Rout K (K Road) in the news again

Tauranga motorists could face a doubling in the $1 toll on Route K as the current take falls well short of the revenue raising forecasts, (now theres a surprise - do we get a refund from the consultants?) with traffic volumes less than half of what was expected.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says the toll road, which has debts of nearly $52 million, (holy crap batman!) will be discussed at the council's first meeting of the year next week.

"We've got to look at Route K, the tolling and the funding of it,

Mr Crosby says if it does not become a state highway, Route K's debts could lead to a rates increase.
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This is a perfect example of the importance of property rights.

When nobody owns something (ie council), it is "all care - no responsibility" If this was owned by somebody, they would be busting their backsides to make it work and generate more income.

When nobody (council) owns it - the easy solution is just put rates up - there will be a bit of sqwarking by ratepayers at first, but that will cease when something else is imposed upon them!

Because the Tauranga council are obviously bereft of one single creative idea, let me offer a few.

Dont increase the toll - Halve it! - give people the incentive to use it - dont deter them.

Sell advertising along route K

Hire route K out to sports clubs, car clubs, race meets, blokarts, go carts etc

Make a competition - every week give away a couple of week free passes to road users, which will encourage people to use it - they may WIN something, and God Knows Tauranga people all want something for nothing!

Make it free after 6pm or automate the toll gate and dispense with wages

Sell shares in it

or the best solution of all - SELL IT to the highest bidder ASAP

Do anything except double the toll (unless of course you wish to halve the amount of people using it) and in the morning, I am often only 1 of 2 cars on the road!

In fact I have already started my boycott of it. I would spend $10 a week on the toll road, but through the sheer idiocy of this council I am now using an alternate route, so thats $500 or so dollars they have lost already.

Free Library books! - Since When

As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, you can be assured our society is doomed as long as there are people out there who demand others be forced to pay for things that they want.

They believe they have a right to your your wages, your time and hence your life, which to follow to its natural conclusion means that you are nothing less than a slave, for this is what they demand.

They will of course deny this fact, and make all kind of excuses to justify their demands, generally based on statements like “for the common good,” or “something a civilised society does,” disregarding that the use of force is the most uncivilised action one human being can enact upon another, and of course to which the only excuses are ignorance of, or a total disregard to property rights.

There is no such thing as a “Right” to free library books as a “right” is something you do not have to ask for (or demand others pay for.)

If people are so passionate about free books being available, there are alternatives that involve voluntary interaction and charities and that do not require the compulsory enslavement of others to achieve - they only require a little work and dedication, but it’s just far easier to place that burden upon a bunch of sitting ducks (ratepayers) who are unable to remove themselves from the sights of  their gun.

A free library is a good and noble idea - the way some people wish to achieve it is not - think again

Kylie:
Where do you think the money comes from to let you borrow books for free?
Yes, we are in a recession - some people are struggling to buy food, while the council takes money from them by force, so that you can borrow a book for free - How is that fair?

ROSEMARY: (Who says rates are too high already)
You are correct - Council could reduce rates immediately by not forcing ratepayers to pay for books, art galleries, and all other non essential things and let people spend their own money on things that are important to them.


maybe the council should not take it from people and let them spend it on things