The budgetary situation is indeed appalling. The pols don't want to cut the social programs that have exploded in recent years. Nationally we are still trying to be the world's policeman, something we can't afford anymore. The other big buys on the block are doing nothing - Russia, India, China - which is particularly galling since the problem is in their back yard, not ours.

And then the CHSRA insists on a major detour and picks fights with urban areas instead of concentratng on a demo "racetrack" along I-5 and the Grapevine. They are likely to get bogged down with opposition and run out of money. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility they may get into a protracted legal war of wills with the UP.

Underlying the budgetary crunch is the issue of the unions and their compensation packages. If you let payrolls get out of hand fares skyrocket accordingly. The transit death spiral

When a situation becomes untenable there is bound to ensue what they euphemistically call a "correction".