Steve, I was starting collage when they started the IH system. I don't remember anyone being against it. Most everyone I knew could not wait for it to get to us. Here in Oklahoma we already had two turnpikes that were 4 lane, divided highway, limited access, higher speed limit and we saw the IH being more of the same. Incidentally, we still have those 2 turnpikes and several others. They became part of the IH but the only Fed money was to bring them up to IH standards, mostly uniform signage. Being dumb rubes out here in fly-over country we figured out the turnpikes would be more profitable if we got rid of the toll gates so we installed the Pikepass, the world's first electronic toll system. This put some people out of work but increased the turnpike usage because they were faster, hassle-free and enabled us to build more small turnpikes with small fares that would have been uneconomic before. Forty years later do you still have toll booths?
If you have the need for mass transit facilities in your area why the heck don't you build some if they are so desirable and profitable? Those of us who live in Fed Tax exporting states have a real problem paying for your infrastructure. If the railroads could make money hauling passengers they would do so. If you want to subsidize unprofitable enterprises, then do so with your own state and local taxes. Don't be asking for Fed handouts. And if you want a really well run system, just turn it over to Amtrack!!!
The Pennsylvania Turnpike used to be one of my customers when I had my company. I got an inside look at what a poorly run political operation that is. Put your energy into cleaning up those kind of problems in your area before you start building more political boondoggles.
Therein lies the transportation problem in the USA. We need different solutions in different regions. The federal, one size fits all, solutions never work and create major differences of opinion amongst the population. The Federal Trough is great if you are feeding there but is resented if you only get to watch someone else eat at it.
Don't forget the highways are paid for by the people who buy gasoline. If you don't have a car you don't pay a dime for the highways. Of course, a disproportionate share of the fuel tax money goes to states with the strongest politicians, it is not distributed based on the amount paid by a state. But, it is better than the Federal subsidy method you propose.
Buying something now because it will be more expensive in the future is one of the reasons people become debt slaves. I don't buy that argument.
The Feds should only be doing those things that benefit all the people and things that only they can do. The obvious example is national defense which everyone should pay for even though the most likely targets are the big cities on the coast that are the easiest targets. The feds should collect tariffs, control immigration and etc. That is the concept in the minds of our founding fathers when the wrote the Constitution. They specifically reserved everything else to the states. Of course in recent years our government has ignored the Constitution on many issues and those things are coming back to haunt us.
Enough ranting, I need some lunch!
Best to all,
JRH |
