Slog - Comments on Erica Barnett = Ralph Nader http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader ...or so reasons one of our readers. We got dozens of (mostly) thoughtful letters in response to Erica's call for a double-no vote on the viaduct. Only a few of the responses fit in the print edition, but you can read a heap of them here.... Copyright 2008 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:16:18 -0800 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:51:11 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Max Solomon opinons = assholes.

nearly everyone who has a quibble with erica's article bases their argument on fear. "but what about the truck-based jobs?" when gas is $5/gallon, those will be the only vehicles on the road.

enough fear-based civic planning.

]]> Max Solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651194 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651194 City Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:06:47 -0800 Comment by Creek #1 Max -

Could you please reword your comment? I have no clue what the point or argument is.

]]> Creek http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651238 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651238 City Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:34:23 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I'm glad to see most people got my point that, with the growth (double population by 2040) in Seattle, we have to start building real transit - bus, streetcars, monorails (Sky Train, whatever), light rail - no matter what.

Just think, if we'd voted for the Green Line, we'd be done already.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651260 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651260 City Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:55:37 -0800 Comment by MvB The Nader analogy cracks me up. I'm not sure which would be the "Dubya" choice, but I don't recall that Al Gore has been clamoring for maintaining highway capacity recently. My guess is that the surface + transit option is *exactly* what he'd be flogging.

]]> MvB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651272 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651272 City Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:08:09 -0800 Comment by Fnarf $5 per gallon of gas is still pretty cheap. There would be squawking, but it wouldn't actually change behavior that much. As a fraction of people's earnings, in constant dollars, gas is not far from its historically low price. A gallon today costs about 10 cents in 1949 dollars, or about a third of the actual cost in 1949, adjusting for average wages.

I also note that worldwide 380 new car factories building 100,000 cars each will be opened in the next decade, mostly in China and India. That doesn't include increased capacity at existing plants. The car boom has just barely begun.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651321 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651321 City Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:53:45 -0800 Comment by eric 5.00 or 7.00 or 9.00 a gallon - trucking will pass on the cost - sheer need

just how do you think every item in your house, in your office, in any store, in any school, in every GOD dAMNED FUCKING place (this is Slog) get there? Coolie rickshaw? Pack mule? Bike boy systems?

NO......

TRUCKS

Back to planet earth, transportation is here to stay. Human kind has not looked back since the invention of the wheel. Duh, just where did some of these people learn critical thinking.

Tell us oh wise Fnarf. Why all the dull wits on these issues?

Does Erica really believe because she can walk, bike or bus to work - that 200,000 job holders in the region can do the same --- geez

I voted rebuild..... quickly

And I will vote for some new very steep taxes for more mass transit.....

by the way - Flex Car is great system to help not own, and drive on a measured schedule


]]> eric http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651864 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651864 City Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:12:04 -0800 Comment by Sherwin #6 Jeez - everybody knows that stuff comes from the Internets.

]]> Sherwin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651953 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651953 City Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:36:37 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I for one was jazzed when I got a mailer from the Sierra Club openly espousing the No-No vote - even though I voted yes for the Viaduct last week. Good to see enviro groups standing up for the correct position.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651995 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c651995 City Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:52:52 -0800 Comment by Mickymse The funny thing is one of the early routes under consideration for the monorail was along Alaskan Way.

The main reason for removing it from consideration? To avoid getting caught up in the political mess over deciding what to do about replacing it.

Perhaps it's time to revisit rapid transit there?

]]> Mickymse http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c652196 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/erica_barnett_ralph_nader#c652196 City Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:51:11 -0800