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Democrats, Republicans, and independents would all support new government spending on U.S. transportation infrastructure, but are not interested in footing the bill themselves, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by Democratic polling firm Hart Research and Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies, was released days after President Obama submitted his 2012 budget request, which includes $53 billion over six years towards high-speed rail projects and $30 billion a year to fund a national infrastructure bank.
The survey found wide bipartisan support for legislators to seek common ground on infrastructure improvements: 71% of all respondents -- including 74% of Democrats, 71% of Republicans and 69% of independents -- said they wanted elected officials to work together on the issue.
Support was also strong among respondents who identified themselves as part of the Tea Party, an affiliation that connotes a strong anti-government spending attitude, with 66% supporting infrastructure investment.
“The bipartisan, or even tripartisan, nature of the issue comes through loud and clear," said Jay Campbell of Hart Research, who, along with Public Opinion Strategies, conducted the poll for state-centric think tank the Rockefeller Institute.
This support also extended into specific policy proposals that would control how transportation dollars are spent. In the poll, 90% supported the idea of holding all levels of government accountable for making sure infrastructure projects stay on time and budget, as well as allowing local regions to have a greater say in how transportation funds are used in their area.
Even some spending increases, like more competitive grants for transportation projects and money for developing public transportation systems and bike paths, were met with high approval numbers.
“There is a tolerance for more spending in this area as long as there's a demonstration that it's going to be spent wisely,” said Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies.
But support plummeted to 40% when respondents were asked if they would support replacing the per-gallon gasoline tax, which has stayed at the same level since 1993, with a fee based on the number of miles driven.
While a gas-tax hike would be a quick way to increase revenue, its unpopularity among voters means it’s unlikely to become a reality in Congress, Campbell said.
“This is really the rock and a hard place for lawmakers,” he said. “Voters say our infrastructure is lacking, they say it should be modernized, they say it should be improved, but they resist paying for it.”
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Infrastructure should mean efficiently building new highways and bridges, without union rules requiring excessive salaries, and without mountains of appeals and paperwork.
High speed rail, on the other hand, is nothing but a $53 billion boondoggle payoff for Joe Biden's cronies. It has cost overruns, corruption and Obama failure written all over it.
Hello- bob, what this poll shows is that everybody likes ice cream, but disagrees on whether or not they want to BUY it.
Infrastructure is a good. I will hasten to add, it does not look like they posed a separate question about high speed choo choos, but, I digress.
People can agree that something, in general, is a good- where they diverge is how much they are willing to pay to acquire it.
I get that you understand- democrats, on the other hand, do not seem to get it.
Seem to believe that their rich uncles and aunts should provide it.
Bob -- could we talk plainly: what would be an appropriate salary for someone building a new highway or bridge? For an engineer? Someone who runs machinery for grading roads or rolling asphalt? Someone who pours concrete? What kind of other compensation would you include? Workmen's compensation? Health care or insurance against accidents on the job?
Imagine that! We like smooth roads but not the expense of building or maintaining. Wonder whatever happened to our gas tax $$$ and our state tax allocations from the government?
Nice to know that NJ wants to find a private buyer for a bridge from staten island to NJ or that Ohio is expressing an interest in leasing out the Ohio toll road. Can't government do anything but lose $$$?
High speed rails by obama means 79 MPH (at least as stated in a white house release in 2010) and I would seriously question the ROI and viability of some of the routes suggested. Yes jobs would be created, but will there be enough passenger demand to justify the initial costs and to sustain maintenance.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-high-speed-intercity-passenger-rail-program-cleveland-columbus
Seems more likely that that it will be just another bridge going nowhere or taken over for faster moving frieght trains.
The new train set that Obama is expecting Santa to provide will NOT be in his stocking this year. Even if he holds his breath until he turns blue.
American, there will be enough passenger demand for high speed rail when the gas becomes scarce and expensive. It really is a very efficient way to travel especially as oil becomes more expensive air travel will too, the days of driving everywhere are coming to be a less desirable method of travel, especially if the roads and bridges are in poor condition.
We have to do something and if we keep arguing nothing gets done. Some people give the impression, if I agree to an idea presented by the opposition, then I'm giving in. NO a thousand times NO, you are working to help your country. We are all Americans, and that is often forgotten in the fray.
