Comments on: Maybe Jim Graham Was Right? Re: Metro Fare Hike http://malnurturedsnay.net/2010/01/08/maybe-jim-graham-was-right-re-metro-fare-hike/ Mon, 21 May 2012 15:13:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Alex http://malnurturedsnay.net/2010/01/08/maybe-jim-graham-was-right-re-metro-fare-hike/comment-page-1/#comment-225061 Alex Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:39:35 +0000 http://malnurturedsnay.net/?p=6563#comment-225061 Math aside (that gave me a headache), the underlying problem is the silly libertarian notion that public transit ought to be self-financing. Riders aren't the only beneficiaries of Metro -- so are drivers who are relieved of having to deal with thousands of extra cars, and developers who see real estate values go up around stations, and business owners... practically everybody. So everybody should pay. It should be understood that DC, MD, and VA cough up enough tax dollars every year to adequately fund Metro's operations and expansion. Math aside (that gave me a headache), the underlying problem is the silly libertarian notion that public transit ought to be self-financing. Riders aren’t the only beneficiaries of Metro — so are drivers who are relieved of having to deal with thousands of extra cars, and developers who see real estate values go up around stations, and business owners… practically everybody. So everybody should pay. It should be understood that DC, MD, and VA cough up enough tax dollars every year to adequately fund Metro’s operations and expansion.

]]> By: Lusty Reader http://malnurturedsnay.net/2010/01/08/maybe-jim-graham-was-right-re-metro-fare-hike/comment-page-1/#comment-225045 Lusty Reader Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:13:29 +0000 http://malnurturedsnay.net/?p=6563#comment-225045 i also heard that for the 5 cent bag tax, 3 cents are going to cleaning up the mess they have caused int he area, and 2 cents are going into DC's pockets. im afraid the 10 cent metro fare hike would do the same thing. just a shady way to extort more money from us for a serious "high profile" need. i also heard that for the 5 cent bag tax, 3 cents are going to cleaning up the mess they have caused int he area, and 2 cents are going into DC’s pockets. im afraid the 10 cent metro fare hike would do the same thing. just a shady way to extort more money from us for a serious “high profile” need.

]]> By: Left for LeDroit http://malnurturedsnay.net/2010/01/08/maybe-jim-graham-was-right-re-metro-fare-hike/comment-page-1/#comment-225044 Left for LeDroit Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:50:17 +0000 http://malnurturedsnay.net/?p=6563#comment-225044 With one of my parents involved for years in the Federal budgeting process, they early on taught me an old trick popular among government agencies: when budgets are asked to be cut, the agency will propose cutting the most high profile items to cause the most disruption as proof that they cannot afford to cut their budget (when in fact they very well can). The famous example would be a National Park Service cut resulting in a proposal to close the Washington Monument. Of course they could find some useless program elsewhere to cut, but by targeting that which would cause the most public outrage, the agency generates public pressure on the legislature to hold off on budget cuts altogether. Similarly, WMATA's proposal could be a Machiavellian move to stoke public support for fare increases, even when they could find other less disruptive ways to balance the budget. There's no proof that this is happening at WMATA, but it's something to keep in mind. With one of my parents involved for years in the Federal budgeting process, they early on taught me an old trick popular among government agencies: when budgets are asked to be cut, the agency will propose cutting the most high profile items to cause the most disruption as proof that they cannot afford to cut their budget (when in fact they very well can).

The famous example would be a National Park Service cut resulting in a proposal to close the Washington Monument. Of course they could find some useless program elsewhere to cut, but by targeting that which would cause the most public outrage, the agency generates public pressure on the legislature to hold off on budget cuts altogether.

Similarly, WMATA’s proposal could be a Machiavellian move to stoke public support for fare increases, even when they could find other less disruptive ways to balance the budget.

There’s no proof that this is happening at WMATA, but it’s something to keep in mind.

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