Congestion Pricing

On April 22, 2007 the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, proposed a plan to charge $8 per day for cars to use the streets of the central business district of lower Manhattan. The policy is really nothing more than an increase to motoring taxes overall. This policy could help ease congestion in the area, but at what cost to the freedom of movement. Some opponents argue on the grounds of individual rights and that the government should not put financial barriers that restrict the freedom of movement.

This concern will likely fall on deaf ears, Bloomberg in the past has shown no concern for individual rights. He has already made New Yorkers live according to govenrment standards. He has previously passed bills prohibiting smoking and trans-fat. Both the smoking and trans-fat policies are based on a paternalisitic framework telling the citizens what is and what isnt good for them. The prohibitions are attrocious attacks on individual liberty, but yet they still were passed. So it should not be surprising if Bloomberg pays little to no attention to the impact that congestion pricing might have on the freedom of movement.