Sensenbrenner, high speed rail and government spending

[postulater]

We just received Jim's newsletter. He brags about stopping the Wisconsin high speed rail project.

After - "our taxpayers can ill-afford", "a train the majority of Wisconsin residents were never going to ride", "cost most-likely understated", "little to nothing to lower unemployment", he criticizes DC Metro and Amtrak for not being profitable.

Then "because I believe that having nearly half of our government financed by foreign creditors is unacceptable, irresponsible and hurtful for future generations" "If a government spending project, such as the high-speed rail, is not self-sustaining, then ... we must make a point to cut wasteful government spending..."

It makes me wonder how he figures that interstate highways are self-sustaining and why they should be subsidized. And how our wars are self-sustaining when the war-profiteers just received a tax relief extension.

Sheeesh.

[taterguy]

1. So how does it cost the government per mile to move people via car vs via train?

I have no idea what the answer is. I suspect train travel is cheaper but I don't know how much cheaper.

If we had more basic knowledge about these things then we wouldn't have these debates.

[randr]

2. Maybe he would like to return the federal dollars his state gets back for

interstate highway maintenance?
Maybe all states should be made to balance the federal taxes paid out to the federal dollars they receive.
If progressives were as vocal and organized as the teabaggers we could demand a balance of this sort.

[Archae]

3. The only trains Senselessbrainer supports...

Are the ones with cattle cars full of illegals being deported. :eyes:

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Repukes lie. That is a fact...even if they deny it and those that believe the lies argue against

their being liars.
History proves it.

The problem is the Dems do not know how to convey this fact to the public.
The repukes are 110% in control of messaging.
The repukes tell lies better than the Dems tell the truth. Sad..VERY SAD.

[jwirr]

5. Sadly if these people had ruled this nation in the Depression they

would have refused to build: highway systems, REA programs, schools that most of us went to: others?

[chelsea0011]

6. There was an article somewhere a few weeks ago that Amtrak Acela

from Boston to NYC has caused a 60% decrease in plane travel from Boston to NYC. But, I guess people don't want high speed train.:sarcasm: