en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/151653 Comments by avacadoinacan http://www.komonews.com/news/national/GOP-Voters-will-have-final-say-on-health-care-law-161002265.html?clmob=y#IDComment393500561 Considering the current Senate rules for holding up legislation, saying that the Democrats "control" congress is laughable. Anything less than 100 Democrats in the Senate isn't "control" when any one senator can stop any bill. The Republicans have repeatedly refused to negotiate, compromise, or find consensus since day one of Obama's term. The only thing they've done is stuck to their plan to make Obama a one term president not matter what it takes. They've willingly kept us in a recession purely for their own political gain. Mitch McConnel and friends are scumbags ruining the lives of decent Americans simply to put a few more lobbying dollars in their pockets and score another term. Sun, 1 Jul 2012 19:55:22 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/GOP-Voters-will-have-final-say-on-health-care-law-161002265.html?clmob=y#IDComment393500561 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374273164 You don't like some of the stuff the government spends money on, well tough cookies! I'd rather that not one dime of my taxes go to protecting monopolies or funding defense contractors or to give tax breaks to churches, but you know, there's not much I can do about that. Like it or not, but the rest of society also has interests, and they may not alway align with yours, but you have to accept it anyways. Thats the price of living in an advanced civil society. Your entire position of "I don't personally care for it, so nobody should" smacks of selfish ignorance typical of a child. Tue, 5 Jun 2012 05:05:17 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374273164 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374112468 The article is about Seattle planning new bike improvements. The bulk of the comments on here are to the effect of "duh, bikes don't pay taxes, why should taxes pay for bike stuff". I'm pointing out the idiocy of those comments by pointing out that bike riders absolutly pay their fair share, and if anything pay more than they get back in bike infrastructure. Forgive me that this is soo confusing to understand, let me break it down: Roads are funded through taxes. State roads are funded through gas taxes, license tabs, and other state taxes. Seattle City roads are funded through property taxes. 3% of the Seattle road money goes to bike improvements. More than 3% of Seattle rides a bike at least once in a while. 100% of people in Seattle pay property taxes in one way or another. More than 3% of the people in Seattle are getting only 3% of the transportation budget, I'd say that's paying more than they're getting back. You say you want 0% of your tax dollars going to bike improvements. You say bike improvements should be paid using tab and license fees. I say what about the people who don't drive who'd say the same thing; that they want 0% of their tax dollars to go to NON bike or pedestrian improvements. I say that it's unfair for the city to tax bikes with licence fees when they're not also taxing cars as well. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 23:54:48 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374112468 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374077996 I'm not getting off topic. People who don't drive or cycle still have to pay property taxes and are therefor paying for roads they don't use just like you're paying for bike lanes you don't use. Should we say the same thing about road funding for cars; that only people who drive should pay for the roads? If so you'd be looking at a massive drop in roads funding. Believe it or not, not everyone drives a car in Seattle, but they still have to cough up money for the roads, how do you think they feel? Mon, 4 Jun 2012 22:41:03 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment374077996 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373928905 You don't understand, they already do pay for these improvements. The cost of this is 3% of the roads budget. Way more than 3% of the people in Seattle rides bikes and pay those taxes. Therefor, they are already paying more than their fair share. You know who else is paying more than their fair share, people who don't own cars at all, they still have to pay property taxes and pay for the roads, yet they don't even drive. You know who else pays more, People who don't drive or bike, why should they have to subsidize your roads? Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:19:08 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373928905 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373924474 You see them as a target? What, like you're just waiting for the chance to murder somebody? The fact that anybody would vote up that comment makes me sick to my stomach. You people need to get a grip on reality. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:11:02 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373924474 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373923167 Such broad generalizations. I think that people who drive cars are inattentive, impatient, lunatics who actively seek out confrontation. They have zero regard for human life as they pilot their multi-ton murder weapons around all the while arrogantly railing against the slightest annoyance or delay like pathetic spoiled children. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:08:35 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373923167 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373919428 Funny, as a frequent pedestrian, I'd say the same thing about cars. Ask me how many times I've almost been hit this week? Guess how many of those time were bike riders? Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:02:30 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373919428 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373913005 License fees and tabs are STATE taxes, they go to STATE roads and highways. Seattle streets (which is what the article is talking about) are paid for with property taxes. Tell me, what about the people in Seattle who don't own a car yet still pay property taxes either directly or through rent and higher prices for goods. What about them? They don't drive at all yet still pay for all the roads, are they not paying their fair share??? Besides, what are you really suggesting? That we force little Sally to cough up her lifetimes worth of allowance so she can take her little bike with training wheels out for a spin on the Burke-Gilman? Mon, 4 Jun 2012 17:50:46 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373913005 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373571870 They do pay for it. Bike improvements are only 3% of the roads budget, do you think that less than 3% of people in Seattle ride a bike? Mon, 4 Jun 2012 05:30:06 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373571870 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373571146 Everyone pays property taxes in one way or another, whether it's directly, or through higher rent or higher prices for products in stores (which in turn have to pay their taxes). Mon, 4 Jun 2012 05:28:02 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373571146 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373570372 State highways are funded using the gas, tab and other taxes. The roads in the city of Seattle, which is what this article is talking about, are primarily funded through money collected in property taxes. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 05:25:46 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373570372 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373569709 $9mil out of $300mil is 3%. Are you saying that less than 3% of the people who pay property taxes in the city of Seattle own a bike? Because I think you're WAY off the mark on that one. If anything, Cyclists pay MORE than their share for road funding. Heck, I'm betting more than 3% of Seattleites only own a bike, and no car. Not to mention all the people who also have both a car and a bike, and maybe even a bike for their kid. I think you need to come down off your high horse and face facts. Cyclists are subsidizing your driving habit. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 05:23:57 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373569709 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373495845 Roads in Seattle are funded through property taxes. Cyclists pay property taxes. Therefor, cyclists are paying their fair share. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 02:27:58 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373495845 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494902 Roads in Seattle are funded through property taxes. Cyclists pay property taxes. Therefor, cyclists are paying their fair share. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 02:25:29 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494902 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494748 Roads in Seattle are funded through property taxes. Cyclists pay property taxes. Therefor, cyclists are paying their fair share. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 02:25:01 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494748 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494061 I don't know how many times it has to be said. The city of Seattle funds road improvements and maintenance largely from money collected through property taxes. Therefor, cyclists are already paying their fair share. If anything they are paying more than their fair share since most of their road taxes are going to fix the roads that cars and trucks damage. If you're worried about people paying for use, why aren't you screaming just as loudly about pedestrians needing to pay their fair share for building sidewalks??? Unless you're somehow also making the point that all cyclists are homeless and don't in any way shape or form pay property taxes, then you should stop complaining. Mon, 4 Jun 2012 02:23:14 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-wants-to-attract-willing-but-wary-bikers-156912325.html#IDComment373494061 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Woman-critically-injured-when-struck-by-car-near-Safeco-Field-147990875.html#IDComment342140389 So, what do the cops say when you ask? Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:00:46 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Woman-critically-injured-when-struck-by-car-near-Safeco-Field-147990875.html#IDComment342140389 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Battle-over-Obama-health-law-reaches-high-court-144147615.html#IDComment324837462 Why must she recuse herself? What is her conflict of interest? And how does that same logic not also apply to Justice Thomas? Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:06:20 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Battle-over-Obama-health-law-reaches-high-court-144147615.html#IDComment324837462 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Battle-over-Obama-health-law-reaches-high-court-144147615.html#IDComment324835739 "When will Komo report these finding?" Probably as soon as they become true. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:03:13 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Battle-over-Obama-health-law-reaches-high-court-144147615.html#IDComment324835739