I read with great pleasure the other day that the Outer Beltway Horror may be delayed. As is expected, it's over money but not the usual "lack of funds" money problem but the "corporate greed" money problem. The state contends they can't do the project solo until some time after I'm Worm Cuisine which is fine by me. But they want to bring in a private firm to build it and maintain it in return for tolls. On the surface, as far as a business proposition goes, it makes sense for the state and the business. However, they also want the concession from the state to avoid paying their share of taxes. How Enron! How Big Oil!  On top of that, and these points I object to strenuously, is the fact they want to stack the deck further by taking away choice in the form of the Shands Bridge which is free to travelers and commuters and it appears that they may also want to sieze a state built road already purchased by us in the form of Brannon Field-Chaffee and then force us to pay even more for the privelege. I object to this thievery whole heartedly. This first link is the story in the T-U for anyone who missed it.

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/04/29/outer-beltway-project-placed-on-hold/ [1]

This second link I came across while searching for the first link. I found it interesting also mainly because of the gullibility factor which you can determine for yourselves.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092906/nes_5268244.shtml [2]

I was really taken aback by the Big Brother suggestion and find this kind of intrusion frightening in the long run.

I know there are some here who, for whatever reason, want this horror perpetrated on us. Before we allow it, let's review what these proponents are up to. Bottom line for me, this is one tax I will embrace completely to keep private business out of roadway construction.

(I apologize for the lack of an obscure reference today.)