Question

The NDP Party, removed the tolls on 2 bridges in the Lower Mainland in 2017. Briefly explain which value, at the core of the Socialist ideology, motivated that political action?

Answer 1

• election is looming when political parties announce lowering fees

• The two main contenders for the May 9 election in British Columbia – the BC Liberals and the NDP – have been trying to outdo each other in the transportation department

• The two main contenders for the May 9 election in British Columbia – the BC Liberals and the NDP – have been trying to outdo each other in the transportation department

• The promises made by both parties are sure to be popular with voters, especially in some hotly contested ridings in Metro Vancouver. But unfortunately, even though the Liberals and NDP have a valid point, they fail to see the bigger picture.

• When used wisely, bridge and road tolls can be a useful instrument to fine-tune traffic flow, relieve congestion, and optimize transportation choices on a city-wide scale.

• Mobility pricing works best when commuters have alternatives: meaning, which route to take, or whether to take the car or the train.

• Lower Mainland, mobility pricing needs to be applied in a consistent manner that takes into account all traffic flows and transportation alternatives. It's possible to make mobility pricing revenue-neutral by taxing congested routes and subsidizing more efficient choices, including public transit and more fuel-efficient or electric vehicles.

• in the Lower Mainland, where only two bridges are tolled in order to recover construction costs, is flawed

• when bridge tolling is applied to some but not all bridges, traffic is diverted from tolled to untolled bridges. The result is more congestion in these places.

• The toll cap proposed by the BC Liberals addresses the affordability problem, but not the traffic-management problem

• The NDP's proposal to drop tolls altogether sounds more attractive – not only because it's free for commuters, but because abandoning tolls would end the haphazard way that tolling is used.

• Socialism is a political, social and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production and workers' self-management of enterprises. It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems.

• Core values of socialism are freedom , equality and solidarity

• Road tolls, such as the ones on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges, can fall into one of two categories: user fees to finance infrastructure or congestion management tools to change behaviour.

• The problem with tolling only two bridges in the Lower Mainland is it is the carbon tax equivalent of taxing only one fuel. And only in one town. To be an effective congestion management tool, the tools need to be broadened both temporally and spatially.

  • Pros of Socialism

  • Under socialism, workers are no longer exploited because they own the means of production.

  • Profits are spread equitably among all workers according to their individual contributions. But the cooperative system also provides for those who can't work.

  • It meets their basic needs for the good of the whole society.

• Cons of socialism

  • disadvantage of socialism is that it relies on the cooperative nature of humans to work.

  • It ignores those within society who are competitive and focus on personal gain.

  • Those people tend to seek ways to overthrow and disrupt society for their own benefit

  • socialism doesn't reward people for being entrepreneurial. It struggles to be as innovative as a capitalistic society.

  • The government has a lot of power

  • This works as long as it represents the wishes of the people. But government leaders can abuse this position and claim power for themselves.

• Finally , Socialism is a system that shares economic output equally throughout the population

• It values the collective well-being of the community, rather than individuals.

• The government distributes resources, giving it greater control over its citizens.