Posted on 02/10/2011 12:03:28 PM PST by Bumpus2
Maybe I’m a little slow … Ok, a lot slow. So can someone sit me down and explain something it: What’s with the liberal preoccupation with high-speed rail?
This week, Joe Biden, capitalizing on his vast experience sleeping on the D.C. to Wilmington line to suggest it was a good idea to put $53 billion into a national high-speed rail network.
(Excerpt) Read more at threefingersofpolitics.com ...
Worst part is I don’t trust the republican leadership not to “compromise” this absurd proposal into existence.
Actually $53 Billion would barely get it off the ground, it would cost at least $100 billion and require billions in subsidies every year.
The workers would all be unionized for the Democrats of course.
The High Speed Gravy Train to Nowhere.
As always, follow the money. The manufacturers and contractors (and other beneficiaries) are obviously supporters.
Based on past government performance on rail projects, this is going to produce a lot of Powerpoint presentations. A lot of “consultants” are going to milk this (screw the pooch), and not produce anything of real substance. “Let’s do another study....Let’s do another study....Let’s do another study....Let’s do another study....Let’s do another study....ad infinitum, ad nauseum”.
Indeed, I was watching MSNBC the other day, and a liberal pundit--I think it was Chris Matthews--was praising rail travel and evoking the age of Lincoln. In this age of Boeing 787's and Interstate freeways, why, indeed, are liberals obsessed with choo-choo trains?
This is Biden’s farewell gesture to Wilmington before his replacement in the 2012 campaign.
In fairness, roads and highways currently get billions in subsidies every year. When every paved surface in America pays for its own care and maintenance then the argument that rail transit should do the same will be valid.
I support the concept of high speed rail for linking metropolitan areas that are impacted by vehicle and air traffic volumes that can not be ameliorated. For instance, in the LA area where do you build the new airports they’re going to need in 20 years? Where do you build the new freeways given that the existing freeways are a parking lot for a growing portion of each day? You can’t.
Rail may seem impractical now but as an alternative to crowded airlines and crowded freeways it’s rational to think that in years to come that more and more people will use rail where it is available.
In Sacramento thirty years ago the local leaders had a choice between a massive freeway building campaign, a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) or a pathetic light rail system that was inadequate the day it opened for business. We got the light rail, btw. The argument against the BART extension was that there was no demand for it. Fast forward to today and about 25,000 people from this region commute to the Bay Area by car every day. The Amtrak Capital Corridor turns people away some days. If we had BART the trains would be packed.
Bottom line is to keep doing the same old stuff: build more freeways and airports. Except that we can’t. Rail is the only option left.
Then let the private sector build and pay for it.
“Then let the private sector build and pay for it.”
Say the same for airports and roads and I’ll agree with you.
They should build it From Washington DC to Chattahoochee Mental Institute and Insane Asylum in Florida. Then they could call it the Chattahoochee Choo Choo. The Politicians could have a direct link for their treatments.
‘Maybe I’m a little slow …’
We know Amtrak is subsidized by the government so will High Speed Rail.
We know, just like the TSA, Progressive Socialist will want to unionize the High Speed Rail service. Future strikes anyone? But who will use High Speed Rail service. Just like other countries, it will be middle to upper income people. (The wealthy will still drive.)So, in reality, The lower income and poor will subsidize the service for the more affluent.
A study was done in Ohio. Their purpose High Speed Rail service would average 38 miles per hour because of all the stops.
How about catapults. That makes as much sense as these stupid trains.
I do say the same thing for roads and airports. I also say the government should not be running schools, libraries and I am not opposed to privatizing the fire department either, make it a subscription service and allow competition.
In fairness, roads and highways currently get billions in subsidies every year.
That is true, but your car, insurance, maintenance, and fuel are not.
The Rats are determined to take us out of our cars by making fuel too expensive to drive for anyone except the elite. They are preparing the “high speed rail” as the transportation for the masses.
Now that's funny.
“That is true, but your car, insurance, maintenance, and fuel are not.”
Really? I recall that hybrids are subsidized, we had the ‘cash for clunkers’ program, ethanol for fuel is subsidized, and low income people in many states get subsidized maintenance on their cars.
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