Ginsberg taken to the hospital hour and a half ago feeling dizzy.
RW-(the original)
September 24th, 2009
8:46 pm
Does Mad Harris ever stfu?
Andy,
Remember how Jay B used to whine at you all day about his “rule” that only allowed two off topic comments per item he posted? I think Chadly broke him.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:48 pm
For the poor people who can’t afford insurance, the Repubos have this little device for you–Fitbit:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/24/it-took-a-year-but-fitness-gadget-fitbit-finally-launches/
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
8:52 pm
RW’s sense of order, obsession compulsion, and Dante’s 9 Circles, hierarchy, and propriety has been shattered because there is a “2 comment” limit 12 hours after the initial post has shown up and everybody abandons whatever thread they were on as if Anthax and Ebola were unSomleashed on the thread they were on.
Some people pay no attention to whatever Jay posts and just launch into rants that they want their country back from the pinko hiphop socialist in the White House–and btw it’s White?
I’ll take a swipe at almost every primary topic. Try the Fitbit to unleash all that tension RW.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/24/it-took-a-year-but-fitness-gadget-fitbit-finally-launches/
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
9:06 pm
You know, Mad Harris, RW has a point.
You are the most obnoxious, rambling parody of a stooge that this blog has ever seen.
The comic fascination wore off on post #2, so many, many years ago.
Try soaking your head, it might help.
DoggoneGA
September 24th, 2009
9:10 pm
“You should call your representative”
I wasn’t really trying to advocate for the dogs to count as passengers…it was just my off-hand way of backing up what I said earlier: that what we need in Atlanta is express lanes, to move travelers whose goal is just to get through the city able to do it faster. And, of course, giving communters whose goal is the same thing…the same result.
godless heathen
September 24th, 2009
9:37 pm
“remember this is the same gutless turd neo-con who called Cleland a coward.”
Cited quotation, please.
dave
September 24th, 2009
9:47 pm
I’m a conservative, but I’m all for passenger and commuter rail. Bus rapid transit sounds like a good idea, until you start figuring in maintenance, and then realize that trains, while more expensive initially, don’t get stuck in traffic, don’t get flat tires or break down (and hold up traffic), and don’t pollute, seeing that most of them are electric powered (and those that aren’t are diesel-electric – far less polluting than buses). We can’t continue to keep paving every available inch of real estate, and we need to get out from under the thumb of those who hate and want to kill us.
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
9:48 pm
What’s not to love about this guy, at least for a Republican. This is their kinda guy. Now y’all give him a big hug… and a golf clap.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 24th, 2009
9:50 pm
That would be quite a shot, Mad Harris, would you put the gun in your ass to achieve your aim?
I posted twice this morning, once at noon and this evening while you have been babbling all day, do you have us confused?
You sound desperate, wait, no, you are desperate but I don’t blame you, if I had a “president” that was as pedestrian and lackluster as yours is, I would continuously rant too.
Hell, I almost feel sorry for you, klepto.
Almost.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
9:54 pm
Taxpayer, the more I learn about that Georgia wh0re the more I realize what scumbags the people of this state are for electing Suxtobeus.
Twice.
Shameful. Embarrassing. Crackers…
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
9:58 pm
And, this one sums up why the Georgia Republicans just love this man so much. He’s just one of the gang, a guy they just wanna go have a beer with and talk about the good old days. A real hero, this one.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
10:10 pm
Andy–
It doesn’t matter how many times you post which are usually all day and all night. The posts are worthless railing against something you can’t do a thing about. Your party is dead. Find a hobby or not. You also grew up with your 3 year old brain, and now its trapped in your adult body.
You have as much relevance as Sen. Kyle who made a fool of himself today and was cutoff for delay.
I never see you make a point on an issue because you have a basic ignorance of how government works or what’s going on. I just figured you’re on a lot of different meds and their interactions have a lot of CNS impact that makes you dizzy and ditzy all the time. Maybe Rush gave you his addiction recipe–I dunno.
AmVet
September 24th, 2009
10:13 pm
TP, what screamed out to me illustrating just how despicable the GOP has become is that only two Republicans called out that POS – Hagel and McCain. JUST TWO!
The ONLY two Republicans I can think of who have demonstrated valor and integrity.
Which is of course, anathema to these generally gutless neo-cons and chickenhawks.
And to these scummy Suxbee-loving Georgians those two highly decorated combat veterans are both not even worthy of being considered part of their pathetic party.
