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THREAD. I hear @RicMcIver is planning to introduce toll roads, and people are all mad. I have ideas for how to better privatize our roads, inspired by the #UCP Choice in Education Act. I call my policy Choice in Traffic (h/t to @AdrianaLaGrange). /1
Choice in Traffic realizes that affluent drivers have the right to pay for their own deluxe roads, which they won't have to share with the rest of us. But they shouldn't also have to pay taxes for public roads they're not using. /2
Under Choice in Traffic, funding follows the driver. Wealthy drivers can take 70% of "their share" of road taxes and direct it to the private road builder of their choice. /3
You might say this takes funding away from our public road system and erodes quality, but I prefer to say these drivers are giving the taxpayer a 30% discount! /4
But some drivers want a customized driving experience without extra fees. For these folks, Choice in Traffic offers the option of charter roads. If a community of drivers with special interests like drag racing or motorcycling wants a road just for them, we'll fund it 100%. /5
Of course, some people might think this is exclusionary, but the charter roads are open to all - as long as the road's driving style is "a good fit" for them and they have an appropriate vehicle. /6
"But what about people on the public roads with special needs, like transit riders and cyclists?" you ask. "How can we provide the supports they need to travel safely and efficiently?" Glad you asked. /7
We're totally NOT going to cut funding for cyclists and transit users. And if they say we did, well, everyone knows transit users and cyclists are just lying NDP supporters. If they're unhappy with the public roads, they can set up a charter road too - we removed the cap! /8
Does the above sound inefficient, expensive and inequitable to you? If you wouldn't fund roads like this, why would you fund schools like this? #abed /9
