Translink & 0.5% vote (merged)

Seems like the counter argument in this thread to the number 1 obstacle NO voters have to this new tax (namely: Translink can't be trusted with additional funds) is "you guys are stupid".

LOL - excellent salesmanship guys.

while it may not be the right argument from a sales point, from a reality perspective it's not that far off. i do agree thought that changing the management of translink should be a key component of that and for that we should be looking at the liberals. now besides the chant of translink can't be trusted, the other major theme the no side is running is that we have a bad transit system. when the no side gets challenged on these things, a few select arguments come up. the easiest one to deal with is the "poor service" argument as the no side can not offer any reasonable evidence that the system does is as bad as they believe it to be. as for the bad management part there are some valid arguments to that, but some of them are also minor irritants in the grand scheme of things. the vote needs to be considered in a logical process.

firstly, does metro need improvements to it's transit system to meet current as well as future needs? (i can't find anyone to reasonably argue against this.) at this point it should be a yes.

but if you're sitting no then you have to ask yourself why. if the answer is translink management then you have to ask how does that get changed? the answer is via municipal or provincial elections.

if you're sitting no because of the extra tax then you need to consider how else will it be paid for? is it reasonable to expect translink to find enough efficiencies in the system as it sits now to come up with $250 million per year - which represents close to 20% of translink's budget. if not, how are we going to pay for these things and what's the fairest way to go about it? is there a better method than the 0.5% tax increase being proposed? it's important to realize that the money for these project will be found somehow and we are the ones who will be paying for it. if the projects don't go ahead, then we are the ones who will be paying for it.

if you're still leaning no then you have to ask yourself if this is an emotional issue and you have a hate on for translink. if the answer is yes then what do you plan to do about it besides saying no in this plebiscite because the issue of transit funding doesn't die with a no vote. in which case you're back to voting at provincial and municipal elections.

now consider that eventually some or all of these transit improvements are going to get done eventually. does it make more sense to do them now when costs are lower, because construction costs are inevitably are going to go up, and we can reap the benefits in the near future or should we vote no and put things off so that we will not only have to wait longer for improvements but have to pay more for them as well.

it would appear that the smart move is to vote yes and get this thing done now and over the course of the next 2-4 year make sure your voice is heard at the ballot box and elect people that are going to make changes to the things are currently run.