HSR joke

Fiscal responsibility doesn't matter to the California legislators. Florida's decision to cancel plans to build a train that would cost them $3billion they don't have should be a hint to CA's blind obsession to have its HSR. In 2008, the voters were misled to say yes to build a proposed $43billion train but, the bond was for $9billion. There is a $34billion dollar gap that doesn't seem to matter. While Florida says no to a $3billion dollar debt, California seem eager to accept a 10-fold higher debt. And; that $43billion price tag, BTW, is estimated at half to one fifth of what other transportation experts cost analysis are.

CA HSR

Mid-February and the antiquated train momentum rolls through the Valley with a high dollar marketing sales pitch full of deception. In an article in the Fresno Bee (February 11, 2011) the City of Fresno enthusiastically embraces the incoherent plan.

In Washington the mood isn't as joyous. February 12th the Fresno Bee reports a darker look at the possibility of the antique train being implemented. Even still, CA's rep. Costa insisted that the billion dollar boondoggle is an "economic and quality of life game-changer". His statement fails to recognize that the subsidized project is inefficient economically. Money for the project is someone else' tax which lowers American's quality of life by over-taxation.

The only feasible solution is a privately funded project that recovers it's capital costs with ridership farebox by using new technology designed to conveniently take people directly where they need to go. A privately funded project does not present a burden to the general public.