Who’s your neighbor?
The book of Acts 4:16 asks a great question that was directed toward the Apostles, Peter and John. “What are we to do with these men?” And that sounds like an appropriate question for the leadership of Southland Christian Center (“Who is my neighbor“). However, looking to chapter 5 of Acts, a wise Pharisee named Gamaliel gave some profound advice that could benefit us all. “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” Although I see pertinent arguments on both sides of the pond, I might suggest that people begin to pray for God’s will to be done. I would love to know what the outcome will be!
Mary Jane Battista
Downtown streets
I couldn’t agree with you more (“Meddling with city streets“). Two way Main is wrong way Main ! I don’t see someone stuck in traffic suddenly saying, “Gee, since I’m not moving, I’ll get out and shop at this store or eat at this restaurant.” If someone needs to get from E. Main to Newtown , let them travel smoothly thru downtown and maybe they will come back another time to do business. If they avoid downtown due to congestion, they will never come down for entertainment or a meal. I’m old enough to remember gridlock on Main during rush hour, and there is far more traffic today than there was 40 years ago.
Howard Stovall
Town Branch Market, 233 E. Main St
I lived in Lexington in the ’60s when all the streets were 2 way. Population 50k — 60k. Traffic was horrible. Driving through town was very difficult. Now population is 400k. Imagine Upper St and Short St. and High St. all 2 way: Madness. Put the idea to a vote of the people. Who are these people that make decisions like this without consulting the people?
Alan Isaacs
I have somewhat mixed feelings about the street conversion idea. I live downtown and as much as I hate to admit it, the one way streets can be confusing and difficult to navigate. As much as I think they are a bunch of wimps, I do hear enough people that live in the suburbs complaining about how difficult it is to get around down town, and I have to grudgingly admit that they might have a point.
On the other hand, your points about moving a greater volume of traffic, safety, and less pollution are pretty convincing. As a cyclist I do feel safer on one way streets since you don’t have to worry about oncoming traffic.
If the benefits are mixed at best, it probably isn’t worth the trouble and expense of fooling with it. There are other more important problems for the city to deal with.
I am sorry to see you quote Randal O’Toole in your article. That guy has the reputation of being a pro suburban sprawl hack.
Dan
Author responds:
Thanks for the comments. Dan, you busted me on Randall O’Toole. I’m sorry to have quoted him as well because it wasn’t necessary: the evidence demonstrates the truth of the quoted statement. Conversion proponents, on the other hand, rarely bother to support their claims with any evidence. And for over a decade now they have insisted that 2-way street conversion is essential, yet can point to no city where conversion has made a difference. I have much more to say on the subject and am grateful to NoC for providing this forum for discussing it.
David Shattuck
Human trafficking
The concept of labour slavery (“Modern day abolition and its price“) has never left the US. The prison industry is a collusion of big business and government. For decades these governments have created laws that are based on perpetuating expensive police and federal agencies like the DEA, ATF, etc…and criminalize the use of substances other than tobacco, alcohol or pharmaceuticals. This legality or illegality occurs regardless of the actual harm connected to their use and perpetuates a black market in these substances as well as higher levels of crime and violence.
Now that the “independent lawmakers” both federal and state have created laws and penalties, the “human resources” snared by these laws is passed on to the corporate for profit prison industry. Slavery is the inevitable result of these corporate prisons (and government run prisons as well) when they exploit this resource by creating manufacturing/farming/telemarketing/etc jobs for prisoners who are then paid pennies per hour, given a high starch/low protein diet, housed in minimal space and forced to pay for the “benefits” like the meals they eat and the bunks they sleep on. Rebellion against this slavery results in extra time, beatings, torture and death.
Fenian, from Smirking Chimp blog
Our man
Love your post, Michael Marchman (“My life as a migrant worker“), and love lots about Kentucky although I wish I knew more. Our previous socioeconomic status has left with the economy. We have to face the fact that it is gone for good, get over it and get on with it. For me, that means finding a way to survive the upcoming transition to self reliance. It could be viewed as a nice problem solving opportunity. I’m looking for a place on a fresh water, maybe the Ohio River, in a medium size city far away from nuclear power plants, maybe Louisville. Don’t know if L’ville has any kind of like minded community, though….
Cameron Salisbury, from Smirking Chimp blog
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