Indy's PIKE DEAL - The Selling of America
If you thought the Dubai "Ports Deal" the wrong move at the wrong time, how about selling highways?
Chron.com | Ind. Signs Lease for Toll Road, Gets Sued:
INDIANAPOLIS — In the biggest highway privatization deal in U.S. history, state officials Wednesday signed an agreement Wednesday to turn the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road over to a foreign consortium that will operate it for a profit for the next 75 years.
Under the lease, Spanish-Australian consortium Cintra-Macquarie would pay the state $3.8 billion up front and be responsible for operating and maintaining the highway. It would get to keep the toll revenue it collects.
If you'd told me this two years ago, I'd have laughed in your face then replied, "The governments (local, county, state, federal) wouldn't let go of highways for love nor money! No way!"
You realize OUR GOVERNMENT is SELLING AMERICA without the approval of the citizens. I have a couple questions though folks...
1. Will residents of IN receive a break now on their gasoline taxes? After all, this is a huge chunk of highway - residents "should" get a break on fuel taxes.
2. What happens when someone gets maimed or killed on the highway due to poor maintenance? Can the state be held accountable, or will the leasor be the responsible party? They are being paid to maintain it, right?
3. Ten years from now the foreign entity starts suffering financially and cuts back on its maintenance. What recourse will citizens have to demand repair of those nasty potholes?
4. The highways were (probably) built with Federal matching funds for State tax funds. Those Federal matching funds came from you, from me, from every citizen in the United States. Technically speaking then - wouldn't the highways belong to ALL the citizens of the USA and not just the state of IN?
5. Why doesn't the Federal government sue to block this deal, as well as sue for the Chicago deal? The "freeway" system in this nation was created as a matter of "national defense". When did the Federal government relinquish control of the US highway systems?
6. Will law enforcement units from local/county/state/federal have authority on these roads, or will the leasor fufill the responsibility? Sure, they are outsourcing the "maintenance", but will our law enforcement people have authority over the hired workers?
7. Can't you see the foreign company going out on strike for an extended time which just happens to correspond to winter, a big snow storm near Thanksgiving or Christmas? I can. Talk about the potential for blackmail!
Looks like its time for the citizens of the USA to take back control of their government. Next thing you know, we'll be "outsourcing" every possible state asset's maintenance.
What's next? State aircraft, all vehicle maintenance? How about all the public buildings? Parks and recreation?
Really, when you think about it, there's very little you couldn't "lease" (another codeword for 'outsourcing' folks), except appointed officials.
Technorati tags: Pike Deal
You realize OUR GOVERNMENT is SELLING AMERICA without the approval of the citizens. I have a couple questions though folks...
1. Will residents of IN receive a break now on their gasoline taxes? After all, this is a huge chunk of highway - residents "should" get a break on fuel taxes.
2. What happens when someone gets maimed or killed on the highway due to poor maintenance? Can the state be held accountable, or will the leasor be the responsible party? They are being paid to maintain it, right?
3. Ten years from now the foreign entity starts suffering financially and cuts back on its maintenance. What recourse will citizens have to demand repair of those nasty potholes?
4. The highways were (probably) built with Federal matching funds for State tax funds. Those Federal matching funds came from you, from me, from every citizen in the United States. Technically speaking then - wouldn't the highways belong to ALL the citizens of the USA and not just the state of IN?
5. Why doesn't the Federal government sue to block this deal, as well as sue for the Chicago deal? The "freeway" system in this nation was created as a matter of "national defense". When did the Federal government relinquish control of the US highway systems?
6. Will law enforcement units from local/county/state/federal have authority on these roads, or will the leasor fufill the responsibility? Sure, they are outsourcing the "maintenance", but will our law enforcement people have authority over the hired workers?
7. Can't you see the foreign company going out on strike for an extended time which just happens to correspond to winter, a big snow storm near Thanksgiving or Christmas? I can. Talk about the potential for blackmail!
Looks like its time for the citizens of the USA to take back control of their government. Next thing you know, we'll be "outsourcing" every possible state asset's maintenance.
What's next? State aircraft, all vehicle maintenance? How about all the public buildings? Parks and recreation?
Really, when you think about it, there's very little you couldn't "lease" (another codeword for 'outsourcing' folks), except appointed officials.
Technorati tags: Pike Deal
posted by Creative Thought @ 11:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home