Posted on 08/31/2010 4:11:32 AM PDT by Willie Green
With the gubernatorial election looming, the candidates are sparring over their many differences. One of the main issues that has evolved over the past month between two candidates, Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, has been the proposed high-speed rail service. This would connect the already-existing Chicago-to-Milwaukee route with Madison and, eventually, the Twin Cities.
Walker is concerned about the price tag and feels that the money would be better spent on infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. Barrett feels that high-speed rail is the future, and he is right. With booming population growth, it is mystifying that right-wingers continue to hang onto the glory days of big oil.
Walker believes he can stop the train from happening, and that is absurd. The state has already committed to the project and has received federal money. Walker’s intention is to try to convince Congress to let the state repurpose the funding. If this fails, he wants Wisconsin to pay back the money it has already received for the project, which would do nothing but funnel the grant to another state’s high-speed rail system.
While it is necessary to maintain our roads, it is crucial to create other forms of transportation. Milwaukee and Chicago suburbs are already connected, and Madison will be next — transforming the area into a massive metropolis. We are going to have to come up with other ways of getting around besides using the already-overcrowded roads. It is time to move into the 21st century — or get stuck falling behind the times.
High-speed rail makes sense for several reasons. Pollution caused by excessive traffic is near the top of the list. With rapid population growth, it is not feasible to believe we can still comfortably live as we once did. With Walker and Co. wanting to expand roads to allow for more vehicle traffic, we’ll be getting more pollution, more traffic jams, and more accidents.
Over 6,000 teenagers alone are killed every year on the roads in Wisconsin. And the count for adults is not far behind. A new and competent transit system would not only save on pollution, but lives as well.
Critics of high-speed rail claim no one will take the trains and they will fall into disuse. But this has no grounds in reality. Amtrak’s route from Chicago to Milwaukee is highly successful, boasting over 700,000 passengers in 2009.
With stops in bedroom communities between Milwaukee and Madison, some fear an urban takeover. In other words, they fear that if transit is too accessible, residents of urban communities will invade their hometowns. They want to continue to hide behind their white picket fences, pretending the big bad world outside doesn’t exist. This is not a belittlement of suburbanites, but what is frequently presented as the thought process behind a sizeable minority, at least.
Walker’s team played on these fears recently in an anti-rail campaign ad on Twitter, which illustrated African American dancers from the classic show “Soul Train” singing “C’mon, Get on the Train.” This was originally tweeted by Walker aid Michael Brickman and retweeted by Walker spokeswoman Jill Bader. After accusations of racial overtones, Bader quickly took down the tweet, and Walker himself has yet to issue anything resembling an apology.
But the message was clear. This was a tasteless attempt to play on the aforementioned suburbanites’ fear. Walker and Co. deny these accusations, yet anyone with common sense can see through this poorly disguised facade.
It is amazing how Republicans continue to hinder progress. With all the issues that plague us due to the overuse of cars, new transit options are a must. We need to do something to curb our destructive behavior. While high-speed rail would not solve all these problems, it would be a good start. Republicans, like Walker, don’t care about the future. Hopefully voters remember this come November.
Link doesn’t work, which is not surprising given this laughably sophomoric article.
Fix the stuff people actually use? Perish the thought.
It will take 6 years to purge the GOP of RINOS. This year at least we put the on notice.
The last thing in the world that Wisconsin is, is crowded! How stupid. A state with 5 million people and most of the area is rural. We do not need a rail line. I have no need to go to Madison or Chicago on a train and when I drive, the roads are half empty.
“Over 6,000 teenagers alone are killed every year on the roads in Wisconsin. And the count for adults is not far behind. A new and competent transit system would not only save on pollution, but lives as well.”
How are the kids are going to be saved by a train from Madison to Milwaukee when deaths are all over the state, mostly in urban areas?
Since when is operating a train for a couple dozen people reducing pollution or saving energy?
And to make matters worse, Gov. Diamond Jim Doyle is attempting to spend as much of this fed money as possible before he leaves office (by issuing contracts). Walker has said he will stop the train cold in its tracks if elected.
How are people going to get to the “Badger” football games on Saturday, five times a year, without a billion $ train!
Good lord, this writing is atrocious!
Barrett feels that high-speed rail is the future, and he is right. With booming population growth, it is mystifying that right-wingers continue to hang onto the glory days of big oil.
Oh yea, big oil is the problem. NO! Big spending is the problem and big train isn’t helping. This is horse hockey in print. Just amazing that leftists only see what they want to see. It is obvious they feel the same about those on the right, and someone is DEAD wrong. Successful, (profitable) passenger rail has been dead for 60 years, it just doesn’t quite die because too many folks living in the past, won’t let it.
Most Wisconsonites don’t want the train. A train to nowhere.
NC has a train between Raleigh and Charlotte (about 175 miles) that runs (I believe) twice a day. It cost 50.00 round trip per person, it takes longer to get there, and you still have to deal with transportation on each end. How many people find this of benefit? Normally a person or family could take a car and buy 25-30.00 worth of gas for the round trip.
"DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN!"
Good grief, what a load of BS.
How many kids and adults get killed by trains in WI now?
I’m going to really enjoy watching this fantasy die.
How are the kids are going to be saved by a train from Madison to Milwaukee when deaths are all over the state, mostly in urban areas?
Milwaukee has one of the highest per capita student populations in North America, ranking 6th among U.S. and Canadian cities in number of college students per 100 residents,
It would be safer for students to travel between Milwaukee and Madison by train, especially in Winter.
Since when is operating a train for a couple dozen people reducing pollution or saving energy?Milwaukee Amtrak Station serviced over ½ MILLION passengers last year.
I’ll give it up to you Willie, your persistence is legendary! I’m glad you came back to FR and wish Irish_Thatcherite would come back too.
BTW, I’m relying via my Windows Smartphone while riding a New Jersey Transit train!
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