Friends,
Our state legislature and the capitol building that houses their bizarre efforts, should clearly be cordoned off from the rest of society. We can instantly rename the facility the Al Lowenthal Center for Severe Mental Health Disorders if you like, or just paint the whole thing black and turn our backs on it. Either way, these cats never fail to amaze (and depress). Here’s today’s story from the L.A. Times (they still print that thing? -ed Yup, but you better hurry.) that details the State Senator’s idea to convince cities to reduce or remove free parking. As you know, parking encourages driving, and driving encourages buying and burning fuel, and that encourages THE DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING WE HOLD DEAR! OMG!!!1!!one!!
Big Al’s premise is simple…
State lawmakers are taking aim at what some of them see as a menace to California’s environment: free parking.
There is too much of it, the legislators say, and it encourages people to drive instead of taking the bus, walking or riding a bike. All that motoring is contributing to traffic jams and pollution, according to state Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), and on Thursday he won Senate approval of a proposal he hopes will prompt cities and businesses to reduce the availability of free parking
So if you’re not following the crazy, this proposal contends that driving also causes traffic, which is a lot like saying that combining bread, peanut butter and jelly causes sandwiches.
Tune your brain caps to 20 and please be seated. Al’s not done…
“Free parking has significant social, economic and environmental costs,” Lowenthal said. “It increases congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.”
But wait, here’s the kook graf:
“It’s nice that we’ve been treated to this luxury,” Lowenthal said. “The problem with free parking is it’s not free.”
Just like freedom!
– bob
I would like to ask Mr. Lowenthal if he will be giving up his free car and free parking at the capitol and the airport, all at taxpayers expense. It would be an example for us all to follow.