Re: “For now, the Crawl lives on,” column, Feb. 16.
Jack Knox’s observations on road “crawlitus” cannot be left without some diagnostic comment on its origins. The sclerosis on our roads is directly related to our addictions.
We have created a beast called “dependency.” It is backed by debt, which in turn needs the funds supplied by the revenues of expanding density.
For every prescription the welfare gluttons demand, the banquet of free stuff needs more taxes and/or borrowed money. The most readily available funds for servicing this debt come from development charges and new-construction spinoff.
At one time, the law prevented municipal over-indulgences. Now, cheap money and 40-year amortizations have our local councils in hock up to their eyeballs, living hand to mouth. It’s too late for austerity and thrift or a caution to be mindful of what we ask for.
Although Knox’s enjoyable humour helps alleviate the chronic angina of our arterial roads, the joke is on us if we don’t junk the unhealthy diet of dependency.
Russell Thompson
Victoria
