this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2025
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Fuck Cars

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A place to discuss problems of car centric infrastructure or how it hurts us all. Let's explore the bad world of Cars!

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[–] PieMePlenty@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

A lot of people dont seem to realize, a road is living infrastructure. It needs to be maintained in order to stay usable. You dont build a road and it just stays there forever. Its a service, not a one time purchase. Modern societies rely on this service to keep them running. Its not freedom to go anywhere without big government dictating where you can go. Its a specific, constantly updating and repairing living network - all controlled by the government.

Train tracks are the same, they just fill a more specific role. And AFAIK, here at least, if you buy a train, you can ride the rails too. A transportation engineer told me once, if more people bought trains, the government would be forced to lay down more track. Its a funny thought but in that sense, roads and train tracks both ultimately serve the people.

how much tax is there on train ownership overthere?

[–] Initiateofthevoid@lemmy.dbzer0.com 86 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Ah, but you see, drivers have the freedom to go the direction they want at any time! Like turning onto an on-ramp. Or off at an off-ramp. Then you can turn at designated intersections at specific times, as long as you are not impeded by one-way, no left turn, no u-turn, etc. Then you can park your car wherever you want, as long as there are places to park your car close enough to your destination, and as long as you pay any fees for parking in high-demand areas or get permission to park there.

As opposed to trains and buses where you can only get on at a specific place... or off at a specific place. Then you can only walk in literally any direction, provided you are not impeded by the flow of cars.

Where's the freedom in that?

[–] gndagreborn@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Saw a TikTok on the Saturn ad that posed how inefficient car transport is when scaled with large populations. Basically, if you remove the body of the car and have people walk on those same roads, they are just taking up so much space. Traffic is horrible even though there is plenty of space between people. The comments section lacks media literacy in the most basic sense. Either they were willfully ignorant, or just outright stupid.

All the comments were like "doesn't this prove cars are the most efficient form of transport?"

Americans truly need to visit Tokyo, or really any city outside the US that HAS ACTUAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.

I live in Houston, the worst possible car centric nightmare and I get nearly killed every other day. It's gotten to the point where you don't even flinch when someone almost rams you in a head on because these near misses happen all the time.

I am so fucking sick of cars.

[–] tormeh@discuss.tchncs.de 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

And the whining when motorists actually have to pay for some of the roads they use is unreal: https://youtube.com/watch?v=I02i-ddf4Ro

[–] MummysLittleBloodSlut@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The government should just call them freedom roads and say letting people use it for free would be socialism

[–] SnarkoPolo@lemm.ee 19 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I've known libertarians who were in favor of privatizing the infrastructure. They may get their wish.

[–] frank@sopuli.xyz 16 points 1 day ago

I was shooting heroin and reading “The Fountainhead” in the front seat of my privately owned police cruiser when a call came in. I put a quarter in the radio to activate it. It was the chief. “Bad news, detective. We got a situation.” “What? Is the mayor trying to ban trans fats again?” “Worse. Somebody just stole four hundred and forty-seven million dollars’ worth of bitcoins.” The heroin needle practically fell out of my arm. “What kind of monster would do something like that? Bitcoins are the ultimate currency: virtual, anonymous, stateless. They represent true economic freedom, not subject to arbitrary manipulation by any government. Do we have any leads?” “Not yet. But mark my words: we’re going to figure out who did this and we’re going to take them down … provided someone pays us a fair market rate to do so.” “Easy, chief,” I said. “Any rate the market offers is, by definition, fair.” He laughed. “That’s why you’re the best I got, Lisowski. Now you get out there and find those bitcoins.” “Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m on it.” I put a quarter in the siren. Ten minutes later, I was on the scene. It was a normal office building, strangled on all sides by public sidewalks. I hopped over them and went inside. “Home Depot™ Presents the Police!®” I said, flashing my badge and my gun and a small picture of Ron Paul. “Nobody move unless you want to!” They didn’t. “Now, which one of you punks is going to pay me to investigate this crime?” No one spoke up. “Come on,” I said. “Don’t you all understand that the protection of private property is the foundation of all personal liberty?” It didn’t seem like they did. “Seriously, guys. Without a strong economic motivator, I’m just going to stand here and not solve this case. Cash is fine, but I prefer being paid in gold bullion or autographed Penn Jillette posters.” Nothing. These people were stonewalling me. It almost seemed like they didn’t care that a fortune in computer money invented to buy drugs was missing. I figured I could wait them out. I lit several cigarettes indoors. A pregnant lady coughed, and I told her that secondhand smoke is a myth. Just then, a man in glasses made a break for it. “Subway™ Eat Fresh and Freeze, Scumbag!®” I yelled. Too late. He was already out the front door. I went after him. “Stop right there!” I yelled as I ran. He was faster than me because I always try to avoid stepping on public sidewalks. Our country needs a private-sidewalk voucher system, but, thanks to the incestuous interplay between our corrupt federal government and the public-sidewalk lobby, it will never happen. I was losing him. “Listen, I’ll pay you to stop!” I yelled. “What would you consider an appropriate price point for stopping? I’ll offer you a thirteenth of an ounce of gold and a gently worn ‘Bob Barr ‘08’ extra-large long-sleeved men’s T-shirt!” He turned. In his hand was a revolver that the Constitution said he had every right to own. He fired at me and missed. I pulled my own gun, put a quarter in it, and fired back. The bullet lodged in a U.S.P.S. mailbox less than a foot from his head. I shot the mailbox again, on purpose. “All right, all right!” the man yelled, throwing down his weapon. “I give up, cop! I confess: I took the bitcoins.” “Why’d you do it?” I asked, as I slapped a pair of Oikos™ Greek Yogurt Presents Handcuffs® on the guy. “Because I was afraid.” “Afraid?” “Afraid of an economic future free from the pernicious meddling of central bankers,” he said. “I’m a central banker.” I wanted to coldcock the guy. Years ago, a central banker killed my partner. Instead, I shook my head. “Let this be a message to all your central-banker friends out on the street,” I said. “No matter how many bitcoins you steal, you’ll never take away the dream of an open society based on the principles of personal and economic freedom.” He nodded, because he knew I was right. Then he swiped his credit card to pay me for arresting him.

[–] j5906@feddit.org 8 points 1 day ago

Reminds me of an article I read today: On german Autobahn there are cool signs here and there about the region e.g. beautiful landmarks. These signs used to cost 3000-4000€, but since Andreas Scheuer (think about him like a bitch for corporations) privatized the facility responsible for them, the cost has risen to 70000€ per sign and know it seems like they are getting abandoned.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

It always comes down to the Austrian School. One of the worst things ever.

[–] Zexks@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I was looking for this. This meme is not the own the author thinks it is. The people who follow this absolutely want to privatize that government road.

[–] SnarkoPolo@lemm.ee 17 points 1 day ago

Two hours, one-way to work is patriotic! What's good for the oil industry is good for Murka. Besides, Frank Freeway has to show his manhood by driving a giant truck that he doesn't need.