No wonder such a huge percentage of Americans are disgusted by this Hijacked and vile GOP…
Taxpayer
September 24th, 2009
10:35 pm
Y’all have a good night and dream happy dreams. Dream about hugging. Then, go out into the forest tomorrow and hug a tree for one day that very tree and its ability to provide life-sustaining oxygen could save you.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
10:37 pm
Repubs just get crazier. What if it’s a congenital disease?
Cornyn proposed amendment to require members of Congress to enroll in Medicaid. Amendment failed 6-16. (Snowe voted no.)
I don’t think they’d be very happy because Medicaid reimburses a doctor so poorly that most of us don’t touch it.
I don’t think that’s the kind of medical care La Creme de la hooker for insurance company Olympia de la Snowe is acustomed to.
JasonCrep
September 24th, 2009
10:42 pm
I always thought Jay was the most liberal &&^!!! out there and all of his columns proves it. If you can pay for it when you have the money, I see no problem with it. Its called freedom of choice.
JasonCrep
September 24th, 2009
10:48 pm
One thing the Republican have going for them, they did not start the KKK, Democrats did along with Jim Crow and legal segregation. Democraps also support genocide with family unplanning which support eugenics.
Tax Payer funded option, NEVER
September 24th, 2009
10:48 pm
I guess you have a problem with first class airline sections, suites in hotels, and luxury cars too. Wealth Envy is a killer!
Tax Payer funded option, NEVER
September 24th, 2009
10:59 pm
And let’s add…Dugout seats, front row concert seats, designer suits, Coach handbags, Rolex watches……and Hamburgers WITH Cheese.
kffl.com
September 24th, 2009
11:01 pm
ORLY?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:01 pm
@ Jason –the choice we made was to vote in a Senate and House that will pass the public option. Take a big bite of that choice. If we have to we’ll NG tube it down via Reconciliation. Look the terms up.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:03 pm
@ Chia
The change is that the insurance companies will soon have competition. That’s the part you should take a big bite of.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:04 pm
The public option won’t be taxpayer funded. Ignorance is pandemic among Repubozos here.
RW-(the original)
September 24th, 2009
11:04 pm
Semi-kudos to the AJC for the story of the tragic end to Barbara Jean Smith’s life who was only stopping to see if she could help a fellow motorist in the rain. God rest her soul. Why the semi-kudos? The AJC tells us that Marcelino Chavez-Lopez is facing several charges including driving without a license, but the reporters somehow become incurious about why he has no license.
Tax Payer funded option, NEVER
September 24th, 2009
11:05 pm
Public, you are that BIG of an idiot, aren’t you. Here’s a word for you to look up – DOUCHEBAG!
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:11 pm
Oxedine Damage at 250 million
Franklin Damage at 1 billion
Do I hear trillion?
# with no flood insurance filing claims 16000
Rationale: 14000 per day cancelled in US from health insurance when get sick so it seemed logical and Atlanta Housewives said it was way kuell.
Resevoirs in Atlanta and Surrounding area value zip over zero over zip
Give it a week and AJC will be replete with da JawJaw fingerpointing on da flood
Mayoral Candidates keep you safe but not dry.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:18 pm
The story of Mrs. Smith is a very tragic one, and heartbreaking. The US hasn’t had a coherent immigration policy for 50 years, and I doubt if they’ll craft one in 50 more years. One of the things that conservatives who have never dealt with the process fail to understand is that the average wait for citizenship can be as long as 10-15 years due to the worst bureaucracy in the world INS. Further the immigration courts aren’t staffed by judges with any experience whatsoever if you look at the ell shaped curve of judges–they are DOJ plum jobs handed out by Bushie to Gonzales groupies–most of whom have not litigated a single immigration case as an attorney and when asylum was polled the differences in the ND Georgia and Southern District of Florida was 5% granted in Georgia and 95% granted Florida wit the same population of applicants. This has been well covered in the law journals.
Double-Talk, Take a WALK
September 24th, 2009
11:23 pm
So the government can’t do immigration right after 50 years, but they can do “Teddy Care”? Go figure, only a liberal would NOT see the joke there.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:23 pm
@ Chia
Were you hired to write the recent UN speech for Kadafi and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:25 pm
Absolutely we can do health care. INS are the most ignorant bureaucrats imaginable. I’ve filled out several INS applications and gone to bat with them for immigrants and won. They’re bullies until they know you know their system and they are always afraid of a boss.