Right, G.M. MAybe we will all be traveling by horse and buggy, too.
Gas goes up much more, and Obama will resign before you can say, shiny new choo choo ten times fast.
What you are selling, the public is not buying.
Remember? Obama was supposed to be a pragmatic centrist- not a left wing ideologue.
Speaking of grassroots uprisings, here is an interesting nugget about Wisconsin
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/DNC_playing_role_in_Wisconsin_protests.html?showall
So, the DNC is organizing these protests.
Why am I not surprised.
Gingerbread Mama - for people to NOT want High Speed Rail shows that they are small-minded and short-sighted. Just like the airports, HSR hubs can be money makers for the cities that have them. This type of transportation creates MANY jobs, and it offers and alternative to being groped and x-rayed at the airport.
You arew wasting your time trying to talk about something sensible to the one that has no sense.
pietro,
How is that short sighted? I was in Germany a few months ago and it really doesn't work there. The time is not now, it cost too much money. Where would they go? Cross country? Here in Florida, Tampa to Orlando, really?? Why? For what purpose?
How about Columbus to Ann Arbor? That would be used once a year.
Pietro, dear, the country does not NEED a lot more entities that think it is a GOOD thing to only lose $552 million a year.
http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/Amtrak_Semiannual_5-17-10.pdf
People do not ride choo choos anymore, when they have the opportunity to fly.
Or drive.
They only choose to ride the rails, as it were, if they perceive it to be cost effective, and less time consuming, than the alternative.
Works from N.Y. To Boston, or D.C.
They are losing money on ALL their other lines.
Choo choos are not the romantic adventures you see on the old movies. There is a faster, more cost effective alternative. They are called planes, and people use them.
Not the choo choos.
Paul - good for you for going to Germany. They have a complete network of high-speed and feeder trains that will allow you to get to anywhere you want to in Europe.
So why is that such a hard concept for you to get your head around here in the States?
The issue is this - if people had more travel choices, they would take advantage of them. For you to say that Germany's HSR 'does not work too well', well I take issue with that. The Germans seem to not have a problem with their HSR.
And for you, No Joe, you have no idea what you are talking about. I can fly an airplane - can you? If you cannot, then you need to be quiet. Stupid posts like yours about HSR and airplanes just solidifies your ignorance.
American - the Intercity (IC) trains usually go about 80MPH anyway. What I am talking about is the inter-city EXPRESS trains that should be able to travel at 100-140 MPH (depending on the terrain, of course). In Europe, there are many types - Regional (the slowest, usually local trains), InterCity or IC Trains, next fastest, Extended Night (EN) for overnight trips, and the Inter City Express Trains (ICE) that are the true High Speed Rail.
Amtrak would be the equivalent to a Regional carrier, while the Acela would be equivalent to the IC train. We really do NOT have a 'true' High Speed Rail solution here in the States.
As far as ridership is concerned, MAYBE the President is trying to position the States so that we do not have to depend so much on imported fossil fuels for places that HATE our guts.
Unlike the No Joe and JAS1 peanut gallery here, I am sure you can see the benefit of being more self-reliant. They cannot, so they denigrate any thoughts on the subject. The funny thing is that these two would be the FIRST ONES in line to ride the train when it is built, and claim that they always thought it was a good idea.
Pietro - I understand self reliance quite well, Just as I understand functionality in mass transportation. When cost benefit studies can be done to justify rail service from point A to point B, fine.
Case in point, funds were recently released for 79 mph rail service from Iowa city-Moline-Chicago. Initial funds are for cost analysis followed by construction and then becoming operational by 2016. Problem is that neither Iowa or Illinois has the money to complete or maintain the project. As a taxpayer, I cannot see the cost justfication or even passenger demand for such a rail line even if the future means passenger service to Des moines and possibly Omaha.
You have a valid point on fuel efficiencies and fuel costs but I don't see the demand of students commuting from Iowa city to chicago on weekends or patients traveling from moline to the university hospitals at Iowa city as paying the costs of operations. I have the same concerns about the 79 mph rail service in Ohio from cleveland-columbus-cincinatti as given by the whitehouse in 2010, but I don't live in Ohio either.
