Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-lcc!mordor!styx!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!AI.AI.MIT.EDU!kfl
From: kfl@AI.AI.MIT.EDU
Newsgroups: mod.politics
Subject: Transportation
Message-ID: <12268565901.17.MCGREW@RED.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Mon, 5-Jan-87 15:45:18 EST
Article-I.D.: RED.12268565901.17.MCGREW
Posted: Mon Jan  5 15:45:18 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 5-Jan-87 22:53:46 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: kfl@ai.ai.mit.edu
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 46
Approved: poli-sci@red.rutgers.edu


To: WLIM@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU,
    mcgeer%sirius.Berkeley.EDU@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU
cc: ametek!walton@CSVAX.CALTECH.EDU

  I think there is little point in arguing against statism by
asserting that everything the government does gets screwed up.  The
majority of it does, but there are occasional successes, which are not
surprising considering that trillions of dollars are spent.
  For instance the Washington DC subway system is clean and runs
smoothly and is well lit and free of crime.  This is unsurprising when
you learn that it cost several BILLION dollars.  Of course it hasn't a
hope of breaking even.  Fares would have to be set to about $100 with
no reduction of ridership for it to pay for itself.  It would have
cost much less for the government to have purchased a new car for
everyone within two miles of a subway station.
  Unlike many libertarians I am no great fan of the automobile.  I
think cars are too expensive, ugly, and much too dangerous.  I think
that if drivers had to pay the full cost of the roads they use that
there would be more of a market for mass transit.  I like mass
transit.  If only it weren't run by the government and didn't have to
compete with subsidized cars and didn't get stuck in traffic jams
caused by cars, it would be much more convenient.
  Ironically, it is mostly drivers that DO pay for the roads, so they
aren't really getting a free ride (no pun intended).  However, they
are paying much of the cost of driving in the form of taxes, taxes
that wouldn't be any lower if they stopped driving.  So they have no
incentive to drive less.  Also, while it is cars that cause traffic
jams, an individual who switches to riding the bus will still get
caught in traffic jams, since not everyone else switches at the same
time.  (In some areas, highway lanes are set aside for buses, which I
think is a good idea.)
  One reason why so much commuting is done is because of zoning laws,
which force people to live far from where they work.
  Cars cost more than they should because of pro-union laws,
protectionist import tariffs, overregulation of factories, and
taxation of factories and dealerships.  Roads cost (the user) less
than they should - usage is free.  I don't know how it would all
balance out if there were no taxes or subsidies.
  The transportation question is a complicated one, and there is
little hope of being able to figure out what is most efficient until
government stops shifting money around and lets the free market sort
things out.
                                                              ...Keith

-------