Only somone ignorant is comparing a choice of a plan to insurance companies.
I understand that all Repubozos here, although none of you earn all that much, want to defend insurance companies rights to screw you.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:26 pm
Tax Payer…no write purty some day cause Katy Abram brain.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:27 pm
When the teabaggers stopped at the rallies, they brought the stupid here–apparently all of ‘em.
ND
September 24th, 2009
11:32 pm
The real solution to traffic problems is to not live fifty f*cking miles away from the city in which you work.
The day boondocks counties like Hall and Forsyth stop growing is the day metro Atlanta’s traffic problem improves.
Tax Payer funded option, NEVER
September 24th, 2009
11:33 pm
Trust the government to do anything right? Check with the American Indians, any veteran who’s delt with the VA, Fanny Mae/Freddy Mac, Social Security, Medicare/Medicade, FEMA, and you think that a TAX PAYER funded (defecit neutral/balanced budget, right) health care will work, YOU are either off your meds or that person that can be fooled ALL the time.
Right
September 24th, 2009
11:33 pm
“it just doesn’t sit right” — Look, I struggled through undergrad, grad, professional school and residency. I incurred substantial student loans — which I paid off. I’ve worked for and earned everything I have. We pay substantial property taxes and send our children to private school. If I can afford it you better believe IT SITS RIGHT!! If you’re not willing to value education, work hard for a living, and contribute positively to society the playing field is not level nor should it be !!!!
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:53 pm
You’re missing the point @ Taxwhatever.
We all know how dumb federal bureaucrats can be. What we as doctors want are competititon for the insurance companies and buddy if you don’t think they fear it and are fighting it with every dollar they have, you sure as hell haven’t seen Senate Finance Committee’s hookers the last couple days. Tivo C-Span for a while tomorrow. Or don’t.
You can yell here all you like but bahsing me’s not going to change what’s going to happen and I haven’t got time to teach you.
Public Option's Doing Swell
September 24th, 2009
11:54 pm
Chia that’s what you hear every time from anyone.
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
3:22 am
“Metro Atlanta unemployment rate dips”
“The metro area unemployment rate slipped to 10.4 percent in August from 10.6 percent the month before, “primarily due to workforce shrinkage,” the Labor Department said Thursday.”
http://www.ajc.com/business/metro-atlanta-unemployment-rate-146283.html
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
3:27 am
“McChrystal: Violence “Worse” Than Expected”
“Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s interview with CBS News National Security correspondent David Martin will be broadcast on the 42nd season premiere of 60 Minutes this Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/24/60minutes/main5335445.shtml
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 25th, 2009
5:49 am
al-Gore, Cindy Sheehan or Barak Obozo?
“Consider the course that we’re on if we fail to confront the status quo: extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world; protracted conflicts that grind on and on; genocide; mass atrocities; more nations with nuclear weapons; melting ice caps and ravaged populations; persistent poverty and pandemic disease.”-Barak Obozo
I wasn’t sure which ditz it was.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 25th, 2009
5:52 am
The US is too dependent on Japan and China buying up the country’s debt and could face severe economic problems if that stops, Tiger Management founder and chairman Julian Robertson told CNBC.
“It’s almost Armageddon if the Japanese and Chinese don’t buy our debt,” Robertson said in an interview. “I don’t know where we could get the money. I think we’ve let ourselves get in a terrible situation and I think we ought to try and get out of it.”
I know, let’s put some protectionist tariffs on Chinese tires and piss them off real good, for no reason.
Then the United States will die, yay!
AmVet
September 25th, 2009
6:14 am
Some are saying the problem is racism. Others call it lack of civility. Still others point to varying combinations of stupidity and craziness.
All of these things are certainly in play in the current right-wing hatefest, but let’s not lose sight of another factor that’s been overlooked: sheer viciousness.
There has always been a significant amount of galloping meanness on the right, the ancestral home of the angry white male, the we’re-rich-because-we’re-better-than-you Ayn Randians and the Mr. Potters of the world.
Traditionally, right-wingers love war and guns and punishment, capital or corporal. Now you can add torture. They hate extending rights or privileges to any deprived group. They’d so much rather crack down upon such. The poor, the minorities, the immigrants, underprivileged folks in general tend to annoy the right rather than stir their benevolent impulses, The right, in short, is a party of pricks.
