Detroit & the burbs coming together...over transit...WOW

[Crumbled_pavement]

Yah. I'll see it when I believe it.

[bailey]

Yah. I'll see it when I believe it.

+1. Out state and exurban teabaggers hold the purse strings in the legislature. This is no closer to happening than it was 5 years ago.

[Detroitnerd]

+1. Out state and exurban teabaggers hold the purse strings in the legislature. This is no closer to happening than it was 5 years ago.

Exurbans, perhaps, but when only a region is taxed, it's difficult to argue that outstate forces can meddle overmuch.

[bailey]

Exurbans, perhaps, but when only a region is taxed, it's difficult to argue that outstate forces can meddle overmuch.

The laws that need to be enacted are only done so if the legislature takes them up... which again, is controlled by representatives from Teabagistan who are anti-tax and anti mass transit in all it's forms where ever they are located.

[Detroitnerd]

The laws that need to be enacted are only done so if the legislature takes them up... which again, is controlled by representatives from Teabagistan who are anti-tax and anti mass transit in all it's forms where ever they are located.

So if we want to set up a regional authority in metro Detroit to enact taxes only here and improve our quality of life, they will refuse to bring those measures to a vote because ... of a rigid ideological opposition to taxes across the board? That's not democracy. That's downright ridiculous.

Perhaps metro Detroit should secede from Michigan -- just temporarily. Say a trial separation of 10 years. I wonder just how well those roads would be maintained all over the state without the economic activity generated in these four counties ...

[Hermod]

So if we want to set up a regional authority in metro Detroit to enact taxes only here and improve our quality of life, they will refuse to bring those measures to a vote because ... of a rigid ideological opposition to taxes across the board? That's not democracy. That's downright ridiculous.

It is democracy. The results of democracy depend on how you are "districted". If you have a group of citizens that wants something and they are part of a larger political entity in which the majority do not want that thing, it doesn't happen.

If, say New Hampshire were a part of Massachusetts, much of the political and fiscal uniqueness of New Hampshire would not exist.

To date, the only successful split of one state from another was the splitting of West Virginia from Virginia and I think we would agree that was a "special case".

For what it is worth, I think that when a metro area reaches a certain size, it should be allowed to petition Congress to be split off from the state where it is located. I don't think that Congress would go along with it since you would be taking a lot of barely blue states and creating a solid blue state and a solid red state from the splitting off of a metro area.

[Detroitnerd]

It is democracy. The results of democracy depend on how you are "districted". If you have a group of citizens that wants something and they are part of a larger political entity in which the majority do not want that thing, it doesn't happen.

I thought you only posted here to shout huzzahs for the free market and sprawl. Now you're going to lecture on democracy too? Zzzzzz ...

[RO_Resident]

It is democracy. The results of democracy depend on how you are "districted". If you have a group of citizens that wants something and they are part of a larger political entity in which the majority do not want that thing, it doesn't happen.

If, say New Hampshire were a part of Massachusetts, much of the political and fiscal uniqueness of New Hampshire would not exist.

To date, the only successful split of one state from another was the splitting of West Virginia from Virginia and I think we would agree that was a "special case".

For what it is worth, I think that when a metro area reaches a certain size, it should be allowed to petition Congress to be split off from the state where it is located. I don't think that Congress would go along with it since you would be taking a lot of barely blue states and creating a solid blue state and a solid red state from the splitting off of a metro area.

What, no love for Maine that split from Massachusetts as part of the Missouri Compromise?

[stasu1213]

+1. Out state and exurban teabaggers hold the purse strings in the legislature. This is no closer to happening than it was 5 years ago.

Don't forget the corporations in this town who are probably paying off the legislators also to throw a monkey wrench in this plan

[313WX]

Yah. I'll see it when I believe it.

As always...