Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

For your Election Day funnies, a Boston cartoon on where some real socialism lies in these United States: the open road. The cartoon is by Dan Wasserman of the Boston Globe. The "T" is Boston's public transportation systems operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Lately some election pundits have been critical of some candidates for advocating socialism... but, though each of these still has issues, the U.S.A. has always solved a lot of issues using collective solutions: mail, defense, law enforcement, and yes - transportation. All those roads and highways are publicly-funded and publicly-maintained.

Many drivers tend to opine that Amtrak, California High-Speed Rail, Metro, and even bicyclists are freeloaders benefitting from the taxes and fees paid by drivers. Many express the opinion that rail systems should make a profit. But this is a pernicious double-standard. No highway makes a profit. Transportation systems are publicly-funded (ie: "socialist") because they benefit broad swaths of society. Car infrastructure is funded by many broad-based taxes that are paid by everyone, not just those who drive.

Go vote like your future depended on it!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

StreetSmart7: Sam Speroni and Automobile Debt

In StreetSmart Episode7, Streetsblog California editor Damien Newton and Sam Speroni from UCLA discussed the unequal distribution of car ownership costs in Los Angeles, using data from 2021 to 2023. 

May 23, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

CA vs. Republicans is national news, but there's plenty of other news happening around the state.

May 23, 2025

Metro Quietly Withdraws Lyft Bike-Share Contract Vote

The current twice-botched will-they-won't-they procurement process is not doing Metro Bike Share any favors.

May 22, 2025

SGV Hikes and Bikes: Duck Farm River Park

Tucked in the crook of the 605 and Valley Boulevard is some much needed breathing room for the East Valley.

May 22, 2025

Revealed: MTC Canceled Bridge Bike Lane Meetings Because Staff Findings Showed it Should Stay Open

Thanks to a public records request from Bike East Bay, we now know why two public hearings were cancelled at the last minute.

May 22, 2025
See all posts