# Is the Los Angeles County Metro RACIST by agreeing to raise fares on those that need it most? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846 "2014-08-18T18:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/21 "2014-08-18T23:33:20Z")
> [@la\_fille\_intellectuelle](#): > > No,when you walk into WalMart looking for your shampoo or something they’ve got your mugshot stored in their database at the door.That information along with the wi-fi signal from your smartphone is used to “track” you through retailers like cattle.Most people are either too lazy to even know this sort of thing is going on or have no way of knowing.They’re not going to advertise this sort of thing but recently when I went to a shopping mall,they DID.A sign at the front of the mall stated that they’re using the wi-fi signal from smartphones to track consumers. > Yes,the fair increase will affect those that use the transit system,but those ARE the very people that can’t make ends meet. Do you have cite for this? Also, you do know that your cell phone has an off button, and can be left at home, right? And that you can choose to pay cash and be untraceable, right? And that in most of the world, very poor people do not actually own cell phones with wifi because they cannot afford them -unless yours is a government supplied free phone. Right? Also where, again, is the real or implied racism associated with bus pass costs? You have failed to make any sort of case here. Only $100 per month for getting anywhere you need to go? Sounds like a bargain to me. I spend many times that in car ownership every month. Go ahead and get a Vespa, let alone a car, and figure out how much that will run you. Again, how is this racist? BTW I just checked: in my county the bus routes are seriously limited and inadequate for most realistic needs. And l live in a very, very low cost of living area. Monthly transit passes here are $80 per month. I would actually have expected socal to be significantly higher that what it is. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/22 "2014-08-18T23:47:48Z")
**la fille intellectuelle** - They’re not tracking everyone. Just you. StG ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/23 "2014-08-18T23:50:30Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **la fille intellectuelle** - They’re not tracking everyone. Just you. > > StG Because she’s smarter than the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/24 "2014-08-18T23:58:16Z")
Certainly more beautiful. (as long as you’re Caucasoid) ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/25 "2014-08-19T00:55:08Z")
> [@la\_fille\_intellectuelle](#): > > Yes,the fair increase will affect those that use the transit system,but those ARE the very people that can’t make ends meet. So,a 91 percent subsidy from taxpayers isn’t enough? Other people should pick up even more of the tab? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/26 "2014-08-19T01:26:18Z")
No, it’s not. It’s an unwelcome additional burden on the limited-income population but it’s not racist. “Racist” might be an argument if in order to save on expenses they cut or eliminated busy routes through black and Latino neighborhoods but left intact high-loss routes through white neighborhoods. $100 for a monthly pass in LA? To be expected. Is the amount of the raise socking it to the poor? One could say that, but again: to be expected. The poor usually get the shaft regardless of their race. > [@chiroptera](#): > > Do you have cite for this? > Also, you do know that your cell phone has an off button, and can be left at home, right? And that you can choose to pay cash and be untraceable, right? And that in most of the world, very poor people do not actually own cell phones with wifi because they cannot afford them -unless yours is a government supplied free phone. Right? Heck, on my smartphone the WiFi is “off” 24/7, and so are all the “location services” other than the maps/directions, and all “push” notifications from apps. Not only do I enjoy a peaceful afternoon of shopping with no advertising interruptions and no ringing unless someone alive’s actually calling/texting me, I also get a lot better battery life. Oh, and my smartphone does lowercase letters and single spaces just fine in both the web app and Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/27 "2014-08-19T03:08:19Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Monthly passes in St. Louis are currently $78. I notice the article says LA’s bus and rail fares are $1.75. Around here we pay $2 for a bus and $2.50 for rail. I don’t know how it is in St Louis, but in L.A., the MTA runs all of the urban bus and rail service. . There’s just the one flat fare throughout the system. Metrolink, the local commuter rail service to the OC, Ventura, and the Inland Empire, has zoned fares but still very reasonable compared to what I’ve heard about BART; OTOH BART does offer more frequent and later service. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/28 "2014-08-19T08:14:25Z")