Even given higher speeds where is the passenger demand going to come from? I can see the potential for such service in the northeast corridor or perhaps even California, but elsewhere?
With my engineering background along with todays weak economy I can't see how even building such rail lines can be justified. I would rather see the $$$ spent on repairing and maintaining our existing infrastructure of bridges, highways and frieght rails. When the economy is rolling, then look into developing transportation options that can be justified by passenger demand.
Let Japan, China and the EU refine high speed mass transit until we can justify it here, we don't need to re-engineer rail transit from 79 mph to 100 mph to 200 mph.
OK, American - we will just have to disagree. However, I will point out that if Eisenhower had the same attitute about the Interstate Highway system as you have about High Speed Rail, we would NOT be worrying about repairing THAT infrastructure right now.
President Eisenhower had a vision that he gave to this country (probably because of what he saw of the Autobahn in Germany) and he made it happen. It is ironic that President Eisenhower faced the very same arguments of 'not being able to afford it' when he was constructing the Interstate Highway system.
Yet, the Interstate Highway System in INVALUABLE for interstate commerce and travel and we could not be as successful as we are WITHOUT it.
Since I do not have any feasibility numbers for the corridors you are talking about, I will not comment on it. However, that does NOT mean that InterCity rail cannot be useful. As far as Ohio is concerned, I believe the Governor made a grave mistake that Ohio will not recover from for years to come.
Gee, if you looked at the complete context of the conversation, No Joe was being condescending about airline travel vs. HSR.
I trained to be an airline pilot. I know what they do. I know the hours they put in. I know the routines, the delays, the hassles.
In some cases, HSR is the better option because it makes better sense than to fly.
So yes, I am guilty of not completely expanding the argument and No Joe still does not know what she is talking about.
Pietro - I think we only disagree on whether we start to build now or wait for a stronger economy.
We do agree that without feasibility (cost benefit studies if you will) studies it would not be appropriate at this time to further argue the pros and cons.
As for the interstate highway system, that was a no brainer for any administration because of what the observations made on the german autobahn were and as you state the system was invaluable for commerce.
It should be noted that the growth of personal travel by auto played a big part in the demise of passenger train travel as did steadily increasing air travel. Both of these travel modes will have to change drastically per area market demands for us to see a viable return to rail travel.
No doubt, HSR will find a niche in selective markets in the future, but as you say where are the feasibility and cost/benefit studies?
Enjoy life pietro!
American - you bring up good valid points. You may be correct about our disagreement. I am also inclined to agree that the feasability studies should be done FIRST. You are correct about the initial demise of rail because of the auto, but then again, gas was only 10 cents a gallon!
My, times have changed.
Great conversation, American. I enjoyed it.
What happen to the stimulus, didn't they mention repairing the infrastructure when they were selling it?
Yes, but it had to go to other things, like saving jobs. Otherwise, the unemployment rate might have gone to 12 or 13 percent.
So it wasn't a stimulus, it was subsidizing government jobs for a year. And that explains why we have chronic 9-10% unemployment, and it also explains why government union workers are rioting in Wisconsin as states are asking them to pay their fair share of the expenses.
Well put Anna M. But now all the funny money is gone, what now brown cow? Easy is the temporary "fix." Hard is the actual fix.
Gonna suck for awhile around here, but dog gone it, it's either that or our kids learn Chinese. And trust me, my kids have no shot at learing chinses. Spanish is hard enough amigo.
And Really Anna M, supporting the Wisconsin senate? A fair and square vote was about to take place and they RAN AWAY? What is this : a politics handbook by Monty Python?
And so when Obama said "shovel ready jobs" he was flat out lying, right? Or did something more shiny come along and grab his attention?
And Bye the way - you need to put the timesheet down and come around more often. The libbies need you. Bad.
hey thetotas,
Yep, they sure didn't sell what it actually went to - puppet theaters, etc.
Last I heard, they still had about $45 billion of the stimulus they had not spent. Maybe if the monkeys are still not ready for their crack habit study, they could buy a few miles of union made bike paths, or ............... GIVE IT BACK BECAUSE WE'RE BROKE.
