Why do politicians love the idea of a railroad system that can never be what they promise it will be and will cost way more than they promise it will be delivered for?
The answer: because it's other people's money they're spending.
In his latest column, "High Speed to Insolvency: Why liberals love trains," George Will explains why "America’s 'win the future' administration [is] so fixated on railroads, a technology that was the future two centuries ago?" The underlying reason, he points out, is that "progressivism’s aim is the modification of (other people’s) behavior."
Either reason, wasting tax money or infringing on liberties is reason enough to kill these programs.
If there’s one great thing that’s come out of this horrible economy, it’s that many people – voters and elected officials – have woken-up to the fact that projects like High-Speed Rail (HSR) are boondoggles. Total wastes. Because the poor economy is forcing tough choices on both groups, there is growing consensus that as cuts need to be made, wasteful projects like HSR should be among the first on the chopping block.
Let’s just hope we can keep cutting these rail projects quicker than their proponents say the make-believe trains on the make-believe systems would travel…
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