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Thank you C-girl :)

Quick question - is there a map with the proposed stops in LA anywhere? - it would possibly help your case because I am from LA, the public transportation there SUCKS is is NOT convenient in any way shape or form. people USE their cars because of this. I think my argument still stands. If the train is being proposed as a way to get commuters off of the highway than i think that is false advertisement. Commuters will generally not be using rental cars, ( except by sudden necessity - and then it would not be off of a MagLev commute, it would most likely be a replacement for their normal car) going to the airport on a daily basis - except those that may work there, etc. the point is that people are VERY hesitant to go out of their way, take extra time,(and connecting to busses DOES take time) just to take a cool train. I am for the longer routes, i.e. the las Vegas O.C. one, but I think the inner city plan needs to be reexamined, it is foolish to impliment a plan like this if the rest of the connecting, and fairly foundational in this case, elements are not all in order.

"What do you consider progress? Rhetoric? Designs outlined in magazine articles?"

Are you really asking this or is it just a rhetorical question? - it seems awfully rhetorical to me - but i will attempt an answer anyway.

Ok, I am talking about manufacturing and testing models, of Hybrid vehicles (Petrol and Hydrogen) and simply hydrogen vehicles that, unlike the electric cars, actually allow people to go the same speeds and thus have the same convenience as a currently 'normal' car. Once they perfect their current models a little bit more they are planning on releasing them to the general public. There is the potential for hydrogen cars being on the road next year.
However, there are two big obstacles that car companies are going to have to overcome with these alternatively fueled vehicles.
1. with ANY new invention there is a long period of trial and error - look at the Wright brothers, it took them a while to get that whole flying thing down ( no pun intended)and even when they did, it took HOW LONG for flight to catch-on as a safe method of transportation?!
2. there are stubborn people who do not like the idea of change either because they have the potential to lose money on the deal, or just because there is something in human nature that is terrified at venturing into the unknown ( that is why explorers are hero's, they faced the unknown challenges that lay ahead of them and persevered). Yes, it IS going to take a while for the Hydrogen vehicles to catch on - at no fault of the government, the scientists and engineers building them and the companies producing them. what will take the longest to convince is the general public, you start convincing people that Hydrogen is an option and you can bring about your definition of progress perhaps a lot sooner.

lol! Technology is NOT evil, I am no 'hacker', but I understand computerized systems well enough to know that they ARE insecure. if they want the electronic devices I am willing to wait for ones that include the irreplaceable paper copy.

"Electrically powered mass transit systems help alleviate our dependency on imported oil for transportation."

I disagree. People will not USE the mass transport system EVEN IN SPITE of the gas prices if it is not actually convenient for them. if the MagLev thing is going to 'help' get people off the road in L.A. there HAS to be another method of transport attached to it. If there is no additional shuttle service, or a connecting bus root it will be more of a headache than it is worth to use the train. The people I see most inclined to use it are those that would or possibly already have alternatively fueled vehicles ANYWAY.
As it is there is the fact that the cost for the long term parking and security personnel required to man the facilities - both trains and parking - will add to the cost of the ticket. IF the cost winds-up being about equivalent to the price for gas, and driving remains easier for people to actually get to their intended destination, then the majority of people will just not use it.

"This could be a real problem for our side in an election year."

I agree! that has to be ths scariest aspect of this whole thing ... especially with a candidate seeking to incorporate the Green party's voters into his little flock of liberals

"One of the reasons for gas shortages is lack of new refineries. If rationing were to become necessary, I think states should be rationed based on the number of refineries they have. Hellooooooo, California."

You know, It is really funny that you mention that, California DOES have 'all' the refineries doesn't it. ... that just makes me wonder why places that don't, like my birth state - Colorado, have gas prices that are , on average, at least 50 cents cheaper than Ca. odd isn't it?!

I thnk this whole spiel about the 'lack of gas' is just another ploy to promote tha alternate fuels - like Hydrogen

Though the Green party is NOT my best friend, they ARE making a LOT of progress with the Hydrogen fuels. it cuold be interesting.