Thetotas- haven't you heard? Even OBAMA admits there is no such thing as a shovel ready job.
Too bad it is $840 billion too late.
Oh, no, sorry, JoAnna. (sound of buzzer) George W. Bush and 8 years of republican fiscal irresponsibility explains the 9 to 10 percent unemployment. The stimulus only explains why it wasn't higher.
And that's NOT what's happening in Wisconsin, despite what FAUX News is telling you. CNN is now dead to me, as well. In the first place, there are no riots, just peaceful demonstrations, although some firefighters rallying in support of other unions, did involve some bagpipes, which can get a little noisy, I'll admit. But I dare you to come up with a single reliable source, based on firsthand observations, that would label it a riot. I have personal friends who were inside the alleged riot, however, so I warn you in advance that you won't. And I've got pictures to prove it.
What happened is simply this. In a January Special Session, the new republican legislature rammed through $140 million in new tax cuts that benefit mainly the wealthy and have no hope of creating jobs. In February, our new republican governor proposed a $137 million budget "repair bill" to fix the "crisis" he caused. If you don't believe the article, click the link in the article to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's memo analyzing the issue, and projecting an actual budget surplus for this biennium, except for Walker's irresponsible cronyism.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html
Now, to your main point, and Spankster's, too. I don't know about you, but I see no moral grounding for requiring public workers to pay for an artificial budget "crisis" manufactured by an irresponsible governor and legislature to serve their wealthy patrons. And what on earth were they doing proposing more tax cuts for, in the first place, if Wisconsin is in such fiscal trouble? Explain that one to me, will ya?
Have a nice evening.
@ Spanky ~ I agree. It's really gonna suck now. In fact, gonna suck a lot like Texas, which ranks 50th in education, instead of first or second, as Wisconsin usually does, despite all those greedy, evil teachers' unions.
But you know, Spanky, I'm just not going to defend President Obama on the stimulus anymore. He won't defend public workers, so I'm not defending him. He's on his own now, as far as I'm concerned, and as far as it goes.
As for my participation here, be careful what you wish for, Spankster. It just may increase after my appointment on Monday with my investment guy to freeze my retirement funds into safe, interest-bearing accounts. Because I foresee a crash coming if things keep going the way you seem to want them to.
Just for the record, the last time I foresaw a crash coming was August, 2007, just before the market dropped like a stone. Only in that case, I didn't foresee how awful it would be and let my funds ride. This time, I do.
Anna, those are hypothetical jobs, which can be shown on a hypothetical graph. They do not, nor ever will, actually exist.
I am tired of explaining this. According to Keynes, when output falls, full employment also falls, so of the government makes up the gap in output, employment should follow to full employment
It does not work, has never worked, and will never work.
Inflation though, which follows as a natural result, does work.
And has already started.
Checked commodity prices lately?
I'm a follower of Paul Samuelson, myself. Give a man a fish and he eats it. Give a man a fishing line and place to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Get it, no joe?
Poor disillusioned soul. Still blaming others. Didn't Reagan have something to do with the current economy too? How'bout Chester Arthur, seeing you're obviously having a bad experience with the Sherman and Peabody's Way-Back machine.
And now the state of Wisconsin is asking its union members to pay a little for their retirement, they currently pay zero, and a little for their health care, they currently pay zero. You know, just to unburden and help out the taxpayers a smidgen. Instead, we get our answer, the union thugs riot.
And, oh, lets just add on a few more billion for the taxpayer to pay so you can ride the fast choo-choo to Menomonee Falls, for lets say their Apple Fest celebration! It is your right to go you know.
Next comes fishing license fees, state trout stamps, federal trout stamps, county trout stamps, docking and ramp fees for your boat, live bait taxes, state stickers for your boat, DNR regulations and fines, and special taxes on fishing gear. Pretty soon taking little Johnny fishing for an afternoon costs you about $200.
no jo is a fraud. I am currently reading his The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money where he specifically warns against using output as a measurement. no jo claims to have an economics degree but if she does, it was a K-Mart blue light special. More likely, though, she is a paid troll.
