As a free market proponent, I certainly have no objections to toll bridges in theory - I think it is a preferable model. However, I think the law should apply as equally as possible, even if it isn't a perfect one. This is the main reason I support converting the north Moorhead (15th Ave)/Fargo (12th Ave) to a cities-owned and maintained toll-free bridge as soon as the current contract expires - which is 1/1/2013. The alternative is to make all the bridges in Fargo-Moorhead toll bridges... and if that ever gets legs I'll go along with that.
The toll bridge owners have requested an extension but the Moorhead city council has not, to this point, agreed. I think the toll-payers, who have not been exempted from paying for the other bridges, have "paid their dues" for the last 25 years. Unfortunately, the owners of the bridge have decided to leave the bridge closed to protest our decision to stick with the existing agreement. If they stick to their guns, our choices are: 1) agree to 5 more years of tolls or, 2) live without the bridge for another 19 months and then take ownership. For now, I'll stick with what the parties have already agreed to.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Bullying and Slavery
Sen. Rand Paul's analogy of free health care being akin to slavery gets to the core of the "government is the solution" vs "government is the problem" argument. While Paul's example doesn't completely connect the dots, Tom Mullen's blot post brings the argument full circle. When the use of aggressive force (whether for laudable ends or not) violates another person's natural right to liberty or voluntarily acquired property, it is bullying. It is also, to a varying degree, a form of slavery.
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