and_dont_blink t1_jab20n4 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:25 AM

Reply to comment by senatorium in MBTA won’t roll out $935M automated fare payment system in 2024 by weallgettheemails2

With how the system is run, and how messed up the current state is, it'd feel kind of wrong for the rest of the state to have to bear the burden of pumping more money into it for no real benefit to them. If a working train system is something Boston wants, then Boston is going to have to figure it out. Right now the city is being strangled and tripped up from within.

CommonNotCommons t1_jabrs3d wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:55 AM

The city of Boston gives away most of their taxes to the rest of the state via state income tax. If it weren’t for Boston, the rest of the state would be in much worse shape. Maybe some people should gain a little perspective about the dynamics around our centers of commerce. Oh, and how much more efficiently government dollars get spent in a city versus anywhere else. The rest of the state isn’t pulling their fair share of output.

That’s fine, that’s how we’ve chosen to structure things as a state and as a country, but it also means comments like this are based in ignorance. Boston isn’t suckling at the teat, improving it pays dividends to the rest of the commonwealth.

and_dont_blink t1_jabsfu8 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 8:04 AM

>The city of Boston gives away most of their taxes to the rest of the state via state income tax. If it weren’t for Boston, the rest of the state would be in much worse shape.

I see, if everything is exactly as you say then why would they need the state's help to provide funding for their subway system CommonNotCommons?

While MA is at $2.4B the rest of the state is at $10.4B. So they're generating about 23% of the state income, but that's just income tax. There's nothing stopping Boston from creating another tax just to fund the trains, or issuing bonds, considering it primarily effects Boston and is a Boston issue. Someone in Springfield or a small town shouldn't have an extra tax levied to pay for some form of grift happening here, that should be on us.

[deleted] t1_jadvnox wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:58 PM

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and_dont_blink t1_jae53d1 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:58 PM

>You’re wrong and you’re trying to save face, and it’s embarrassing to watch you squirm.

Generally CommonNotCommons, the person calling names and making insinuations isn't in the right but rather trying to bluster. It's not a good look mate.

You are correct that Boston is an outsized economic presence in the state, but you act as though it's responsible for everything and it simply isn't. You've given no reason for why the rest of the state should be kicking in money to pay for Boston's train system running amok, and by your own logic they shouldn't need it.

They could simply issue bonds or add an additional tax. Problem solved. If we can agree that Boston shouldn't take money from the state for it's train system, there's no issue. You don't really have any other arguments, just vitriol.

>Jesus christ I’ve had it with you morons.

Take care, but I'd point out when people resort to name calling and ad hominems they're basically telegraphing they aren't confident in their arguments, are unhappy about it, and lack the maturity to handle it.