Not every conservative is a heartless b@stard, but the majority of heartless b@stards are conservatives.
USinUK
September 25th, 2009
6:42 am
happy-happy-happy Friday!!! woowoo!!
I hope everyone stays safe as it looks like more rain is heading your way … take care of your bad selves!
USinUK
September 25th, 2009
6:56 am
NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8274208.stm
(talk about the antithesis of traveling music …)
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:07 am
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 25th, 2009
5:52 am
Actually, our citizens have bought nearly a trillion dollars of it this year, and could buy trillions more if given more incentive. And of course, the government itself holds nearly half of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Estimated_ownership_of_treasury_securities_by_year.gif
But when SS IOUs have to be redeemed, it could get ugly.
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:09 am
USinUK
September 25th, 2009
6:42 am
I see the forecast, but don’t see the rain.
Have a great day!
Taxpayer
September 25th, 2009
7:09 am
Then the United States will die, yay!
Well, that was your plan all along. Right. You right wing nutter butters have been trying for decades to spend and borrow this country into the ground. Congratulations.
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:25 am
Taxpayer
September 25th, 2009
7:09 am
They haven’t succeeded just yet. But we senior citizens are going to have to step up to the plate along with the filthy rich.
Joey
September 25th, 2009
7:26 am
Jay;
I have a request. Solely for my benefit. Well there might be others who would like it also.
Could you arrange to post the national and world political (health care, Afghanistan, Iran, Repub-Dem-Con-Lib) stuff in the afternoon and evening. Post the local politics, transportation, water, development stuff in the morning.
Thank you in advance for considering this.
Joey.
USinUK
September 25th, 2009
7:27 am
Taxpayer –
“Well, that was your plan all along. Right.”
this reminds me of a ludicrous argument the mister and I had about a year a go … he got upset that I put regular cheese on his turkey burger rather than low-fat, yucky, plastic cheese, and accused me of trying to kill him. I told him “if I was really trying to kill you, it would be faster and more reliable way than hoping your cholesterol rises and causes a hear attack in 20-30 years”
if a group was REALLY trying to destroy a nation quickly, then the best way is to do all you can to pi$$ off the rest of the world by doing something like invading a country on false pretenses, using generals who say that they’re doing god’s work killing people of a different religious persuasion. that way, you’re not only angering the extremists and breeding more terrorists, you’re also wrecking the economy at the same time. job done.
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:29 am
Joey
September 25th, 2009
7:26 am
…and let Palin go!
Ben
September 25th, 2009
7:37 am
Wow, nothing will make you happy. Almost all your columns are about how the rich should be made to pay for everyone else. So now there’s a suggestion out there to get the rich to pay for road repair and construction, and that’s evil, too. What will make you happy, Bookman? Simply taking every penny over $100,000 that anyone in the country has, and giving to people who haven’t earned it?
USinUK
September 25th, 2009
7:37 am
hey, while we’re doing requests …
… can you set the traveling music to Greenwich Mean Time?? I’m sure folks who are leaving early on a Friday in Atlanta want to see the tunes posted at noon, anyhow …
… oh, and be sure to post a food-related topic around lunchtime (we’re going to talk about food, anyway, so you might as well) …
… and I think Bosch and Kam would like a little more soccer-related content.
Jay
September 25th, 2009
7:39 am
Joey, I could certainly try and would be willing to do so, although the timing wouldn’t always work out. But I’m curious as to your reasoning. Why would that be an improvement?
Jay
September 25th, 2009
7:43 am
Almost all of my columns are on that topic Ben? Really? Care to cite one of the last, say 10 or 15?
And if you read more carefully, this proposal is about taking general taxpayer money to build lanes exclusively for the rich. As I stated, if these projects are self-sustaining out of the revenue they generate, I have no problem. Go for it.
But in this case, they would take $7 billion in taxes we all pay at the gas pump — $7 billion that would represent about all the state investment Atlanta’s going to get in the next 20 years — and spend it to speed the Lexus drivers to their destination.
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:45 am
Ben
September 25th, 2009
7:37 am
No, you can keep your wealth…..for now. We just want everything over $250k you earn each year!
TnGelding
September 25th, 2009
7:50 am
Folks, our reading and comprehension skills are atrocious. Maybe we’ve been listening to too many talking heads?