Is the Los Angeles County Metro RACIST by agreeing to raise fares on those that need it most? No. The next time you go to Wal-Mart, be sure you pick up some aluminum foil. It makes a great hat to keep the government from picking up your thoughts. @ chiroptera - the free phones (which are not actually supplied by the government, but paid for by fees from all phone subscribers) don’t have wifi. I doubt mine even has 3G. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/29 "2014-08-19T12:54:43Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Monthly passes in St. Louis are currently $78. I notice the article says LA’s bus and rail fares are $1.75. Around here we pay $2 for a bus and $2.50 for rail. > > Does that mean St. Louis is more racist on a daily basis but less racist per month??? Well, it _is_ Missouri. > [@la fille intellectuelle](#): > > Now,don’t call me someone who wants to see thousands lose there job Apparently you are that someone. I doubt all transit workers in L.A. County are wealthy white people. And while some might have what you’d term “non-essential” jobs (because they’re not _your_ job), I suspect a wave of firings might just have an impact on bus service. Also, good correlation between that quote and username. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/30 "2014-08-19T15:05:56Z")
In Atlanta a one way fare is $2.50, a 30 day pass is $95.00. And this on a system that pales in comparison to LA, NY or pretty much any large city. Sounds to me like you’re getting a good deal even after the increase. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/31 "2014-08-19T15:08:03Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > It’s been a standard tactic of the Bus Riders Union and other groups opposing fare increases to call these increases “racist”. Ostensibly because the impact of the increase falls on LA’s poor, who are largely Latino with some blacks. The practical reason for throwing around the term “racist” is that it’s more sensationalist, and has a better chance of worrying Latino and black politicians who need votes to stay in office. It’s actually a class issue, and has nothing to do with race. > > As others have pointed out, a monthly bus pass will still be heavily subsidized, even with the fare increase. Yep. The same claim comes up every time the fares rise. ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/32 "2014-08-19T15:15:14Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > This tactic is especially effective, though, when you put the word (and other important words) in ALL CAPS. Because otherwise we wouldn’t know how IMPORTANT the words are. > > Annoying, ain’t it. The all caps implied that “RACIST” was an acronym for something. I’m disappointed and want my money back. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/33 "2014-08-19T15:19:47Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > The all caps implied that “RACIST” was an acronym for something. I’m disappointed and want my money back. Really Against Colored In Socal Transit. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/34 "2014-08-19T16:31:11Z")
This question is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/35 "2014-08-19T17:09:14Z")
[Chicago charges more too](http://www.transitchicago.com/fares/) - $2.25 for rail, $2 for bus. I guess Chicago is darned racist too. Wait, maybe they hate suburbanites more, since [Metra fares](https://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/tickets.html) range from $2.75 to $9.25 for one-way tickets. (Really, they hate downstate/non-commuter taxpayers since, as with most public transit systems, taxes cover so much more than actual fare charges do.) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/36 "2014-08-19T19:56:18Z")
NCTD (North (San Diego) County Transit District charges $2 for the bus, same for the Sprinter train. I haven’t looked into a pass, though, since I don’t use transit often enough to warrant it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/37 "2014-08-19T23:07:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > This question is ridiculous. Some of the answers are pretty ridiculous too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/38 "2014-08-19T23:46:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > This question is ridiculous. It’s worse than merely ridiculous. It’s the kind of nonsense claim of racism that lets some people dismiss legitimate claims of racism. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/39 "2014-08-21T14:31:15Z")
If you have ti raise fares on anyone, it probably makes sense ti do it on the people who need it most. If you raise it on people who have other options, they’ll take them. ---
**Author:** ![Collaborator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Collaborator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Collaborator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846/40 "2014-08-22T06:20:15Z")
It’s not racist to make you cover the cost of your preferred mode of transportation. A huge fleet of buses costs money, and the taxpayers of the area shouldn’t have to pick up the tab. You suggest firing 1,000 workers to solve the problem, but then you’d probably think it was racist when they remove your local bus stop or only run service every couple hours to compensate. There’s nothing racist about this, buses are a privilege just the same as owning your own car is. If it costs more to run the buses, expect to pay more. That’s life. You can choose to ride a bike, change your routine, get a scooter, have a friend drive you, any number of things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-los-angeles-county-metro-racist-by-agreeing-to-raise-fares-on-those-that-need-it-most/695846.md?page=1)