Anyone with a mind for critical analysis must understand that this service cannot be free. The riders may not be obligated to pay for the service, but there are costs associated with its operation all the same. How can there not be?
Were the buses donated to the city? Are the bus drivers, mechanics, administrative staff, and other 'volunteers' donating their time? Are the insurance companies donating their coverage? Are the fuel companies donating fuel? How about the wear and tear on city streets, are the repairs and materials donated to the city? Short answer, no. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation pays Veolia Transportation to operate the buses, and the resident tax payers of Baltimore City fund the Department of Transportation's annual budget.
Folks, it is this mentality which has contributed to the situation where we find ourselves now. Local, State, and Federal spending outpacing receipts. Businesses, families and individuals moving to juristictions where tax burdens and opportunities are balanced to best suit their needs and interests. The longterm trend is that this is not in Baltimore City. A Google search yields the following:
Faced with a combination of City, State, and Federal taxes and regulation, people and businesses are leaving Baltimore City for more promising locales. Increasing the burden on resident taxpayers is not the solution to reversing this trend. And extrapolating to the National perspective, when one listens to another complaining about 'off-shoring' or manufacturing moving out of the country, a contributing factor to this is programs, taxes and regulation like this, that impose a burden on those not receiving benefit.
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In an email to Sean Casey I wrote:
ReplyDelete"Listening to you and Frank Friday morning doing the infomercial for the CCC made me realize why governmental budgets, taxes and personal liberty are in the state they are. The 'free' mentality must be combated where ever it presents itself, else our freedom is, in the long run, doomed as these programs forever expand and intrude on our individual property rights.
I would be encouraged by a discussion Monday morning informing listeners of the true costs associated with the Free Charm City Connector."
Sean responded writing,
ReplyDelete"Todd,
Thanks for your email. Of course, the CCC is not totally free. It is paid for by the taxpayers at some level(fed, state or local). Compare and contrast this to the MTA services also paid for by taxpayers which still charge riders. We will withdraw our IBF endorsement as this is not truly a FREE service.
Sean"
I admire and advocate integrity. Sean has shown his, and I am appreciative.