AmVet
September 25th, 2009
8:00 am
TnGelding, comments like the one at 7:37 among many others here on a daily basis, are in my experience, not due to a lack of reading skills, but due to a mind that is already shut down. And has been for a long, long time.
it is part and parcel of the neo-con bumper sticker mentality
The type of mind that sees innumerable, imaginary bogeymen EVERYWHERE. The mind that was long ago made up and NO amount of countermanding data, information, facts, evidence or corroboration will open even slightly…
It is a symptom of the far right’s outdated and unevolved demagoguery and a manifestation of being a die-hard reactionary…
Joey
September 25th, 2009
8:00 am
My reason is purely selfish. I am better able to participate in the mornings and I enjoy the local subjects more.
It seems that in discussions of local issues most posters here are not as committed to their opinions, therefore more open discussion, even learning, takes place. But on the national and world political front almost everyone has established a position and has dug in for the long haul. People are just sniping at each other from their bunkers.
Gail
September 25th, 2009
8:16 am
The way I see it is the ones who can afford the HOT lanes have already paid more in taxes anyway so why is that not fair? Also, while taxpayers pay for the roads, some people pay no taxes and ride on the roads. And no – I will not be paying to ride in the HOT lane.
Jay
September 25th, 2009
8:25 am
No Gail, the roads are built largely on gasoline taxes, taxes that every driver pays and that they pay in roughly equivalent amounts. The driver of a $50,000 car pays about the same in gas taxes as the driver of a $5,000 car.
But in this case, the driver of the $5,000 car will be paying taxes to build something reserved only for those more wealthy than he is.
Turd Ferguson
September 25th, 2009
8:26 am
“just doesn’t sit right. It brings to mind that line from “Animal Farm,” about all animals being equal, but some are more equal than others.”
Truth is we are not all equal, never will be and no amount of govt intervention/brainwashing will make it so.
Jay
September 25th, 2009
8:29 am
Turd just ripped up the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of our nation.
Good work.
Algonquin J. Calhoun
September 25th, 2009
8:32 am
Selling tax payers the right to drive in expeditious lanes their taxes have been used to construct could only come from Republinazis. It’s ridiculous and probably unconstitutional. Of course, many bloggers on here will express support for it even though they can’t afford to buy a lane-use pass.
Mel
September 25th, 2009
8:41 am
Enter your comments hereLooks like you are caught in a liberal catch-22, Jay. Here’s an opportunity for the state to collect more tax money from higher wage earners (ie-liberal’s wet dream)and possibly reduce congestion on the highways. But in true illogial liberal fashion, you manage to turn it into a class war.
The writers of the liberal playbook are sliming right now.
SP
September 25th, 2009
8:54 am
Why can’t we just add the option of HOT to the existing HOV lanes? Those evil rich people can buy an EZ pass type device that would bill them for being in that lane, and those poor trodden down folks could still use the HOV without having to pay.
The only big problem the libs will have with this is that this would be a voluntary tax on those evil rich, and it wouldn’t be taken from them by force.
lovelyliz
September 25th, 2009
9:14 am
Public Option’s Doing Swell Trent Lott from Missippi didn’t have flood insurance either. He just got the GOP led Congress to pass legislation that would allow him to retroactively pay premiums.
Del
September 25th, 2009
9:23 am
Looks like Dr. Public Option Doing ran out for brain surgery followed by a Kool Aid IV and will return later to provide more facts from sources LOL
Joan
September 25th, 2009
9:38 am
Well, all the gripes about the taxpayer funding the HOT lanes for the privileged is a joke. In fact, it is the so called privileged that pay 90% of the taxes anyway. They ought to just have to show their tax returns indicate they paid over $100,000 per year in taxes, to use the lanes. Let the entitlement people whine.
AlohaGator
September 25th, 2009
9:49 am
I’m not sure who I agree with today…..
The idea of “Lexus” lanes in metro Atlanta really makes me angry. This is a terrible idea. HOV lanes for carpoolers, hybrids and motorcycles is fine with me. We’ve had them here for years and i use them every once in a while. But…… When folks start talking about converting existing lanes on already overcrowded highways my blood starts to boil.
BAD IDEA !!!!!
Worse idea = Footbal HOF paid for by taxpayers! Who is so dumb they think this is a good idea?
Peace ya’all ….. I’m too beat up this week to fight.