Anna, ignore no jo, js1 and bob for when you argue with idiots, you are only pulled down to their level and they will beat you with experience. Now watch, little bobby's pee-pee has a hard on for no jo and will attack me for calling no jo the fraud she is.
Wait for it . . .
Pulled down to their level and you use the words pee-pee and hard on? LOL priceless...........
You are really a master-(de)bator Matty. Years of practice no doubt.
And in your world it's free? Any business has to spend money to make money. Except they're making it without spending it now, aren't they, dear?
Off subject, but just heard a funny "reported" story on the radio in the car.
Seems the Tea Party found the poor Democrats from Wisconsin who lost their way to the capital to vote on the crisis. The confused legislators somehow ended up in Rockford, Illinois at the Great/(Best?) Western hotel.
Well they scooted over to some other resort, but yep - Tea Party didn't let them get away and the last report was they headed north back to Wisconsin with the Tea Party on their tail.
I hope that story is true ........that's just too funny.
I think it probably is, Bob. Democrats can't afford fancy hotels in exotic places.
Anna that's just stupid - we all know all the money the politicians have to spend on themselves. Best kind of $ "OPM" Other People's Money.
Yeah, a Best Western in Rockford Illinois. Second only to Disney as the #1 vacation spot in America.
Lets just hope the state comptroller in Wisconsin takes a close look at the expensive vouchers submitted by these Democrats. Probably a lot of strip club receipts.
Tell us AM, will those schools be making up the missed school days the teachers caused when they quit on the kids to go riot? Or will Wisconsin kids just be a little dumber? Like anyone would notice.
And remember, children are our future.
little bobby is lying again, Rachael just did a live interview with one of the Democrats and they are not running back to Wisconsin.
Good for Wisconsin. And who's "Rachael"?
Did "Rachel" ask about the DNC involvement in organizing the protests?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/DNC_playing_role_in_Wisconsin_protests.html?showall
How about the parents who filed complaints about their children being buzzed to Madison without their consent? Understand there are a couple hundred criminal complaints being filed.
This little debacle is going to backfire, big time.
DNC should understand how the inter webs works.
Good for the DNC for getting involved. It's about time the Democrats got a spine.
The Republicans are lying *GASP* again? The state is not in a financial crisis and the only reason for this bill is to strip away the rights of workers to collective bargaining. This is a blatant attempt at union busting, plain and simple.
Parents complaining? Care to back that up, fraud? There was nothing in the story about that.
Are Conservatives really going to accuse the DNC of malfeasance after the Tom Delay-orchestrated Texas redistricting of 2003?
Now there was REAL malfeasance. Violation of the Voting Rights Act, abuse of power in pulling strings at the Federal Aviation Administration, Illegal activity by a Republican PAC, involvement of deep-pockets Conservative donors...
And the extent to which Republicans were attacking the rights of average citizens was minimal by comparison to this.
Deacon John B,
You want to use 2003 incident about redistricting, which is done all the time. Take a look at Jesse Jackson's Jr's district.
Unchristian of you to warrant an illegal act with blame of another. Now Deacon, Violation of Voting Rights Act? Really, that's funny as hell!!!! Can I say hell Deacon?
What illegal act? Besides the Republican plan to steal rights that have been recognized for workers for nearly 100 years.
The only thing the two events have in common is that Republicans are on the wrong side in both cases...legally AND ethically.
Probably not, since almost everyone else has lower ACT and SAT scores.
To demonstrate how completely out of touch Wisconsin's governor Scott Walker really is, he rejected outright the funds that were allocated to Wisconsin for high speed rail, thus potentially sacrificing more than 5,000 jobs, even though he ran on a job creation platform, and apparently even going against the will of his own ideological counterparts. Understand that this constituted jobs that were already set to be paid for, not jobs for which the state would have had to find the money. In fact, there were companies that had already set up headquarters here in anticipation of participating in the project. They immediately cancelled those plans. Other, more visionary, governors immediately snapped up the money. I guess that the rail connections from other states will have to end at the state line, and the economically disenfranchised citizens of Wisconsin can take the Greyhound.
Or wait, they can't do that either. Sigh. Well, then, since they can no longer afford cars, let them walk from those places they can afford to live to those places where the jobs are, no matter how far. Those 20-mile walks through the blizzards will do all those slackers a lot of good, don't you think?
It's just accounting Anna, but I know you know that. Accounting is pure black and white. The ledger has to balance or you have to start over.
I bet you can afford a car, and that you are not in a union. Huh, think there is a corrolation there? It really is sweet you continue to stand up for those poor hapless union folk. Except how come they can get you cannedif you are not in the union? Seems kinda unfair, right?
Besides, trains? That's the best the libbies can do? On the plus side Atlas Shrugged is about to come out, and it's all about those trains. Ironic, no?
You must think the money grows on trees. What part of we-can't-afford-it is not clear to you? You can't keep loading up the debt of the country for all these goofy mindless boondoggles of yours. Even Treasury Secretary Geithner says the current spending level is unsustainable, and he's a tax cheat, so he would know the value of a dollar. Anyone with an ounce of brains realizes these bizarre projects the Libs keep coming with are nothing more than burying the taxpayer a little bit (or the case of Obama, a lot a bit) more.
You act like you have a right to all this garbage you want to build. Amtrak stinks, so you just ignore that, and now you want to build yet another white elephant. You want to get around Wisconsin? Go buy a 1998 Geo and go nuts driving between Sheboygan and Tomah. Be sure to stop at all the cheese stores and factory outlet stores on your journey.
High speed rail. Get real.
Next are balloon rides at the county fair.
Well, I guess the Libs have won. Yes, I'll admit it. They have made the country so soft, and so stupid, and feel so entitled that we now have a majority of people that are like petulant children that want all their stuff now, and for someone else to pay for it. "Yeah, sure, lets build that high speed rail, it will 'create' 5,000 jobs, yeah who doesn't want that?" Ehh, yeah, so how'ya want to pay for that, cash or charge? "Just put it on the credit card, China has lots of money, they'll lend us more".
Idiots.
Anna, I KNOW you know better than this.
When my son went to U of C, he went off to take the calculus exam. He was not gone half an hour before he came back.
His explanation? In his words : "never take the free pony".
On his way to the exam site, he realized something- if he aced it, ( and he would have), they would have congratulated him, and put him in a tougher course.
No extra credit, ( U of C does not do that), just a tougher course.
Hence, his term " free pony".
This high speed rail money is a free pony. The government will build the rails, but the states will be stuck with the losing proposition of RUNNING the choo choos.
Anna - What our ignorant friend from New Jersey fails to mention is that the 10% that the states have to put into the rail INCLUDES the risk of overruns. The states KNOW THIS BEFORE they start building, so the states are not 'stuck with' anything.
As usual, you only get part of the story with the New Jersey shrew.
How very extraordinary. no jo is happy that her lout of a son was too lazy to take a test because he might wind up in a tougher course, which he could not possibly pass. One would think that a good parent would want their youngster challenged. I know I always did.
Over half a billion in losses last year, Pietro.
That was a GOOD year. Would have been worse, without $88 million in extra stimulous funds.
One more time- NOBODY rides the trains. They are 19th century technology.
So, you and Obama keep saying WTF. The taxpayers will continue to fly the friendly skies.
Or drive.
Unless, of course, you think there should be a MANDATE that people ride the choo choos?
newdayDawning10
This little morsel from nj certainly explains why the Repubs are SO willing to celebrate mediocrity. I could have drank my way through college and not challenged myself, either; but then I'd have to live with myself,...
I, too, celebrate reaching for the brass ring and rewarding 'personal best' effort and excellence. But I guess that's one of MANY differences between us libbies and the stuck on stupid crowd.
PS. there are way too many 'shroomers out tonight,...
There seem to be two camps:
Those who think fossil fuels are a renewing energy source, and the rest of us who understand that by perpetuating the existing model - we aid our middle eastern 'enemies' far faster than Glenn Beck and John Boehner can work up their emotions.
Spanky ~
None that I can see. I owned two cars when I was a union member, and bought both of them new. We don't have unions in my current profession, and that's sort of a shame.
JoAnna ~
In Farmville it does, JoAnna. You should try it; helps relieve hostility. But seriously, since the money was already allocated and came from the federal government, it wasn't a state governor's job to decide that the federal government couldn't afford it, was it?
