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| Home Front: Politix |
| Leasing IL tolls roads to a Foreign Concern! MidWay next? |
| 2006-04-05 |
| A letter to the editor of the Chicago Daily Herald from somebody I know... Instead of alarm bells going off, the news item concerning the possible leasing of the 274 mile Illinois toll system to foreign investors made page 17 on the Wednesday, April 5, Dailey Herald without editorial comment. This in contrast to the news a few weeks ago concerning the leasing of American port facilities to Dubai financial control. For that error in judgment the Bush Administration was taken to task by the press and many political leaders of both parties. Why the silence when the Democratic leadership, under the prodding of Sen. Jeff Schoenberg of Evanston, is getting a seemingly positive pass in the press, in leasing control of our vital Interstate Highway System to foreign interests who will have the power to set the toll rates for the next 75 years? An example of this folly is already a reality in the lease of the Chicago Skyway which immediately led to a doubling of the toll rates. It seems that politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, are willing to sell the soul of America for the proverbial "mess of pottage". The possibility of $3.85 billion return is too tempting for politicians of both parties for our vital highways system which is important to the economic and military security of all Americans. After all, President Eisenhauer proposed this Interstate Highway system as a necessary for the security of these United States, linking all parts of the country in a modern, convenient and well managed system. If foreign control of our ports was considered dangerous to our national security, how about control of our highways in case of future wars or national emergencies? Where is a sense of patriotism or of concern for the well being of all who helped build our highways through taxes paid in the past? What right have elected or non-elected persons of either party to lease or sell the vital infrastructures of our nation to foreign interests simply because the cash is out there and they, the political leaders, can claim during the next election campaign that they did not raise taxes?This seems to be an new disease of the politically elite. The mayor of Chicago is suggesting that perhaps Midway Airport is up for grabs. The legislatures of Indiana and Ohio are also negotiating to lease their toll ways, to the detriment of the traveling public. One courageous answer to the problem of tollways was made by the State of Connecticut in recent years. They abolished all their tollways, put their maintenance on the state budget, raised the gas tax a few cents per gallon to cover the added cost and now the traffic runs freely. What a pleasure both for the people of Connecticut and for the motoring tourists who travel its roads. Could Illinois political leaders of both parties have such courage and such vision? One can only hope! |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #3 There may be more here than meets the eye. If leasing or subcontracting the Illinois Tollway system to fuc*ing martians solved the democratic political patronage, graft, and bureaucratic waste of the Illinois Tollway Authority I'd say go for it. It has been an absolute mess for decades. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-05 13:54 |
| #2 There is no reason to drive the Skyway. Surface streets are just as fast. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-05 13:37 |
| #1 3dc, it's all part of the plan to pay off our Nation's debt. Sell assest to furiners, then, once the debt is settled from the payments, nationalize our assets back into the fold. Chavez is on to something... |
| Posted by: danking_70 2006-04-05 13:08 |