Should foreign countries own our toll roads?

Question

Toll roads in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana are owned by foreign companies. A deal is being completed right now with an Australian company to manage a series of toll roads in Virginia.

While these toll roads are managed by foreign companies, the American tax payer will still foot the bill for building them. The foreign companies will collect any profits from the tolls.

In a country where American jobs are getting scarcer, it seems that these deals will make the situation even worse. In Virginia, Australia will manage 70 miles of "high occupancy" toll roads along the Capitol Beltway.

Many Americans do not realize that much of our infrastructure is being turned over to foreign management, including our ports, airlines, and roads. Should there be more publicity connected to these deals? Should foreign countries be allowed to buy into our public infrastructure or should laws be passed to prevent these arrangements that take the profits from our own people?

Answer 1

This is just another avenue. The public should absolutely know about them and possible consequences and any benefits. It would seem any benefit would be short-term in nature. It is maddening. We have utility companies owned by foreign companies. (National Grid - England) We have the Chinese buying up our bonds. We are indebted to the Chinese. Why more people aren't bothered by this is beyond my comprehension. It is frustrating.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I share your concern. It appears that the American Tax payer cannot find enough ways for the Republican ownership to garner out national treasure, assuming there is anything left after 7 years of the Bush “Administration”. I put administration is quotes because organized thievery is really not correctly referred by the term, “administration”. It is more correctly referred to as…organized theft.

Regarding toll roads, I discovered years ago that they are never paid off. Usually some (well connected) firm or family) fronts the loan, probably OPM, and just as the tolls are about to pay off the loan, another loan is taken against the cash cow. The “investor” then spends this money as they chose.

Sounds like a scam to me.

Regarding foreign investment, most of it has left the dollar due to Republican fleecing and incompetence and investment dollars are fleeing to the Euro. Maybe we can get rid of the Republican Party before our entire country is sold out from under us.

I am really tired of Republican supporters (nobody with a brain) admitting failure and at the same time saying something like, "well yes, they are bad but all politicians are the same". NOT SO!

I never thought I'd see the day that a Democrat would be described as somehow the salvation of our country but I guess the Republicans are soooo bad they make Democrats sound good! I know they are beginning to look pretty good to me.

Answer 4

Does it really matter who owns these roads? Corporations are increasingly global entities. This is a good thing. As long as corporations remain public there is not much need for concern. I personally own shares in Sichuan Expressway, which operates toll roads in China. So, should chinese citizens worry that this company will pay dividends to a foreigner as a result of their road usage? I do not think so. The more global our corporations become the less likely it is that we will see major wars. Yum Brands and GM are seeing much of their business growth happening in China. So they will be interested in there being peace between China and the US. Australia is unlikely to bomb US highways, especially if these are owned by an Australian company. Nothing to worry about. It is all just money flowing from one place to another. Everyone, can participate in this. Just save your dollars and open up a trading account. Then you can own a piece of that foreign company that owns the road which you drive to work every day.

Answer 5

I don't see what the problem is. Considering how shoddy our domestically owned and operated infrastructure is right now, I highly doubt foreign corps could do any worse. In fact, if you've visited other developed nations, their overall infrastructure is actually better than that of the US.

Answer 6

It's a lease - Indiana is not selling it and if they do something wrong or break the contract Indiana takes back control. Go ahead and take money away from the foreign people if they want to give it to Indiana.

Answer 7

No...they should NOT and Yes...it is a big deal. We should own our toll roads since we are the people that built them and are paying for all of them each time we travel.
For the most part, our highways are in deplorable conditions....and it makes me wonder where all the toll money goes.

What this government is thinking is beyond me. Well...let me rephrase. I know what they are thinking and it is all about the $$$$$.
Corporate GREED.....they make me sick !!!

Answer 8

It's called imperialism, and it's here to stay until it collapses (i.e. the US is a third world country and cannot afford to buy cheap plastic garbage anymore). We can't even get a bunch of people together to impeach BUSHCO, what makes you think anyone will get riled up enough over toll roads to do something about it?

Can you spell APATHY???

Answer 9

I am to the point where I just don't think about it anymore. I'm not a god freak but I do have faith , which tells me it's all going to hell anyway. I no this sounds kind of dramatic but I do not have any notions of a better tomorrow ! ! !

Answer 10

No, they shouldn't, the Government should have at least some responsibilities, instead of selling all the public property off to the highest bidder.