Ok just a few things
1. WHO is going to foot the bill for this one - I seem to have missed that. And, you KNOW that when it is not well publicized that someone is going to be raining funds on something it usually comes out of OUR pockets..... forget that whole state debt issue and education and health care... etc.
2. What exactly is it supposed to help? is it a job creating thing to help band-aid unemployment?
3. 'Untouchable' is right. Is this REALY a plan to get LA motorists off the road?! - that WON'T HELP if there is nothing to connect to it... ex. busses, carpools, etc. things that LA is not very popular for.
4. ( also from 'Untouchable') "Excellent for getting the illegal aliens from San Diego up to the mecca of social services that San Fran. provides." has anyone SEE tne streets of San Fran lately? they are ALREADY beyond full! the city may have one of the biggest soup kitchens in the US... but it is stretching to tend to the current residents up here. This may be a mecca, but it is already FULL up here. Why make it easier for more people to get here
*Disclaimer - I am not saying that the only reason people come to S.F. is because of the EXCELLENT social services that this city DOES have ( I am a student in S.F. currently and active in community outreach programs) I am sure that there are many people who would use the rail for business and leisure travel. I just think that it IS a valid point to raise that making it easier for people from elsewhere to get to this city to take advantage of it is not fair to those already here* End disclaimer

... I think that is about all for now

"A little personal responsibility shouldn't be too much to ask of people."
Bravo! you would THINK that to be the case now wouldn't you! Unfortunately, even many of the Prescriptions out there are to help take away personal responsibility for actions - or just the need for a personal action ( like diet or exercise). What EVER happened to the human body's ability to heal without a massive amount of supplementary chemicals? it seems like we need a pill just to smile in the morning ...

does anyone know where to get a copy of his 'box' plans?

lol, there most definitely is a type of judicial anarchy here currently, I was just saying to be more clear to define your terms. there is a HUGE difference between judicial anarchy (meaning 'people in authority' ignoring the laws') and in real anarchy with a lack of laws and everyone having their way with things.

TOTALLY - I will post any upcoming events as I hear them :)

"OK. They talk about "Immigrant Bashing" and don't realize that Arnold is an immigrant. You see "immigrant" is just a euphemism for "illegal immigrant"."

Funny how that seems to work isn't it?! there really is nothing more to say. I am tired of special pleading cases - if you do it legally you are welcomed into the country, if you don't it SHOULD be a little harder for you to get work and such... geeze
( please don't take me for an unfeeling conservative brat... I DO have feelings)

"I pray that the referendum fails!"

I am lost - what referendum?

God help us all!

"But for Mr. Rooney to sit atop his Ivory Tower in New York City, where this War on Terror began, attack our young men and women in uniform, and essentially question their patriotism, is about as low as it gets."
- I could NOT agree more. Whatever happened to people talking about subjects they were WELL INFORMED about.... it seems so very long since we had news like that....

I would have to say that Mr. Rooney's assertion was more unpatriotic than any of our soldiers actions over there - risking life and limb for their country while Rooney doesn't even risk his tongue.

I think you are absolutely right in your comments bout the likelihood of gay marriage being legalized, discrimination and such. However, I have a problem with your analogy of the gun control law. Are you saying that you would rather have no gun control laws because criminals are just going to break them anyway? Be very careful with that type of argument even used as an example because it follows that laws are useless and therefore unneeded because they are just going to be broken. sounds like an anarchy to me there. However. I reconcile with you by the very end of your post. absolutely the only Hope we have is electing those who share our views... and that carries the necessity of actually voting in the first place. what can we do to motivate people to actually fight for their beliefs?!

Re: Mayday For Marriage

The “stadium choir” is a good point to mention -> it is a terrifyingly sad state for our country when those with the loudest complaints are the ones heard over the majority. I am not saying it is sad that the loudest ones are heard, I am saying it is really rather pathetic when the Majority is the silent group going unheard. Thank you Jeremiahs Call for supporting the rally (I was in San Francisco for their March for Protecting Marriage and had the same experience with the opposition)and for also calling others to really stand-up and be heard.