No, I think Amtrak rocks. But just like anything else republicans touch, when you choke the life out of something, it tends to die. Witness public education, Social Security, health care, environmental protection, and the infrastructure ... need I go on?
No, I don't think I will. I like my Honda Accord much too much. And I don't shop at factory outlet stores or cheese factories, either. Got any more unfounded stereotypes you'd like to fly?
no joe ~
And so are cars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_automobile
Airplanes on the other hand are 20th Century technology, if you rule out Icarus. Do I really need a cite for Orville and Wilbur?
So what's your point? Or wait, I think I see it. Guns are 8th Century technology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm
By George, I think you've got it. Guns are obsolete, so let's just get rid of them.
Thanks, no joe. And good night, gracie. :-*
You mean Ayn Rand's been in the closet all this time? Goodness me, what WILL the anti-gay crowd have to say about that?
Koo, koo, ca-choo-choo. ;-)
On his way to the exam site, he realized something- if he aced it, ( and he would have), they would have congratulated him, and put him in a tougher course.
No extra credit, ( U of C does not do that), just a tougher course.
Celebrating the dumbing down of America -- in fact, your own family. I'm sure you're very proud.
After all, at least you chose being dumb. Some people don't have that choice. Being a sensitive, empathetic liberal type, though, I won't name any names.
Being ignorant as a life-style choice. Catch the fever.
This article is a perfect example of why we are in such poor financial shape. People are willing to support government spending, as long as they don't have to pay for it. Instead of blaming policians for our current situation, people should simply look in the mirror for the root of our problems.
????? Ok I'm confused.
"People are willing to support government spending, as long as they don't have to pay for it."
I think you have it backwards.....People don't want the Government to spend our money.
Gov. Scott said no to Choo-Choos too!!! I don't know how trains are the future though.
They'll have one of them going in (very fast) circles in Ohio. Pietro says it will cost a billion and employ millions. Pretty good return on investment.
And to power it, they'll bolt a windmill and some solar panels on its roof.
It's going to be something.
There's a write up in Popular Mechanics explaining the whole thing. Or was it in The Onion?
Joanna, I believe it was in the Journal of Irreproducible results. I'll check, as soon as I find it.
I'm looking for it, too. I remember there was an ad for a company that let you clone yourself by mail. " Send ten dollars, fingernail clippings, and return bus fare".
Damn. I've been looking everywhere for that Journal. Soon as it turns up, I'll let you know.
Joanna - that's right. High Speed Rail will generate MILLIONS of jobs and that kind of investment is what we need in this country.
You can denigrate HSR all you want. The fact of the matter is that when gas prices rise, less people drive. I could enlighten you about how HSR works in other countries. I mean, if ITALY can run a successful HSR system, then the United States should. If you didn't know, in Italy, everyone closes their shoppes from 2-5pm, so if you wanted something during that time, you would be SOL.
Just to show that you are wrong, AGAIN, Joanna, the Republican Mayors of cities in Florida are hopping mad at their very REPUBLICAN Governor for turning away money for the state.
I am sure that the 12% that don't have jobs appreciate it too.
Drinking earlier than normal tonight Peitro? Well, it is the weekend, at least for you.
Such an intelligent come back, JS1. Very mature and not at all ad hominem.
"Very mature and not at all ad hominem"
LOL, this is from a guy that says pee-pee and hard on.......................
Pietro,
Who's the Republican Mayors? That means more than one, name names Pietro, Millions of jobs??? LOL really, oh boy that's a good one. All aboard the crazy train!!!! Now if you have Ozzy on while your typing that would be awesome.......
What's the matter, Paul? Your little pee-pee getting a hard on over JS1 and no jo, too? Or do you just get all giggly like a little girl when you hear those words? I'd use grown up words but then the post might be deleted and you wouldn't understand them, anyway.
Go to bed, little boy, it's past your bedtime.
One story talked about a line that would include Tampa, Orlando, and Lakeland Florida. Lakeland has a Republican mayor, but Tampa and Orlando have Democratic mayors. No video was found of the Lakeland mayor hopping around.
