American Infrastructure Sell-Off

[ruffryder]

Yeah, like I'm the only one in this debate.

Isn't that what liberals say to justify their point or actions?

You sure you aren't the liberal?

 

[Weekday Warrior]

point is I don't want all the threads in the political section (a section in which I tend to hang out) getting pulled due to petty name calling.

things like this tend to snowball.


we're all grown ups arn't we?

 

[Ollie]

Yeah, like I'm the only one in this debate. And he sure comes off as a liberal. Whats your point?

Really, a liberal?
48 posts and he's an expert.
A liberal wants big government.
My opinion is let the private sector run it.
Show me where contracting the running of infastruture would affect your taxes one dime.
I have yet to ever see a government program that couldn't be run better by private sector companies.

You seem to miss the whole point of this.
You are hung up on money going to foreign countries.
We do buisness all over the world. It's not just for giving food and stuff away.
We build ships, run entire global companies.
The whole, shut down the boarders and only let america have it, doesn't work anymore and won't work.
The primary reason money leaves this country is because we have outsourced our manufacturing to cheaper countries. This was done because the american dollar was too strong. With the weakening dollar you will see a lot of the textiles and such coming back.
Look at Toyota, they found it cheaper to build cars here than to build them in Japan and ship them over. Should we shut down the half dozen toyota plants because they arn't owned by american companies?

If you only allow american companies to run american systems then don't be surprised when countries like Japan shut us out of their markets.

 

[777]

Look Ollie, Toyota will only be here untill they are taxed out. You know thats coming. Corps. outsource when their proffit deminishes. Primarily due to LABOR and TAXES.
As for raising my taxes. Yes letting foriegn companies run our infrastructure taxes me personally every time I use that TOLLWAY or TOLLBRIDGE. The difference is my money then leaves this country. Yes I am hung up on that and so should you be! We are not talking about foriegn trade here. This isn't Washington apples for Russian grain. IT IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, yours and mine.
Yes the private sector can run anything the govt. does better, BUT giving a foriegn company control of anything that limits our freedoms by taxing us any amount they deem fit to get thier investment back is just WRONG.
There has been no name calling here, unless you count the word liberal.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

And he sure comes off as a liberal

That right there i want framed.... oh man, you really need to come on here more often, if ollie sounds liberal... that just throws a wrench in my understanding of political views.

more good reading as always guys, a lot more fun then watching the news!!

 

[woodzy]

Ollie a liberal... Now that's a good one. LOL

 

[777]

Just get yourself some popcorn and sit right back. I could do this for days.

He's the one that wants our infrastructure to be auctioned off to a global economy. Sounds liberal to me.

 

[Gainster]

Hows this for obamas global economy? http://www.prisonplanet.com/al-jazeera-broadcasts-video-of-afghan-insurgents-with-us-ammo.html

 

[Ollie]

Just get yourself some popcorn and sit right back. I could do this for days.

He's the one that wants our infrastructure to be auctioned off to a global economy. Sounds liberal to me.

Really?
Show me where I said anything about "autioning" off our infrastruture.
I said running it, not owning it.
Take roads.
There is a tax on gas that is supposed to cover road construction and maintenance.
30 years ago it was fine. Worked great.
Cars got 10-15 miles per gallon, now cars get 30+ miles per gallon. So you effectively have half the amount of money coming in. Are there more cars, yes, however there is also much more road.
Now the federal response to that would be to raise your taxes or (as in California) charge you by the mile to drive.
So why not let a private company take over parts of the road system and see if they can run it better without raising taxes or charges. The fed still gets the tax money to run the systems, so you get bids on how much company "X" wants to run the road system in their district. Let em see if they can run it better than the feds (bet they can). Will it cost you more, no clue, it hasn't been done before.
Most existing toll roads were built as toll roads.
The road systems I am talking about already exist.
If a U.S. company wins the bid great, if they don't then they need to figure out how to compete with the out of country companies. If they can't figure it out, they go out of buisness.
It's called capitalism.
It works, really it does.

I don't care if the profits go out of country because the company paid U.S. workers to do the job, they paid their taxes just like they are supposed too. Any money left over is theirs.
As for them charging you what ever they want, you can write into any contract profit and earnings limits. A lot of federal contracts have bonuses for doing the job better, faster and cheaper. Same thing would apply here.
If (for sake of arugment) that you put a bid in to run I-25 from New mexico to Wyoming. A company from Europe comes in and wins the bid. The fed already collects taxes to maintain that road, there should be no increase in fees or tolls to do anything. If the private company can't meet it's requirements they get dropped. If they can and actually do better than their bench mark they would get a cut of the saving (usually 10%).