Go Gators
rappaport
September 25th, 2009
9:54 am
HOT lanes won’t fix traffic problems. As a regular commuter, I see 2 major causes of “daily” jams: merging traffic and drivers who don’t know the rules of the road. For the first, the DOT should focus efforts on lengthening merge lanes and installing mechanisms that keep drivers from immediately merging into traffic, which just slows everyone down. Relative to second, the overhead traffic warning signs could be used for driver instructional messages, such as: keep your eyes on the road, use your blinker, stay right unless passing, etc.
Mike
September 25th, 2009
10:08 am
Well, let’s just tax those evil rich folks to make poor-people only lanes, where anyone who’s not driving a dented, smoke-belching beater gets ticketed. That way, we can kick the rich in the teeth, as is the New American Way AND squeeze the middle class at the same time! Double score!
Michael G.
September 25th, 2009
10:20 am
I don’t get it. GDOT is right about toll lanes, but wrong about the location. Put them on all the interstates leading into the state and charge $2 per vehicle for people driving through the state of Georgia on I’s 75, 85, 95, and 20. That would be 8 tolls and it would be based on models already in place in states like Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, W. Virginia, that have put toll roads on existing interstate highways.
SOUTHERN ATL
September 25th, 2009
10:21 am
I’m Looking forward to the next election of the “NEW STATE GOVENOR” and administration…Georgia is guaranteed to turn BLUE in 2010!!
Del
September 25th, 2009
10:48 am
South Atlanta,
Only in your dreams
Duane
September 25th, 2009
10:53 am
I’d rather that money be spent on extending Marta to pleasant hill rd
SOUTHERN ATL
September 25th, 2009
11:07 am
I know that I am off topic on this one but here’s a little COMEDY to get your weekend started….gotta love COLBERT talking about RACISM!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/blackwashing-colbert-unve_n_299601.html
Robyn
September 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
The affluent pay more than their share in this country. The freeloaders pay little to none. Let them take the long way and stay out the way of the producers.
Neoconservative
September 25th, 2009
12:35 pm
I think we should have a fast left wing lane and a fast right wing lane. That would make independents slow lanes make up their minds–mabe!
Ragnar Danneskjöld
September 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
I think we would all agree that an interstate lane for the affluent is morally wrong, as it is effectively a self-imposed tax on the rich, much as the Georgia lottery is a self-imposed tax on the mentally deficient.
uga_b
September 25th, 2009
1:36 pm
Economically speaking, it costs more for higher salaried people to be stuck in traffic. Lines are sometimes used to offset cheaper prices.
In the end this is just another government revenue grab, which Bookman should ultimately support as a rule.
rich
September 25th, 2009
8:23 pm
Protest the HOT lane. Drive 55!! (in it)!!
Road Hog
September 30th, 2009
5:25 pm
Why not just post the sign that says “Whites Only This Lane” and be done with it?
PixelDust
November 3rd, 2009
5:32 pm
best idea would be for comapnies to have shifts that don’t start and end all at near the same time. Rush hour would just be a drive to hour. If not every guy/gal that works had to be at work at the same time we would not have this mess we have. No matter how many lanes you put in, your still going to have rush hour traffic!
PixelDust
November 3rd, 2009
5:38 pm
if we all worked round the clock people driving from here to there would be more spread out. If off days were not just weekends so that events were held at all times of day/night and week we would not have such jam ups of everyone trying to get to one place all at same time. But who wants to work all times of night and weekends? Not the corporate big wigs, and they don’t want to have to drive with everyone else either, lets just buy them a helicopter to get to and from work in and be done with it.
PixelDust
November 3rd, 2009
5:44 pm
and while we are at it we can give them there own personal air space also. Its only money, and tax payers will always come up with it if we keep asking more from them. If the cost of the paying lanes cuts into the big wigs pockets i am sure they can cut some of it’s employees under him/her to be able to continue to afford to pay for the traffic free lane…
Leave our money alone and quit spending it for a while! Good gosh.. get a grip and open your eyes. We have spent enough. If it takes hours to get to work, leave earlier and have time to get there…not build more roads causing us to work more hours to pay the taxes… my pockets are not any deeper than they were 20 years ago, and i have nothing left to give!
KL
November 5th, 2009
12:44 pm
What’s the point of adding lanes if there are only a limited number of exits…you end up going into a bottleneck and traffic is still slow. Why don’t people stop thinking about adding lanes and think about investing money on improving and expanding MARTA or the bus system. The traffic problem is not going to be solved by adding lanes, it’s only going to delay the inevitable; the only way to solve the traffic problem is to reduce the number of cars on the street.