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FrankRep
02-15-2011, 01:21 PM
http://www.thenewamerican.com/images/stories2011/11aFebruary/amtraklogoandtrain-t.001.jpg



On February 8 Vice President Joe Biden unveiled an Obama administration plan to spend $53 billion over the next six years to develop a high-speed passenger rail system that would link the nation’s larger cities. The proposed spending would be added to the $10.5 billion the administration has already spent on high-speed rail since Obama took office, including $8 billion poured into his 2009 “economic stimulus package.”


Obama Administration Proposes $53 Billion for High-Speed Rail (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/tech-mainmenu-30/energy/6320-obama-administration-proposes-53-billion-for-high-speed-rail)


Dave Bohon | The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com/)
15 February 2011


Related articles:

Rep. John Mica (R): Amtrak a 'Soviet-style train system' - Failure, Slow, Wasteful (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?278637-Rep.-John-Mica-%28R%29-Amtrak-a-Soviet-style-train-system-Failure-Slow-Wasteful)


Federal Mass Transit a Big Flop (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/economy/commentary-mainmenu-43/5068-federal-mass-transit-a-big-flop)
The New American | 03 November 2010

California, with 10.5 billion of federal help, wants to build an 800-mile high-speed rail system from Anaheim to San Francisco. The overall 13 corridor project could easily cost 200 billion. by Bruce Walker

Amtrak and the Railroads (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/history/american/3612-amtrak-and-the-railroads)
The New American | 28 May 2010

Amtrak and its lobbyists at the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) recently invited us to commemorate the third annual National Train Day on May 8. Supposedly celebrating “America’s love for trains,” the day could not boast a more ironic host than the railroad nobody rides. Worse, Amtrak’s sponsorship was as shameless as Dracula’s funding a fashion show concentrating on décolletage: The government that owns Amtrak has sabotaged, subsidized, and sucked the life from American railroads since the industry’s inception.

Johnnybags
02-15-2011, 01:23 PM
I think its to pay GE retirees pensions and keep union workers digging and filling.

roho76
02-15-2011, 01:28 PM
We all know this is going to cost the better part of a Trillion dollars. It's a slap in the face for him to even use a number like that.

AuH20
02-15-2011, 01:31 PM
No one uses the train. This is all about appeasing special interests.

Maximus
02-15-2011, 01:33 PM
There are 53 billion reasons why this is a bad idea

Kludge
02-15-2011, 01:37 PM
No one uses the train. This is all about appeasing special interests.

I'm not so sure about that. I've traveled by train once, and it was awful - BUT, if I had to travel somewhere in the US again and wasn't frugal enough to use the bus system (which is multitudes worse than going by train), I'd rather ride on a bumpy train with $6 kosher hot dogs made in a microwave than get groped & lose an hour going through "security." As the TSA's powers expand, train travel will look increasingly appealing, especially as real GDP continues to decline.

JK/SEA
02-15-2011, 02:20 PM
High speed rail, where trains can go 250mph. Seems to me using steel rails are old tech, even though advancements have been made, for example the bullet trains in Japan. If we're so hell bent on having high speed trains, i would like to see the MAG-LEV built. 350 mph would be the way to go.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train1.htm

specsaregood
02-15-2011, 02:24 PM
No one uses the train. This is all about appeasing special interests.

I'd take the train if it wasn't hella expensive and slow. With that said, this plan is full of fail.

nobody's_hero
02-15-2011, 03:51 PM
Ugh.

Why do some people think that this is going to spur economic growth? I'm inclined to think that jobs appear first, and people go to those jobs. Not, that people appear first and wait around for jobs.

I don't go to vacant warehouses and wait for a company to lease it/open up shop.

So what will they do when they have a fancy rail line and no jobs still? Are people just going to ride the trains for the hell of it or what?

eduardo89
02-15-2011, 03:51 PM
I absolutely love trains and I wish the US would build high speed rail, but I don't think the federal government should be paying it. I wouldn't be against private-public partnerships at the state level with some sort of tax deductions at the federal level for providing x number of jobs.

Rothbardian Girl
02-15-2011, 04:34 PM
I'm not so sure about that. I've traveled by train once, and it was awful - BUT, if I had to travel somewhere in the US again and wasn't frugal enough to use the bus system (which is multitudes worse than going by train), I'd rather ride on a bumpy train with $6 kosher hot dogs made in a microwave than get groped & lose an hour going through "security." As the TSA's powers expand, train travel will look increasingly appealing, especially as real GDP continues to decline.

