In their universe, a costly train is success

Pioneer Press ^ | 6-3-15 | Joe Soucheray

[TurboZamboni]

The political class -- they build themselves new office buildings and such -- live in a different universe from the rest of us, and the rest of us are getting routinely pickpocketed. No greater proof of this truth exists than the remarks of St. Paul's own City Council Member Dave Thune last week after Metro Transit released the financial figures for the first six months of the Green Line. Passengers boarding the Green Line from its debut in June, 2014 through the end of the year paid $6.21 million into the farebox, or about 35.8 percent of what it costs to operate the 11 miles of the route. Ready? "I think 35 percent is a really good percentage," Thune said. "I love it. I think it has been a success. The kind of traffic it's seeing, going from one end of the city to the other, is excellent -- and it's great for doing something special, like hopping on downtown and going to University Avenue for dinner." Those of us in the parallel universe are now wondering if we might be able to pay just 35 percent of our property taxes, or 35 percent of our state and federal taxes.

[TurboZamboni]

Were it not for boondoggles, St.Paul would have no doggles at all.

[Leaning Right]

Were it not for boondoggles, St.Paul would have no doggles at all.

Excellent pun. I plan to steal it and use it when discussing my local government.

[TurboZamboni]

Everyone benefits from roads, whether you have a car or not.
Choo choos, not so much.

[rellimpank]

—Moonbeam Brown’s California “Somewhere to Nowhere Express” , writ small-—

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘zackly.

[relictele]

Persons of all political persuasions often warn against judging mere appearances but in the spirit of Sherlock Holmes I believe there is much you can conclude about a person from his grooming, dress, office decor, etc.

Leftists in particular are superficial, simple-minded individuals intent on sending some sort of political message from their homes to their clothing to their vehicles. It's all ostensibly meant to convey community, sustainability, etc. but as usual it's really about self-aggrandizement.

-The longish hair is an attempt to look youthful despite the uniformly white shade. -The beard is meant to detract from the jowls, weak chin and bad teeth.

-The untucked shirt is more faux youth, an attempt to disguise a paunch or sheer laziness. Respect for the office is trumped by personal comfort and/or an attempt to appear hip. In other photos Thune is wearing a variety of Hawaiian shirts - just a wild n crazy guy!

-The musical theatre poster is 'arts supporter' snobbery. No film or pop music references for this cultured individual. As a bonus, the poster references ooooh the Broadway cast (despite the fact that a million people walk down Broadway each day) and the musical is about Brooklyn - currently the hotspot of hotspots for hipsters! Liberals in flyover country can't seem to stop referring to or envying New York City despite NYC's constantly-expressed disdain for them. Obsession in the hinterlands for NYC is code for 'I've been there therefore I'm entitled to hold the same views as a NY Times writer or reader.'

-The hard hat is the ubiquitous symbol of patronizing proletariat sympathizers - because a hammer & sickle would be too obvious. Used once, it has various stickers and badges on it from a groundbreaking ceremony or a walking tour of a building site. Up The Workers!

-A yellow umbrella. 'Nuff said.

-Messy bookshelves and a messy desk usually indicate a messy mind. A Post-It Note squarely in the middle of a PC monitor means the PC hasn't been used for a while.

-On the credenza, incredibly, is Spuds McKenzie who, we are told by Dave Thune types, encourages 8 year olds to binge drink. Tsk tsk. Also visible is a scale model of a motorcycle. Perhaps Thune has a bike at home and is Born To Be Wild, bay-bay! Vroom vroom!

These people are as personally cliched as their thinking. Smug, ignorant of history, unmindful of reality and always, always, always seeking to flatter themselves.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Depends if you have a doggle in the fight!

[BenLurkin]

Excellent analysis, and what’s up with that clock?

[duffee]

The “uniform” of “non-conformity”.

[relictele]

http://www.georgenelson.org/georgenelsonclocks.html

Perhaps part of the stock decor? Perhaps City Hall hasn’t been renovated for a long time?

[BenLurkin]

Model # 4755 Ball Clock Diameter: 14” Retail 1964: $30.00

Not just ugly — but ridiculously expensive!

Then and now: http://www.dwr.com/product/nelson-ball-clock.do?creative=4358150903&device=c&matchtype={MatchType}&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLAs

[TurboZamboni]

FWIW, he was a crusader to get smoking in bars banned.

Cuz you know, everyone goes to the bar for their health.

[relictele]

Liberals can’t seem to suppress their inner hall monitors.

[TurboZamboni]

We have to pass it to see what’s in it

We have to build it to see who rides it...in this case, lie about projected ridership numbers and then lie that people are paying to ride.

[relictele]

A similar scenario is playing out in Cincinnati with the Streetcar, which liberals forced on everyone and proceeded to tear up roads to build the tracks to nowhere that will be used by nobody.