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News & ArtsFriday, December 14, 2012
Transportation The Death of Pierce Transit and Why Voting Is Not Democracy
Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Today, Pierce Transit is meeting to figure out how to reduce its service hours by 53 percent (from roughly 418,000 hours a year to 197,000—and this comes after a recent reduction from 600,000 hours). This is a catastrophe for the county. And it seems no one in power can do anything about it. Supposedly, this is how democracy works. Proposition 1, which would have generated $28 million dollars a year for bus services by raising the sales tax from 6 cents for every $10 spent to 9 cents, failed by only 704 votes (100,943 voters rejected it; 100,239 approved it). More amazing yet, according to Pierce Transit's spokesperson Lars Erickson, 18,000 people simple did not bother to vote on the issue. They just skipped it. The importance of public transportation did not occur to them. A significant part of their region's economy was totally invisible.
But here is the question: Why is transit service a matter for voters in the first place? Any major transportation issue is about democracy, not voting. The meaning of this is made clear by what has just happened in Tacoma. As you can see, the more democratic option would have been to simply impose the small tax on the citizens, raise the needed money, and keep transit running normally for all citizens. But in this case, voting proved to be the less democratic option. Voting is not democracy; it is only a part of the institution but not the institution itself. (Indeed, as minority groups well know, democracy sometimes has to protect some of its citizens from voters.) The city of Tacoma needs to get the voters out of the way and normalize this terrible situation.
1
The framers did find it wise to create a layer of representation so that decisions could be made by a small group of citizens focused on governance for a time rather than by the general populate directly. Our representatives are increasingly abrogating their responsibility by calling for public votes on issues rather than making the hard decisions themselves.
The result for Tacoma is most likely going to be ugly. People will be unable to commute to their jobs. Traffic will increase as former transit commuters shift to automobiles. But, perhaps it will serve as a case study for the rest of the state to see why transit is important.
The result for Tacoma is most likely going to be ugly. People will be unable to commute to their jobs. Traffic will increase as former transit commuters shift to automobiles. But, perhaps it will serve as a case study for the rest of the state to see why transit is important.
2
It should not be Pierce County Transit, it should be Tacoma Transit. Transit makes sense in dense areas, not sprawling counties. By having these large County or regional bodies doing transit you create a need to provide service to areas where it makes little sense.
A City focused transit system could still serve outer areas, but would not have the pressure to do it just because. Instead they could do it based on demand.
Same with King County. It always pissed me off seeing empty buses heading out the middle of nowhere while the 48 was standing room only.
A City focused transit system could still serve outer areas, but would not have the pressure to do it just because. Instead they could do it based on demand.
Same with King County. It always pissed me off seeing empty buses heading out the middle of nowhere while the 48 was standing room only.
4
@1 Our representatives are increasingly abrogating their responsibility by calling for public votes on issues rather than making the hard decisions themselves.
True. It does seem to be very often an act of cowardice. Oh, we didn't raise your taxes/lower your services, it's just the will of the people!
@2 Plus, people in less dense outlying areas are more likely to vote against transit funding.
True. It does seem to be very often an act of cowardice. Oh, we didn't raise your taxes/lower your services, it's just the will of the people!
@2 Plus, people in less dense outlying areas are more likely to vote against transit funding.
5
@4 Of course they are. They don't and will never use it. It is near impossible to provide reliable convenient transit to rural areas.
6
But here is the question: Why is transit service a matter for voters in the first place?
There is nothing more democratic than the power to tax and spend. Take that away from the people and their representatives, and there is no self-government. It's called "taxation without representation," and it was the catalyst for the revolution that produced the United States.
History: It's what's for breakfast.
There is nothing more democratic than the power to tax and spend. Take that away from the people and their representatives, and there is no self-government. It's called "taxation without representation," and it was the catalyst for the revolution that produced the United States.
History: It's what's for breakfast.
7
Prop 1 passed in Tacoma and Lakewood and failed everywhere else in PT's service district. I'm just glad I don't have to use the bus to go to night classes anymore, since that option isn't available to UWT (and PLU and UPS) students now.
8
@6 why are you so fucking stupid? Who is talking about taking taxation power away from democratically-elected representatives? Besides Tim Eyeman..
