From
the crack team of journalists at Fox 7 News:
A
group in East Austin is trying to put the brakes on toll roads in their area.
The
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority plans to install toll lanes on
Highways 290, 183 and 71 in East Austin.
Two
groups; People Organized in the Defense of the Earth and her Resources (PODER)
and the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC), are asking the Capital Area
Metropolitan Planning Organization not to toll these roads.
The
groups say they are unfairly bearing the toll burden, calling it economic
racism.
"We
see the lowest income people, basically on the east side of East Austin, are going
to have to be paying money each time they get on freeways that are supposed to
be free," says Poder Co-Director Susana Alamanza.
A
spokesman with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority says drivers will
not have to use the toll roads. They say there will be a free alternative.
"A
free alternative" equals using the soon-to-be crowded frontage road or
cutting through a residential neighborhood to avoid paying a toll on a road
that your tax money HAS ALREADY PAID FOR. This toll-road plan is absolutely
bullshit, but that's not what this blog is about.
I
don't know what's worse, calling your group "People Organized in the
Defense of the Earth and her Resources" (fancy title for
"hippies") or calling them "PODER", which is really close
to "chode" or "choder", a synonym for "taint".
But that's not what this blog is about.
The
two groups are saying that East Austinites are "bearing the burden". Want
to see the map?
They
have a point. Not a huge point, considering people who live in Williamson
County are also "bearing part of the burden" aka "getting the
shaft". And if you live in Manor and commute to work? SCREWED. So quit
claiming you're special, East Austinites. You're not alone. And just as you've
probably figured out, that's also not what this blog is about.
My
beef with this is the phrase "economic racism". I'm sorry...what? I
wasn't aware that the color of a person's skin was a factor in where the toll
roads will be constructed. Is there a big conspiracy behind this? Is this a big
plan to get "those damn illegals" to pay money to the city? Maybe the
secret name of this Texas Department of Transportation is "Take That, You
Damn Mexicans."
Ooooh,
you're saying it's targeted towards everyone in that area because they're poor.
I see. Well, then...shouldn't you call it "economic prejudice" or
"economic discrimation"? Wouldn't that make sense considering
"racism" is related specifically to lineage? Economic racism would
be, "Hello, my Anglo-Saxon brother...you don't have to pay the toll. Hold
on there, you...your skin isn't lily white. You need to pay." Or would
that be racist economics?
I'm
pretty sure you're using the word "racism" because it's shocking, and
it draws more attention to your cause. When someone cries "racism",
people tend to notice more because no one wants to be referred to as a racist.
The problem is that when you use the word incorrectly or frivolously, it takes
away from ACTUAL FUCKING RACISM. And it makes you look ignorant, which can't
help your cause very much. "See, Betty? Those people live on that side of
town because they don't know what words mean."
The
more you use that phrase, the less people in charge of this shit will take you
seriously. When I heard "economic racism" on the news tonight, my
first reaction was to roll my eyes and say, "Give me a fucking
break." I then immediately discounted the fact that they're turning 183,
290 and 71 into toll roads and couldn't care less about your issue. And that's
coming from broke-ass me. Imagine what rich people thought. The only reason I
took a look at the map for the first time is to research the issue a little
before ripping you a new asshole.
So
knock that shit off,LULAC and hippies. Then maybe I'll support you.
Nah. I'd probably still tell you to eat a
dick.
A friend just told me that PODER is also a
Hispanic organization, as ÒpoderÓ is the Spanish word for ÒpowerÓ. Thanks, Dr.
Juan. Unfortunately the word still reminds me of the space between your balls
and asshole.
