Not to change the subject, but Wrote:
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> Freericks Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > While the argument is often made that transit
> > funding (and Amtrak) are unfairly skewed to the
> > east coast (and then somewhat to the west
> coast),
> > it is important to remember two things:
> >
> > 1) The largest urban areas (cities, suburbs,
> > exurbs) are where the majority of the US
> > population and tax payers actually live.
>
> The states with the largest populations are not
> served by the NEC - California, Texas, et al
> >
> > 2) The states with the largest cities are all
> > paying more to the Federal government than they
> > are getting back, while small population states
> > like Wyoming get more in Federal spending than
> > they contribute.
>
> This is a false analogy. Small population states
> are also the states where the federal government
> owns most of the land, and all the costs
> associated with federal land ownership. Such
> states also usually have lower costs of living, so
> those who live off transfer payments tend to make
> their homes in these states. Finally, all the
> phoney baloney QE~ monopoly money went straight
> into Wall Street and Silicon Valley coffers.
> Little if any found it's way into Red State
> America.
> >
> > Thus - folks in NJ supporting Amtrak is not an
> > unfair poll to consider.
>
> The bottom line remains that the northeast states
> expect the nation's taxpayers to keep pouring
> money into the NEC. If indeed those NE states
> were paying more than they take in, they'd have no
> problem taking over full responsibility for the
> NEC, huh?

Small mind, even smaller heart.