Buckeye State Blog - OH-14: Apparently, LaTourette Doesn't Think Gas Prices Are High Enough - Comments

You Are Both Right

Barasky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:22:27 -0700

As a graduate of Ohio University, I can attest to the fact that Southern Ohio is certainly not flat. That fact does nothing to discredit what Bill O'Neill is proposing, which is an investment in Commuter Rail for Northeast Ohio, not Cincinatti, or anywhere in the Southern half of the state.

Southern Ohio not flat

No Vested Interest — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:27:23 -0700

Guess you're not familiar with the beautiful hills of southern Ohio. Too bad. Commuter systems have been proposed for the Greater Cincinnati area, but that old bugaboo- funding- keeps getting in the way. Hamilton Co. department heads have just been warned by their administrators to think cost- and budget-cutting. Neighboring counties are not interested in bearing any of the costs of building or expanding commuter systems. Local and state revenues are going down, due to the recessionary trend in US and competitive world market.

Guess people will have to start living closer to their place of employment. The luxury of a long commute is so 20th century.

well said

RMC2000 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:57:38 -0700

ohio is FLAT and criscrossed with rail lines, i.e., it's perfect for a commuter system. sadly, cleveland's, at least, is a joke. start tearing down abandoned homes and start building some "green" infrastructure

OH-14: Apparently, LaTourette Doesn't Think Gas Prices Are High Enough

Nick D — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:25:30 -0700

Otherwise, he wouldn't be introducing legislation to subsidize commuters' gasoline purchases, thus driving up demand that we don't have the supply to meet, thus RAISING GAS PRICES FURTHER. Fabulous call.

Furthermore, as a taxpayer whose actually considered distance to his workplace when purchasing a home, I am outraged at the idea that my tax dollars could go to subsidize the commutes of those who did not.

A far better approach, as proposed last week by LaTourette's Democratic opponent Bill O'Neill, is to expand commuter rail services. Rail transportation is at least three times as efficient as cars due to the reduced friction of a steel wheel on steel rails. And, the reduction in car usage would reduce air pollution and congestion, and ultimately lower gas prices due to reduced demand.

Instead of advocating that sensible approach, LaTourette is engaging in election year pandering that the good ol' Law of Supply and Demand says has no chance of working.

(H/T Plunderbund for the Graphic)