Comments on: Scary! http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:21:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kevin Carson http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1733 Kevin Carson Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:12:25 +0000 http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1733 Local government could just stop subsidizing sprawl, which presently imposes costs on working people. It might, for example, eliminate zoning barriers to mixed use development in the burbs, and to walkups and other cheap housing downtown, so that the need for commuting is reduced. It might stop funding subsidized road and utility infrastructure to new developments with higher rates on working folks in the older part of town. It might also shift the property tax off of buildings and entirely onto site value, which would lower land prices in the city by reducing the amount of undeveloped land held out of use for speculative purposes. And more compact population distribution doesn't necessarily mean the kind of class divide you mention. One third way might be a return to the kinds of compact railroad suburbs, with their own town centers, that predated the car culture. Local government could just stop subsidizing sprawl, which presently imposes costs on working people. It might, for example, eliminate zoning barriers to mixed use development in the burbs, and to walkups and other cheap housing downtown, so that the need for commuting is reduced. It might stop funding subsidized road and utility infrastructure to new developments with higher rates on working folks in the older part of town. It might also shift the property tax off of buildings and entirely onto site value, which would lower land prices in the city by reducing the amount of undeveloped land held out of use for speculative purposes.

And more compact population distribution doesn’t necessarily mean the kind of class divide you mention. One third way might be a return to the kinds of compact railroad suburbs, with their own town centers, that predated the car culture.

]]> By: Mona http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1726 Mona Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:20:06 +0000 http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1726 Dain: I/we are working on an option to let commenters edit their own replies. Or at least, I'm lobbying for it. Dain: I/we are working on an option to let commenters edit their own replies. Or at least, I’m lobbying for it.

]]> By: Dain http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1725 Dain Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:17:37 +0000 http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1725 I mean standard libertarian <i>reply</i>. I mean standard libertarian reply.

]]> By: Dain http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1724 Dain Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:16:21 +0000 http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/04/22/scary/#comment-1724 A standard libertarian would be to let gas prices rise and...well, people will switch transportation methods out of pure interests of pocket book. This hasn't happened so far, but historically speaking these gas prices are not all that high, and fuel efficiency has been increasing for the average car buyer. If oil reserves are dwindling, then there will be a switch to other fuels. But if they aren't, then carbon pollution may very well mean forcing us to use other fuels. I've heard that contrary to <i>popular</i> fact, oil reserves are not about to run out. Uh oh for libertarianism's invisible hand... As for private initiatives that compliment public transportation, I know that in NYC there were some renegade cabbies and vans operating some time back. Their multiplicty meant a closer approximation to cars and their ability to take you exactly where you want to go (a big drawback to bus lines, etc.), but they were squashed by jealous transit workers and their allies in office. A standard libertarian would be to let gas prices rise and…well, people will switch transportation methods out of pure interests of pocket book. This hasn’t happened so far, but historically speaking these gas prices are not all that high, and fuel efficiency has been increasing for the average car buyer.

If oil reserves are dwindling, then there will be a switch to other fuels. But if they aren’t, then carbon pollution may very well mean forcing us to use other fuels. I’ve heard that contrary to popular fact, oil reserves are not about to run out. Uh oh for libertarianism’s invisible hand…

As for private initiatives that compliment public transportation, I know that in NYC there were some renegade cabbies and vans operating some time back. Their multiplicty meant a closer approximation to cars and their ability to take you exactly where you want to go (a big drawback to bus lines, etc.), but they were squashed by jealous transit workers and their allies in office.

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