[MeganC]

Trains did fine up against planes and cars until government subsidized roads and airports came along.

I’d be right with you on denounicing public funds for HSR if public funds were eliminated for roads and airports and then billions in bail-outs for the airlines.

It’s not like private firms are not willing to build HSR (as in Texas). But when Southwest Airlines pours millions into lawsuits to stop a competititve HSR plan (again, see Texas) then the only way to get the thing built is with the power of government.

So like I’m saying, if you want to level the playing field you’ll find that private investors are willing to build HSR because the numbers for it make sense. But if you’re going to get all upset about public funds going to HSR while being silent about highways and airlines/airports that would go bankrupt if required to run on their own then I guess you see where I stand.

[muawiyah]

Speaking of subsidized roads, the National Road was the first one ~ and that was BEFORE the invention of trains, cars and planes.

We have a couple of subsidized roads here in Fairfax County. Used to be called Rolling Road #1 and Rolling Road #2

Those roads were in business BEFORE the French and Indian War.

Now, regarding taxes that pay for roads and airports (and air traffic control), they exist. You pay gasoline taxes ~ and in the USA they go to roads (in Europe they give all that money to Iranian doctors and Bengladeshy nurses and they end up with inadequate medicine and worse highways).

Runways are paid for out of the fees charged air passengers, and a part of those fees go for TSA.

I think you are trying to confound USER FEES with TAXES.

Concerning railroad subsidies, we subsidize the Metro Rail system in the Washington DC area out of PROPERTY TAXES!

[Political Junkie Too]

Let me point out that federal funding of roads is in the Constitution, but trains are not.

Article I Section 8 Clause 7:

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

-PJ