Comments on: City to pay MTA for tolled trips http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:06:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/#comment-63897 Alon Levy Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:54:29 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3691#comment-63897 The issue is not that term limits enhance democracy. It's that politicians who make a significant effort to change the rules to increase their own power, often by bribing other politicians with money and favors, are authoritarian. One of the basic principles of democracy is that it's about laws, not men. The issue is not that term limits enhance democracy. It’s that politicians who make a significant effort to change the rules to increase their own power, often by bribing other politicians with money and favors, are authoritarian. One of the basic principles of democracy is that it’s about laws, not men.

]]> By: nathan_h http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/#comment-63895 nathan_h Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:10:02 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3691#comment-63895 Are you suggesting that I must not value democracy over transportation policy? Because that would be a ridiculous implication, when I'm here deciding who to best represent me in government based on as much information I can gather about the candidates' policies. It happens that I'm not of the opinion that term limits or ballot initiatives enhance democracy, so I'm not troubled by an apparently legal legislative action that overturned both at once. I don't think it does a constitution any particularly high honor, either, to act as if there is some informal set of superseding rules to dictate government behavior. If I do vote for Bloomberg I certainly won't be voting against democracy, at least not against any version of it that allows for differences of opinion on how it can best represent the people. Are you suggesting that I must not value democracy over transportation policy? Because that would be a ridiculous implication, when I’m here deciding who to best represent me in government based on as much information I can gather about the candidates’ policies. It happens that I’m not of the opinion that term limits or ballot initiatives enhance democracy, so I’m not troubled by an apparently legal legislative action that overturned both at once. I don’t think it does a constitution any particularly high honor, either, to act as if there is some informal set of superseding rules to dictate government behavior. If I do vote for Bloomberg I certainly won’t be voting against democracy, at least not against any version of it that allows for differences of opinion on how it can best represent the people.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/#comment-63888 Alon Levy Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:29:19 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3691#comment-63888 I'd like to see this particular mayor lose the campaign, and then lose a criminal lawsuit about corruption. Democracy is more important than public transit infrastructure. I’d like to see this particular mayor lose the campaign, and then lose a criminal lawsuit about corruption. Democracy is more important than public transit infrastructure.

]]> By: nathan_h http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/#comment-63883 nathan_h Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:18:10 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3691#comment-63883 Yeah, it's great. Maybe there is more to come? It seems the campaign realizes that it will take more than MTA scolding to win over transit advocates. Anybody can lay into the authority—and everyone does. The message I would love to hear is that the next administration will fight for more city control of <i>and responsibility for</i> its public transportation. Maybe that control can't be had, but I'd still like to see a mayor campaign and win on that issue. Albany needs the wake up call. Yeah, it’s great. Maybe there is more to come? It seems the campaign realizes that it will take more than MTA scolding to win over transit advocates. Anybody can lay into the authority—and everyone does.

The message I would love to hear is that the next administration will fight for more city control of and responsibility for its public transportation. Maybe that control can’t be had, but I’d still like to see a mayor campaign and win on that issue. Albany needs the wake up call.

]]> By: Adam http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/08/18/city-to-pay-mta-for-tolled-trips/#comment-63870 Adam Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:38:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3691#comment-63870 Now THIS is a REAL step in the right direction. I think this is one of the few times us transit advocates can side with the NY Post Pitchforkers. Now THIS is a REAL step in the right direction. I think this is one of the few times us transit advocates can side with the NY Post Pitchforkers.

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