It's all about the best bang for the buck. If it's a U.S. company, great.
If it's not, then the U.S. companies need to figure out how to be competitive. They are bidding on the same jobs. Using the same workers, doing the same things. The U.S. companies should win it everytime. But they don't, why?
They need to figure it out.

 

[777]

This is Weekday warriors original quote. HELLO DID YOU READ THIS! This is the current debate here. Look where it says leasing or selling. QUOTE. You know the economy’s in great shape when our elected leaders start handing over our highways, airports, bridges and tunnels over to the highest bidder.
That might be a bit simplistic, but on some level it’s accurate. States and cities, struggling with gargantuan budget deficits, are increasingly selling or leasing vital transportation infrastructure to private companies. Yes, it helps fill state coffers, but it’s a scary development nonetheless.
One of the biggest proposed deals is a plan to lease the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike, the nation’s oldest major toll road, to a private investment group that includes Citigroup and the Spanish firm Abertis. The legislature votes on the deal next month; if it goes through, Abertis will pay $12.8 billion to run the turnpike for 75 years. That’s a big chunk of change

Where you get that we are talking about any other "exisisting road" is purely in your own mind. If you think Abertis would run this tollway for anything other than profit your completely out of their mind. Who says they have to use american workers to rebuild or maintain it anyways. Who says they wont use it as financial leverage. Why don't you care if more of our money leaves this country. Voted Obama didn't you? You didn't deny it the first time.
P.S. you can keep your capitolism speeches. I've owned my own self built succesfull business for years, thank you.

 

[ruffryder]

This is Weekday warriors original quote. HELLO DID YOU READ THIS! This is the current debate here. Look where it says leasing or selling.

You know the economy’s in great shape when our elected leaders start handing over our highways, airports, bridges and tunnels over to the highest bidder.
That might be a bit simplistic, but on some level it’s accurate. States and cities, struggling with gargantuan budget deficits, are increasingly selling or leasing vital transportation infrastructure to private companies. Yes, it helps fill state coffers, but it’s a scary development nonetheless.
One of the biggest proposed deals is a plan to lease the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike, the nation’s oldest major toll road, to a private investment group that includes Citigroup and the Spanish firm Abertis. The legislature votes on the deal next month; if it goes through, Abertis will pay $12.8 billion to run the turnpike for 75 years. That’s a big chunk of change

Where you get that we are talking about any other "exisisting road" is purely in your own mind.

I think the problem is that Weekday Warrior mistakenly said "sell" in his post. None of his, nor mine, nor anyone elses examples of this happening are an actual sale. Nothing is sold, it is only leased, not yet anyways.

Anyways,

If you think Abertis would run this tollway for anything other than profit your completely out of their mind.

What? Why else would ANY company do it besides profit? Peace of mind, as a favor to the American public? To "feel good" about themselves?

Who says they have to use american workers to rebuild or maintain it anyways.

Who else would they use? All the stuff is here.

Who says they wont use it as financial leverage.

hmmm I don't think it would be very smart for another countries company to start pushing around the US. I doubt that would fly. You know, we could always just take over their country and nationalize everything.

Anyways, financial leverage for what? I would think a US company would have more / better standing over an issue versus a foreign company.

 

[777]

I think the problem is that Weekday Warrior mistakenly said "sell" in his post. None of his, nor mine, nor anyone elses examples of this happening are an actual sale. Nothing is sold, it is only leased, not yet anyways.
YEAH, FOR 75 YEARS!
Anyways,

What? Why else would ANY company do it besides profit? Peace of mind, as a favor to the American public? To "feel good" about themselv
EXACTLY MY POINT!
Who else would they use? All the stuff is here.

Who says they have to use state union workers. Why would they. Remember it's all about the profit!


hmmm I don't think it would be very smart for another countries company to start pushing around the US. I doubt that would fly. You know, we could always just take over their country and nationalize everything.

Anyways, financial leverage for what? I would think a US company would have more / better standing over an issue versus a foreign company.

Who knows for what, but who's to say not.

 

[Ollie]

Who knows for what, but who's to say not.

You seem to have a real problem with companies making money?
Why?

 

[777]

You seem to have a real problem with companies making money?
Why?

What the f are you talking about? You haven't been listening at all.