Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by levocardia on Saturday December 27, 2025 @04:19PM
(#46405349)
This is just a general argument against constant prices for everything though. Charging $1/lb for bananas is regressive. Charging $3/gallon for gas is regressive. Charging $10 for a t-shirt is regressive. Etc...
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by SoftTalker on Saturday December 27, 2025 @05:31PM
(#46406037)
For commodities like that, competition already pushes prices to the zero profit limit. Everyone gets them as cheaply as they can be produced. And for those who can't afford even that we have subsidies.
Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by MengerSponge on Saturday December 27, 2025 @04:40PM
(#46405516)
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by axiolite on Saturday December 27, 2025 @05:27PM
(#46405996)
> This is just a general argument against constant prices for everything though.
Maybe EVERYTHING shouldn't BE "constant prices". Maybe where there are practical alternatives to constant pricing, those should be preferred and used.
> Charging $10 for a t-shirt is regressive.
No. Not unless there is only 1 type of t-shirt in the world available. If I'm poor I can go find cheaper t-shirts either less stylish, poorer quality, from a generic brand, from a discount retailer, second-hand (used), packaged in bulk, etc., or maybe wait around for a sale on the t-shirt.
Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by derektank on Saturday December 27, 2025 @05:40PM
(#46406125)
Besides price signals, what other tools are available to communicate local knowledge through an economy? I can’t think of any that are particularly effective
Re:Toll roads are spreading in America
by nrhrjrjrjtntbt on Sunday December 28, 2025 @02:51AM
(#46409280)
Yes we broadly deal with that via lower tax bands for lower earners, but the problem is hard to avoid.