Stop the Train Mecklenburg

There is a large group of people in Mecklenburg County who are working together to attempt to repeal the sales tax and stop the horribly overpriced money pit that is "light rail." I've seen the site, and I've pointed it out to people. This irresponsible mismangement of money is one of the reasons I moved OUT of Mecklenburg county (and have urged all productive people to do so as well).

Yesterday, I happened upon a web posting that opposes this effort. Now, I have nothing against people working together to accomplish goals in government -- that's Democracy in action. However, this post by "metro.m" is nothing but pure lies. It really says a lot about someone when they can only oppose your ideas with lies. The post says

This is a petition to eliminate the transit sales tax which funds the buses, express buses, light rail, and commuter rail. Last year this system carried 25 million people.

Lies. Complete and total lies. Absolutely nothing about that statement is true. This so-called "transit tax" was put in place for one, single reason: to build light rail. NONE of the money collected from this tax, as it was passed, was authorized for use on ANY other systems. It is ONLY for the train.

This tax is very important to Charlotte/Mecklenburg's future in that we need more transit options than just the automobile. The people behind this petition apparently don't believe in the benefits of mass transit. They would rather have more roads, more traffic congestion, and more pollution.

More lies. Charlotte has NO "need" of "more transit options." This tax is for ONE thing -- making a light rail train that no one will use. It will cost more to run than it will earn -- it will be an endless, perpetual cost to the city. In addition, there is simply no truth to the idea that adding a train will reduce traffic or pollution AT ALL. Even the uptown supporters of the train have finally realized that and stop claiming it -- it just is not true at all.

A repeal of this tax will cause taxes to rise, not fall, because the city/county will be forced to raise property taxes to cover existing commitments being covered by the transit tax.

Local taxes will also rise because more roads will be needed if the transit system isn't supported and there isn't money from the federal government and state to cover the loss.

Lies again. The tax is for the train. If the tax is repealed, that's a clear message that the voters don't want a train. Therefore, if the government builds a train, they will raise taxes -- TO PAY FOR THE NEW TRAIN THAT NO ONE WANTS.

A repeal of the tax will also cause Charlotte/Mecklenburg to lose billions of dollars in federal and state money which otherwise will go to other cities that are building transit systems.

Billions? Try again. The last time Charlotte asked for more money for the train from the federal government, the feds weren't interested. They've already given all they want to give.

The backers of this petition won't be happy until they make Charlotte want another Detroit. Is that what we want? All cars and no other options? All desirable cities in this world have rail transit.

Incredibly backwards. Detriot stinks BECAUSE of "urban planning" that destroys freedom and property rights -- as the light rail scam does. Detroit has high taxes -- and forcing this train system upon the people of Charlotte WILL cause taxes to go up because someone's going to have to pay to operate this system!

UrbanPlanet recommends that you don't sign this petition and that you inform others not to do so as well.

Because you're afraid of the truth.

You see, the petition doesn't even do ANYTHING! It's a petition TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOTE on the transit tax. The petition doesn't remove the tax, it simply allows the people who are citizens (and plenty of non-citizens, this is NC) to vote to decide whether they WANT a damn train.

What these people, and others, are afraid of is that people will actually say, "You know what? I don't want to pay hundreds of billions of dollars for a train that won't do any good or help anyone do anything." Go check out Stop the Train if you want the facts. Of course, if you're a liberal, you don't want facts, so just continue your whining and complaining and trying to destroy all that is good.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:07 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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