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But Who Will Maintain The Roads?

When I tell people I am an anarchist, the response is often something along the lines of "that is just naive. Without the government we are screwed! Who will maintain the roads?"

I find that incredibly amusing, considering the current state of the US infrastructure (your country may differ).

The roads are total shit; bridges are collapsing, and trains are derailing daily, all while costs are rising exponentially.

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2020/1/27/how-much-does-a-mile-of-road-actually-cost

According to the link above, in 2014, improving a mile of roadway cost many millions, with a high estimate of 85 million for major work. Multiply by at least two to adjust for inflation and labor shortage. Congratulations, your tax money at work!

But it costs so much, you say! Why does it? Look at a road work site next time you drive or walk by. You will see a guy cutting the road with a giant circular saw, 8 guys walking around waving their arms, 10 more sitting by the side of the road eating lunch, 15 more parking their personal vehicles in blocked-off parts of the roadway, while a dozen others are waving flags. Each one is paid union scale. God bless America.

Some years ago, streets of a Portland, OR neighborhood were full of dangerous potholes... After years of complaining, nothing happened. Then, overnight, a bunch of anarchists quietly filled the potholes -- without any fuss, permits, or contracts, with a budget of pocket change. Duh.

It's amazing how much things cost once corrupt politicians get involved. It's your money, mind you. Imagine that money spent on something more useful than lining the pockets of several corrupt contractors, dozens of politicians involved in the collection and the disbursement of funds, armies of lawyers and cosultants negotiating permits and contracts and thousands of rank-and-file beaurocrats that 'make it all happen', not to mention the unions and the actual people who do the work while others oversee and inspect the work... Never mind the pension plans, vacations, and benefits for all involved...

You think this is a good way to maintain roads? The joke is on you.

And that's assuming we need these of roads so every jackass can drive around fast, polluting our environment. But that's another story.

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