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Re: HSR on the Peninsula, San Francisco to San Jose
Author: Tie Plate
Date: 08-19-2011 - 20:15
Scott Schiechl Wrote:
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> The debate over the proposed routes for HSR, the
> number and location of intermediate stops and the
> pressures, pro and con, being exercised by local
> governments is a vivid demonstration of the
> democratic process. It may not be pretty but in
> the end it usually works out.
Stripping the project of the key selling points voters thought they were voting for, such as optimal speed and running time, is democracy in action? No wonder we're in trouble!
> I think the main point we should take from HSR is
> that a majority of Californians voted to tax
> themselves to build it despite the rough economic
> times.
They actually voted to have the state issue $9.95 billion in bonds, having been given made-up figures about construction costs and ridership. Voting to have future generations deal with the costs of servicing the debt and ongoing operations/maintenance is a bit different than choosing to tax themselves in the rough times of late '08. I suppose I'm being a crybaby for knowing the reality of the situation rather than flailing about in a fantasy.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The debate over the proposed routes for HSR, the
> number and location of intermediate stops and the
> pressures, pro and con, being exercised by local
> governments is a vivid demonstration of the
> democratic process. It may not be pretty but in
> the end it usually works out.
Stripping the project of the key selling points voters thought they were voting for, such as optimal speed and running time, is democracy in action? No wonder we're in trouble!
> I think the main point we should take from HSR is
> that a majority of Californians voted to tax
> themselves to build it despite the rough economic
> times.
They actually voted to have the state issue $9.95 billion in bonds, having been given made-up figures about construction costs and ridership. Voting to have future generations deal with the costs of servicing the debt and ongoing operations/maintenance is a bit different than choosing to tax themselves in the rough times of late '08. I suppose I'm being a crybaby for knowing the reality of the situation rather than flailing about in a fantasy.