How can we be so sure that the TSA won't oversee train travel, either? Am I missing something?

Anti Federalist
02-15-2011, 04:36 PM
How can we be so sure that the TSA won't oversee train travel, either? Am I missing something?

It's already in the works.

TSA is planning roadside security checkpoints as well.

matt0611
02-15-2011, 04:39 PM
I absolutely love trains and I wish the US would build high speed rail, but I don't think the federal government should be paying it. I wouldn't be against private-public partnerships at the state level with some sort of tax deductions at the federal level for providing x number of jobs.

Yup, this, I like trains for mid-range travel, even long-range if they're fast enough. I don't want the federal government doing it though.

Dr.3D
02-15-2011, 04:42 PM
I seriously doubt $53 billion would be enough to build the new train tracks needed for high-speed rail. They can't use the old tracks because those are being used by slow freight trains. There is no way they could schedule the freight trains to be out of the way of the high-speed trains.

Is Obama going to some how come up with that money by himself? If not, then I can't see how the money can be obtained, the U.S. government is already bankrupt.

Anti Federalist
02-15-2011, 04:42 PM
My idea of high speed rail:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1_4ymsIig&feature=relmfu


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRid4q7NycE

JK/SEA
02-15-2011, 04:42 PM
Well it sure beats building more aircraft carriers or nuclear missile subs.

Anti Federalist
02-15-2011, 04:44 PM
Well it sure beats building more aircraft carriers or nuclear missile subs.

Yeah, if only that was the case.

The ruling class insists on guns and butter.

FrankRep
02-15-2011, 04:44 PM
How can we be so sure that the TSA won't oversee train travel, either? Am I missing something?

Already being planned...

TSA: Airports Are Only the Beginning (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/5670-tsa-airports-are-only-the-beginning)

Even as Americans' mutterings about the Transportation Security Administration and its improprieties are turning to bellows about personal abuse and unconstitutionality, the TSA is already expanding its presence beyond airports. By Becky Akers

Janet Napolitano Considers Advanced Screenings for Mass Transit (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/5311-janet-napolitano-considers-advanced-screenings-for-mass-transit)

Despite the public outcry against the enhanced pat-downs and full-body scanners imposed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports, Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano indicates that she would like to see stronger security implemented for trains, ships, and other varieties of mass transportation. By Raven Clabough

nobody's_hero
02-15-2011, 04:46 PM
Well it sure beats building more aircraft carriers or nuclear missile subs.

It's only a matter of time before we have nuclear powered trains, adapted with remote-control capabilities, of course, for a role in the military industrial complex.

HOLLYWOOD
02-15-2011, 05:03 PM
http://slapblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/obama-ge-logo1-e1296766403958.jpg = http://emrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/scamtrak.png

thehighwaymanq
02-15-2011, 06:05 PM
I love the New American, but I do not love this idea. 53 billion, on top of the already 18 billion, spent on this in previous years. This idea, this budget, and this Administration continues to blow my mind.

Amtrak as a private company would be something to ponder about late at night Mr. President!

FrankRep
02-15-2011, 06:09 PM
I love the New American, but I do not love this idea. 53 billion, on top of the already 18 billion, spent on this in previous years. This idea, this budget, and this Administration continues to blow my mind.

The New American is fighting against the High-Speed Rail.

FrankRep
02-15-2011, 06:10 PM
...

Southron
02-15-2011, 06:10 PM
I don't care for trains much, but if we allowed private companies to use the middle and sides of the interstates , I wouldn't be against it.

WilliamShrugged
02-15-2011, 06:18 PM
Fuck Amtrak! Why can't a private industry do this? Oh yeah. No one wants it.

Anti Federalist
02-15-2011, 07:42 PM
Fuck Amtrak! Why can't a private industry do this? Oh yeah. No one wants it.

Private passenger rail was put out of business largely by government subsidized roads.

FrankRep
02-16-2011, 06:43 AM
http://thenewamerican.com/images/stories2011/11aFebruary/unionstationstationla-t-ap.001.jpg



President Obama has proposed spending $8 billion for a bullet train program, which will serve as only a down payment for the $53 billion over the next six years.


Proposed California High-Speed Train Faces Criticism (http://thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/6324-obamas-proposed-high-speed-rail-program-faces-criticism)


Raven Clabough | The New American (http://thenewamerican.com/)
16 February 2011