Wisconsin’s GOP misses the train

The UWM Post ^ | Tuesday, August 31, 2010 | Brian Holmes

[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.

[anoldafvet]

I was in Seattle recently. Their new light rail system is so “profitable” that they are creating a “Special Taxing District” to subsidize it. /sarc off

[NavyCanDo]

“IMHO, Walker is Wisconsin's version of David Duke.”

Really?. Not knowing about any of the Wisconsin candidates, I would not know that. Still a good ad though, as far as the style used. Not attacking, can't be fact checked into oblivion, and appeals t Conservatives and moderates alike.

[Willie Green]

No prejudice in this article, is there? No barf alert, Willie? What a crock of horse sh**.

I happen to agree with that statement.
The Global Oil Parasites are obstructing energy efficient transportation infrastructure for the purpose of draining the economic lifeblood from the American Middle Class.

[OldMissileer]

Another pathetic Socialist cho cho post from Willie which includes articles containing poor writing and outright lies (number of teenage deaths).

Just watch out. If you rile him up Willie will start personally attacking you rather than using facts. A typical Socialist tactic when they are caught with no truth on their side.

[Mr. Lucky]

The total number of people of all ages killed in Wisconsin highway accidents last year was 542. That the goof writing this article would claim the number to have been 6,000 for teenagers alone illustrates the ignorance, or dishonesty, of fans of socialized transit.

[cripplecreek]

Its pointless to argue. When the adults regain control in November the fantasy will fade away to nothing pretty quickly.

[calex59]

The only energy efficient transportation being blocked is that of cars with internal combustion engines. Trains are revenue losers and will never take the place of cars, only in the communist ideology will they replace idividual transportation. You are a total frickin’ idiot when it comes to rail travel, and obviously a socialist/marxist at heart, for only a marxist would wish us all into public transportation subsidized by our tax dollars in order to keep them in business.

[Willie Green]

“IMHO, Walker is Wisconsin's version of David Duke.”
Really?. Not knowing about any of the Wisconsin candidates, I would not know that.

That's why I supplied a link to provide the basis for that statement.

[DuncanWaring]

Milwaukee Amtrak Station serviced over ½ MILLION passengers last year. That save a LOT of gasoline compared to traveling in individual cars.

Wow.

1500 passengers per day.

How much fuel did the trans burn carting-around 1500 passengers per day?

You get no points for claiming that trains burn no gasoline.

[Willie Green]

The only energy efficient transportation being blocked is that of cars with internal combustion engines. Trains are revenue losers and will never take the place of cars, only in the communist ideology will they replace idividual transportation. You are a total frickin’ idiot when it comes to rail travel, and obviously a socialist/marxist at heart, for only a marxist would wish us all into public transportation subsidized by our tax dollars in order to keep them in business.

Passenger rail is 15~25% more energy efficient per passenger mile than traveling by car.

Your uninformed rant is typical of libertarian losers, not true conservatives.

[RacerXSpeedRacer]

I’m a NE Wisconsin resident and its been interesting to see the candidates duke it out up here. The DemocRat candidate Tom Barrett is a Milwaukee political lifer and is seen trailing in all the polls.

There are two candidates for the Republican ticket. Scott Walker is another Milwaukee political lifer. He’s a likeable guy with a decent message overall. I heard him speak recently at a town hall and he did well. However, he’s endorsed by the GOP in WI and part of the polical machine. He’s being challenged by Mark Neumann

Mark Neumann is the conservative candidate running on the Republican ticket. He’s the tea party candidate and in my opinion is the real deal. He’s strong on his faith and family, is against abortion, a member of the NRA, a hunter, served in public office back in the 90’s as a Congressman (Contract with America era), is principaled and is a successful business owner. He doesn’t have the support of the GOP and is definitely not a career politician.

I believe Mark Neumann has a legitimate shot if people turn out to vote. Scott Walker is the younger, better looking candidate, but Neumann has the ideas to reduce taxes in this heavily taxed state and to bring jobs to the State through his plan to develop 12 tech regions similar to what they didn in NC.

[Willie Green]

You get no points for claiming that trains burn no gasoline.

They don't. If they're not electric, then they burn diesel.
But refer to the link in my previous post.
Even Amtrak is 25% more energy efficient than traveling by car.
That adds up to a lot of fuel savings over the course of a year!

[RacerXSpeedRacer]

and both Republican candidates are strongly opposed to this train scam.

[red tie]

“It would be safer for students to travel between Milwaukee and Madison by train, especially in Winter.”

And how many of them commute daily? None!

[red tie]

The liberals goal is to tax the middle class right out of their cars!

[cripplecreek]

Train Man.



Concentrate Willy, now what did you do with our money?

Sometimes trains go in my butt

I don't care about trains or your butt. What did you do with our money?

Only small trains. Sometimes two cars. Yeah, two cars fit in my butt.

Willy, did you spend our money for trains?

Yeah, spent all the money.

What did you spend our money on Willy?

Sometimes I slide my butt on rails. Very hot in the sun.

If you don't tell me where our money went, I'm going to put my boot in your ass.

Definitely two trains in my butt. Not three, just two trains.

[BfloGuy]

Over 6,000 teenagers alone are killed every year on the roads in Wisconsin.

In 2008, there were 37,261 highway fatalities in the entire U.S.. Are we to believe that 1/6 of those were teenagers in Wisconsin?

If so, maybe they should have trains up there.

[DuncanWaring]

According to the chart at the link you posted, AMTRAK is roughly 1 Mega-Joule (MJ) per passenger-mile more efficient than personal autos.

Gasoline has an energy content of roughly 132 MJs per gallon, meaning travel by private auto consumes the energy equivalent of one more gallon of gasoline for every 132 passenger-miles.

I’d call that a darned cheap price to pay for the freedom to go anywhere I want, from wherever I want, whenever I want.

If you want to go where the bureaucrats tell you to go, when they tell you to go there, you’re welcome to it.

Especially if the government quits taking money, ultimately at gunpoint, from taxpayers to subsidize rail passengers.

[Willie Green]

Gasoline has an energy content of roughly 132 MJs per gallon, meaning travel by private auto consumes the energy equivalent of one more gallon of gasoline for every 132 passenger-miles.

I’d call that a darned cheap price to pay for the freedom to go anywhere I want, from wherever I want, whenever I want.

For the 1500 daily passengers riding the 90 miles between Madison and Milwaukee, that's a fuel savings of 1023 gallons per DAY!!!.
(which would be WELL over ¼ MILLION gallons per year!!!)

I'd call that a pretty nice savings, not to mention the fact that Amtrak passengers have the FREEDOM to be more productive during their trip. They can relax or get some work done on their laptops, use their cellphones... all sorts of things that are better than being forced to pay attention to congested traffic while driving!!!

[BlueLancer]

"I'd call that a pretty nice savings, not to mention the fact that Amtrak passengers have the FREEDOM to be more productive during their trip. They can relax or get some work done on their laptops, use their cellphones... all sorts of things that are better than being forced to pay attention to congested traffic while driving!!!"

Good ... then let them have the FREEDOM to pay for the usage themselves, full cost of the ticket to pay for the expenses of the railway, not with more oppressive taxes and fees for those who have no desire or need to use it.

Or are you going to advocate legislating that we must use it?