Caution: No Stops for Miles ... and Miles

[damntexdem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/opinion/l11rest.html?ref=opinion

Interesting letters about no potty stops on Arizona interstates. Particularly the one from a Graham King:
'At last, a state agency with the courage to adopt right-wing principles. We need less government, not more government. Why should taxpayers be subsidizing those rest stops? Private enterprise should step in, build toilets that are accessible from the highway and charge an appropriate fee. Competition in a free market will ensure that patrons do not overpay.'

I have submitted a reply:

"With regard to the letter from Graham King, on “Caution: No Stops for Miles,” March 11, 2010, my first thought was that it was a parody; but I concluded that it was indeed a reflection of the anti-government, Tea Party mentality. Rather than point out the absurdity of the position, I would ask only that drivers reflect on it during long drives on interstate highways, especially as certain nagging symptoms appear. I will note, rather, that the letter illustrates that the Tea Party movement should be more accurately renamed: as the Pee Tardy movement – but always remember that tea is a diuretic."

(And, yes, I know that Mr. King did not identify as a Tea Party advocate -- but the 'Pee Tardy' label was just too appropriate to not apply.)

[BrklynLiberal]

1. How about they reflect on NOT HAVING ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS??

Just who do these anti-government wackos think built the highways...little elves that come to work at night when no one is looking?

[damntexdem]

8. Oh, no, no, no! The elevated highways were built by very, very tall elves.

;-)

And it's not done at night when no one is looking, either. It's in the daytime when I'm trying to drive through the construction zone.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. ROTFLMAO!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Thanks for the enlightenment...

[Brickbat]

2. Because yeah, I'd much rather bring my kids and myself into a gas-station backroom bathroom that I

need to get a key for from the scary attendant than a clean, well-lit, staffed rest stop that provides historical information, public art, and sometimes a playground. Iowa rest stops freaking rock -- gorgeous and free wi-fi!

[county worker]

3. He included all the red flag words

Courage, right-wing principals, less government, taxpayers, subsidizing, private enterprise, charge an appropriate fee, competition, free market.

These types are really brain washed or brain dead or both. If there is any kind of problem, just apply some conservative ideology and everything will be fine.

Does he ever think that the taxpayers like rest stops?

You know what happens when toilets charge an appropriate fee, they get pissed on.

[Hannah Bell]

4. enjoy your shit-borne illnesses, arizona.

[FarCenter]

5. Aren't there any fast-food places in Arizona?

McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's etc are all places to stop.

[Retrograde]

7. Arizona has miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles

A lot of the West is the same: long, open stretches of empty (well, except for the scenery) spaces with no human settlements to speak of.

Rest areas out here tend to be basic: places to park, toilet facilities, phones, some tables. Some may have signs explaining the local landscape. Fast food? Maybe in the next big town - about 60 miles or so away.

I liked this comment from another letter:

"Unlike the Interstates, these highways have abundant roadside places for travelers to stop — gas stations, restaurants, stores — that don’t cost money; they make money."

Yeah, and how many of these reserve their restrooms for customers only?

[FarCenter]

11. It doesn't look like many of the closing stops are in the really empty parts of the state

http://www.kold.com/Global/link.asp?L=411795

http://www.azdot.gov/MPD/GIS/maps/pdf/Rest_Areas.pdf

So buy a cup of coffee.

[Newest Reality]

6. One muses on the potential

amount of human waste that will line those highways.

Maybe sanitation is another reason to consider in this matter?

Oh, but no, we must privatize everything or assure that you stop at a COMMERCIAL establishment to unload, at least. And don't mention taxing anyone with a lot of money to provide anything that is beneficial to the masses ... if it is not profitable, that is.

Of course, the way things are, will get us coming and GOING ;) I know, cheesy.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Guess the next thing that cars will have to have are seats that are also potties...