Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Pulcinella 3251 days ago
There is also a huge emphasis on being a "taxpayer."

"I paid taxes this year, therefor I am entitled to do whatever I want with public property."

It's one of the reasons something like the autobahn can't work in the US. Some Americans just love to drive 20 mph under the speed limit in the left lane because "I'm a taxpayer and this is my road! I can do what I want." A no-speed-limit highway in the US would require one lane per citizen.

3 comments

Recently, I've seen signs attaching fines to driving in the left lane below the speed limit or not allowing a car to pass. There are still drivers that stay below but I think with the new signs they are becoming a smaller subset. This was in South Florida btw.
Honestly, I've never seen this kind of belligerence. I mean, I understand that the feeling exists that since one paid taxes, one is more entitled to public services than those who don't (and vice versa). But Americans in general seem to be very law-abiding citizens (there are exceptions, as is everywhere).
>A no-speed-limit highway in the US would require one lane per citizen.

No, it would just require speeding tickets to be less lucrative than impeding traffic tickets.