Thursday Morning Updates

Sorry guys I haven't been on as much lately, but I am in the process of moving so updates may be sporadic for another week or so. Expect July to be heavy with updates because I will be in my new home at that point.

Supreme Court ruled this morning in a 5-4 decision that Washington D.C's blanket handgun ban is unconstitutional. With the replacement of O'Connor replaced with the much more conservative Justice Alito expect more and more conservative decisions to be forthcoming now that the only moderate vote on the bench is Justice Kennedy. This is yet another reason why we can not sacrifice another 4 years to Bush light, and must elect a progressive candidate like Sen. Obama to the highest office in the U.S. We can not allow McCain to replace Ginsberg or one of the other 3 liberal justices.

The Music City star is in financial crisis and will not have the money to operate after October. This is not good news for those who desire mass transit in the city of Nashville. As much as I DO NOT like the choice for the original line, I hope that we can keep it afloat in order to bring light rail to Nashville. Honestly Nashville, does gas have to hit 9 dollars a gallon before you'll take a bus?

A recent Rasmussen poll in Tennessee shows that McCain's lead has been split in half from 30 pts to 15 pts. Is a wave election coming...oh wonderful wave please take Marsha Blackburn out with you!

-Zak

Wishin and Hopin for Public Trans

Tennessee is one of the few states that does not currently have a single toll road. You can drive on any road in the state without paying, but that may be changing if the bridge connecting Davidson and Sumner County is built. Once built, it could take traffic off of I-40, and allow for quicker commute times for those that live in the two counties. With the Nashville Metro area expanding quickly we do need ways to reduce congestion, but is this the way, I don't think so.

Our elected officials too often try to stick us with additional fees and charges quietly and under the table. Although they are holding public meetings it will be interesting to see if they actually listen to the will of the people that the Toll Bridge will impact , or if just like 840, they will follow their own hearts desire and ignore their constituents.

Tennessee and Nashville would be better served by a comprehensive Mass Transit system, as well as a regional transit system that would take people off the road, and put money back into the hands of the people. As a city, and as a region, we have become too dependent on oil, and we must invest in future transportation projects that will actually reduce that dependence, not make it easier to exploit it.

Sumner and Davidson County residents would be better served by an extension of the Music City Star, than it would be by the toll road. As we grow as a city we must look beyond expansion of roads, and begin to lay the infrastructure for rapid transit throughout the region.

-Zak