As part of the Obama Adminsitration and the Spendocrats in Congress's ongoing program of micromanaging your life, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as said he wants to "coerce people out of their cars."
"Coerce" is an interesting word to use. Look it up. According to Mirriam-Webster it means: "1) to restrain or dominate by force, 2) to compel to an act or choice, 3) to achieve by force or threat."
So you can read Mr. LaHood as saying he wants to force you out of your car. Hope you have good public transportation where you live.
As Gabriel Roth writes in today's Wall Street Journal the Spendocrats are already working on this:
First there was the "Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009," introduced in May by Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. Next, in June, came the "Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009," introduced by James Oberstar (D., Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Messrs. Rockefeller and Lautenberg aim to "reduce per capita motor vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis." Mr. Oberstar wants to establish a federal "Office of Livability" to ensure that "States and metropolitan areas achieve progress towards national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals." Which means changes in your lifestyle: People would be "coerced," in effect, to live in less desirable places or work in less desirable jobs; shop in fewer and closer stores; see their doctor less frequently; visit fewer family members and friends. Not to mention go for less pleasure drives, vacation less by car, and other pleasant things the automobile allows. How would the government reduce your driving? One of three ways according to Mr. Roth: 1) raise gasoline taxes so gas costs $4/gallon, 2) not improve roads so that travel time takes longer, and 3) and least likely, give drivers some better alternative to driving. That's not going to be public transportation as it is now configured by any stretch of the imagination. But that is what they are offering. That and the politically expedient option #2: not fixing roads. Then you'll be "forced" out of your car and onto a city bus next to a proselytizing Jehovah's Witness that only bathes in odd months.
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