Source: http://www.thirdage.com/news/florida-high-speed-rail-project-cancelled-floridians-fight-back_2-17-2011
And mayors, will that be cash or charge? Charge you say?
LOL, ok Matt...................you burned me......good come back.
Thanks, Paul. That one did turn out rather well.
JoannaSmith1 Do you ever listen to yourself? You are talking total nonsense. All of the other developed countries are utilizing these technologies, ( I guess they must be stupid?) But if you convince enough voters to side with the interests of the oil companies I guess you win. Good for you and your wealthy pals, not so good for the rest of us.
High speed is electric, correct? We can power them with all the nuke plants Obama has signed off on to build. Those nukes about done being built?
Of course we'll have a little time because first you'll have to get the right-of-way through all the congested and populated areas you want to run this train, because it won't be running through the country but through urban areas, correct? Of course the EPA will need to sign off on everything, can't get any clay in any rivers, waterways, swamps (ehh, I mean wetlands), or estuaries. The Greens/environmentalist will be next, wandering over from protesting the building of those nuke plants, and now focusing their energy on protecting the rare tree, mouse and/or snail from any harm. Next, the unions will need the proper payoffs, tripling the overall costs (see the Big Dig in Boston for details).
With all that, we'll be ready to lay the first rail on this high speed train to nowhere in about the year 2089. And that's if we fast track it (no pun intended).
Tom, Yreka - you are right. JAS1 doesn't make any sense. Maybe its because her fangs are getting in the way when she is typing.
And of course, lets not forget the lawsuits and all the lawyers. May want to push that start date back a bit to accommodate these tasks, maybe 2103 or so. And be sure to double the cost estimate, again.
Pietro! My main man!! - Tell us again how a billion dollars creates millions of jobs. That is such a good fairy tale! Grimm's right?
JoAnna -- it costs BILLIONS to build a nuclear plant and the expense of the waste disposal cuts into the company's profits. So High speed rail will cost billions to build -- gee which should we build -- one that creates thousands of jobs across the country and creates tax payers or one that creates a few jobs in one state.
Typical Republican -- ideas from the 1950's that you all bring up year after year after year -- if they were such good ideas the Republican Congress would have implemented them sometime during their FULL CONTROL tenure. Alas, they are not good ideas.
JS1, Pietro would tell you how that works but it would take a basic understanding of how real economics works and you would not understand. Your posts prove that you do not have a clue as to how economics works and can not understand anything more complex than a household budget.
Let the OIL Companies pay for it. Combined, they make over $1 TRILLION in PROFIT a year. It is in their best interest to keep the mileage on cars low and the cost of gasoline high.
Heck what else is new? We do surveys (I'm a township supervisor in our township of 27,000).... we did a survey 10 years ago for parks.... 1st question... "who wants public parks?".... 95%..... "who wants to raise taxes 1 mil ($100 per thousand) to pay for them?"..... 5%.... The American Public continues to want things but they don't want to pay for them.....
These are some ideas about cutting the National Debt. Start by closing all the military bases overseas that we know we can do without. Stop using the military as the world’s police department. Keep the amount of naval battle groups we have at ten. Stop building the F35 jet and build more F22 jet’s instead. Stop all foreign country expenditures ( Israel, Pakistan, Egypt, Korea, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Iraq,) Get all the troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq now. Stop spending money on worthless Diplomacy (if you attack us we destroy you). Cut all subsidies to any company that’s not creating jobs here in America. Cancel all subsidies and contracts to any foreign company that has made any profits from American contracts but did not reinvest that money here. Force all banks, mortgage, investment and finance companies that sold toxic investments to buy them back or lose there ability to do that type of business. Prevent any person or company from getting a government contract if that person or company is being investigated or found to have committed fraud against the government. Increase the jail terms of anyone caught and convicted of fraud involving Medicare, Medicaid and any type of government contract or program. Close the SEC and give all responsibility for fraud prosecution to the Justice Department (No more get out of jail free fines). Replace the tax code with one that is more in line with 2011 not 1986 when it was last revised. Increase the FICA ceiling.
I don't think Obama understands a lot of words, i.e. transparencyy, bi-partisan, honesty, fairness, but he sure understands supporting his left wing loons. Please let's elect ANYBODY but Obama.