Acceptable registrations in the queue through March 16 at 11:00a ET have now been activated. Enjoy! -M.W.

Terms of Use have been amended effective October 6, 2019. Make sure you are aware of the new rules! Please visit this thread for details: https://www.mibuzzboard.com/phpBB3/view ... 16&t=48619

Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

Debate and discussion of current events and political issues across the U.S. and throughout the World. Be forewarned -- this forum is NOT for the intellectually weak or those of you with thin skins. Don't come crying to me if you become the subject of ridicule. **Board Administrator reserves the right to revoke posting privileges based on my sole discretion**
User avatar
craig11152
Posts: 2034
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:15 am
Location: Ann Arbor

Re: Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

Post by craig11152 » Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:13 am

Matt wrote: Nope. The taxpayers are an extreme minority share in the university: http://obp.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads ... _16-17.pdf
Sorry Matt you are one of those confused people who can't wrap their heads around the difference between ownership and revenue sources.
Think of a guy who starts a business. Early in the process the business stays afloat because the owner floods it with his own cash. In other words the business loses money. But over time he develops a customer base and after several months/years he turns a profit, he doesn't put in any of his own money. At that point who owns the business him or his customers?

You are confused when you say "The taxpayers are an extreme minority share in the university" as if the University is a publicly traded corporation. Its not. When a billionaire like Stephen Ross donates millions to the University he isn't buying shares of a corporation he is getting his name on a building. That is not the same as owning the building. He doesn't get the keys, pay the electric bill and decorate it to his liking. The tax payers own the building he paid for.
If you voted already or bother to vote today there will be picks for the Wayne State Board of Governors, the Michigan State Board of Trustees, and the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Those choices will show up on every ballot in the whole freaking state. A yooper in Iron River will help make those choices. Why? because we the people of the entire state own those Universities and we elect citizens to run them on our behalf. So the sources of revenue that stream in to run those Universities doesn't change who owns them. The people we elect to represent our interests decide how to spend OUR money regardless of whether OUR money came from tax collection or a Taubman/Ross donation.


While I am on this rant even though the Athletic Department is essentially self sustaining it doesn't change the fact that you and me own the stadium and the helmets the lads strap on.


I no longer directly engage trolls

Circle Seven
Posts: 358
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2015 10:53 am
Location: Fishing somewhere

Re: Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

Post by Circle Seven » Tue Nov 08, 2016 7:07 am

The people here who say "Every other region does it" are comparing apples and oranges. Other areas have a ways to get to work. People working in NYC are coming from Long Island, CT, NJ, VT, etc. Same with Chicago, people using rapid transit live 50 miles away from the job. Like Colonel Flagg said, why take your car to a parking lot to ride a bus another 10-15 miles?

Interesting thing I found out about this proposal. It was put on the ballot by the RTA. There was no signature drive, no elected officials proposed it. The RTA simply announced they are putting it on the ballot. After reading it, I'm thinking "How does a group of unelected bureaucrats get something that jacks up taxes on a ballot?".



User avatar
audiophile
Posts: 8546
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:21 pm
Location: Between 88 and 108 MHz.

Re: Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

Post by audiophile » Tue Nov 08, 2016 8:19 am

That's crazy...


Ask not what your country can do FOR you; ask what they are about to do TO YOU!!

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic