One word.
Bullshit.
Today, the Arizona Republic site posted this story.
Traffic cameras not profitable for Arizona cities
The story tells us how traffic-cameras in 10 communities generated more than $20 million but cost the cities, towns and counties more to administer than they collected.
Shockingly, the cameras were removed.
The cameras, both stationary and those operated from mobile vans, make plenty of money for the companies that operate them. Redflex Traffic Systems and Scottsdale-based American Traffic Solutions combined earned more than $7 million from 10 urban Arizona municipalities last year, a fraction of their nationwide customer base.
The cameras also make money for the state through an 84 percent surcharge on tickets issued by cities, towns and counties. Those surcharges brought in more than $7 million last year on speed-camera tickets alone, even though the state ended its freeway camera program in 2010.
That money pays for a variety of programs, from training law-enforcement officers and treating juvenile drug addicts to the state Clean Elections Fund.
The state freeway photo program drew intense backlash because it was widely perceived as a revenue generator, not a safety enhancement.
Guess what? The perception was true? IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE FRIGGIN' MONEY!
Gee, Mr. DiscConnected blogger guy...does that mean our government was lying to us?
You got it!
Every time you vote for a silly new program that they push down your throat (or up your behind), sugar-coating it as for your own good, you take one more giant step towards the State running your life by giving up one more freedom that people have given their lives so that you'd have it.
And the government counts on the fact that you're too stupid to know they're doing it and too lazy to do anything about it anyway.
Remember Paul Revere? The Boston Tea Parties? Those people got a lot more enraged over a lot less. Our freedom is so severely curtailed that our Founding Fathers must wonder why the hell they ever bothered.
And don't get me wrong-I am not advocating speeding into busloads of little children.
But we already have laws against unsafe driving-anybody remember vehicular manslaughter?
All we need to do is enforce them.
If we really feel the need to tell adults it's unsafe to text and drive, can't we just round all these morons up and ship them off to that section of Texas that's on the other side of the fence?
Get 'em out of the gene pool!
If this is about revenue, just call it what it is and raise taxes.
So the next time you pass a speeding camera, don't slow down.
Speed up...
Give 'em your best smile...
...And flip 'em THE BIRD!
You sure as hell nailed this one, Buddy!
ReplyDeleteIt's all a load of crap. By and large, law enforcement is about generating revenue; it's really a form of taxation under a different name (sort of like "inflation").
When the shit REALLY hits the fan and you REALLY need law enforcement officers to protect you, they won't be there. Just ask someone who lived through "The Rodney King Riots" in Los Angeles. (Pssst. That would be ME.)
>>...If we really feel the need to tell adults it's unsafe to text and drive, can't we just round all these morons up and ship them off to that section of Texas that's on the other side of the fence? Get 'em out of the gene pool!
I like how you're able to slip in a remark about our open border problem in the guise of a comment about textin' 'n' drivin'. Good work, Bro!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Wait'll ya read the article in the new issue of TNA about the "finished" border fence...especially the part near Brownsville, Texas.
ReplyDeleteMore lies from USAP!
They had those cameras here in L.A. as well along with a lot of controversy and now I guess they're removing them--and it has nothing to do with California's boycott of Arizona. In fact, that dumb boycott went kind of bust.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out