9
#8, then you should be agitating to get rid of the initiative process. Of course, this was a Progressive invention to protect the people against unresponsive state and local governments, but there's that history again. Funny how today's fake-o "progressives" as just as ignorant of history as, say, Sarah Palin.
10
@9 We all know the history of the initiative process in Washington, but just because something made sense in a different time, that does not mean it makes sense today.
Shit changes.
Shit changes.
11
Fine, #10, then agitate to eliminate voter initiatives. Get the state Democratic Party on board, and watch Washington State turn red.
12
Why not raise the fares? Make the buses more expensive during peak times, just like they're doing on the S.R. 520 bridge, and eliminate service late at night and on weekends. A lot of mass transit is unnecessary, and a bunch of it is a subsidy to the well-off.
Here in King County, the average bus commuter has a household income of $70,000 yet those fares are heavily subsidized. Fares should be doubled on bus commuters, to reflect the cost and value of the service.
Beyond that, my understanding of the Pierce County referendum is that the proponents weren't just seeking funding of existing service, but expansion. Obviously, they overreached. If you look at the last several transit votes around the state, they failed -- Seattle's $60 car cabs, Pierce County, and Clark County. And statewide, every county in the state voted for I-1185, including King County.
The fake-o "progressives" in Seattle refuse to get the message. How many times do you have to be told? The people in this state have had it with tax increases. You can kick and scream and whine and stamp your precious little "progressive" feet all you want, but that's the reality here.
Hey, children, there's always California. You like being taxed out the wazoo? Move there!
Here in King County, the average bus commuter has a household income of $70,000 yet those fares are heavily subsidized. Fares should be doubled on bus commuters, to reflect the cost and value of the service.
Beyond that, my understanding of the Pierce County referendum is that the proponents weren't just seeking funding of existing service, but expansion. Obviously, they overreached. If you look at the last several transit votes around the state, they failed -- Seattle's $60 car cabs, Pierce County, and Clark County. And statewide, every county in the state voted for I-1185, including King County.
The fake-o "progressives" in Seattle refuse to get the message. How many times do you have to be told? The people in this state have had it with tax increases. You can kick and scream and whine and stamp your precious little "progressive" feet all you want, but that's the reality here.
Hey, children, there's always California. You like being taxed out the wazoo? Move there!
13
The city of Tacoma should put gated barriers at the city boundaries and force people who live outside to walk while within city boundaries.
Problem solved.
Problem solved.
15
@12 - According to your logic, I-5 should be tolled so that only the drivers who use it pay for it. But that's not how cities work. If you use I-5 once a year or every day, you are taxed the same for its upkeep.
Is that fair? Absolutely. Because you benefit from I-5 even if you don't use it. Without it, traffic would be hell on the roads you do use.
Now - see that rush-hour articulated bus that's standing room only? That's what would be 70 cars taking up the room of three. You can't tell me that only the people on that bus benefit.
Public transportation is infrastructure, just like highways. And people who don't use buses benefit from their reduction of traffic, so they should pay for them, too.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be a user fee, but it's unfair to charge only bus passengers when all benefit. You want to see your commute go to shit? Charge bus users so much that they drive instead.
Is that fair? Absolutely. Because you benefit from I-5 even if you don't use it. Without it, traffic would be hell on the roads you do use.
Now - see that rush-hour articulated bus that's standing room only? That's what would be 70 cars taking up the room of three. You can't tell me that only the people on that bus benefit.
Public transportation is infrastructure, just like highways. And people who don't use buses benefit from their reduction of traffic, so they should pay for them, too.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be a user fee, but it's unfair to charge only bus passengers when all benefit. You want to see your commute go to shit? Charge bus users so much that they drive instead.
16
Sorry, but S.R. 520 is tolled, and the fake-o "progressives" are getting ready to toll the I-90 bridge. The waterfront tunnel will be tolled, and the corrupt mayor and Seattle city council want to have time of day tolls on city streets. So if you want buses, you can pay the full freight. If not, then walk. See if I give a fuck.
18
My favorite example of the issues behind this post is from 1997 when King County voters rejected a property-tax levy intended to fund Medic One.
Medic One fate again may lie in levy vote
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.c…
In an amazing display of short-sightedness and self-interest, the electorate voted to defund Emergency Medical Services. Classic.
Medic One fate again may lie in levy vote
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.c…
In an amazing display of short-sightedness and self-interest, the electorate voted to defund Emergency Medical Services. Classic.
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