18 Jul 2011
High-Speed Rail
“The liberal fixation on rail transit, a 19th century technology ill-suited to 21st century mobility needs, prompts a lot of questions. The proposed high-speed rail system will be a fiscal sink-hole forever. Why is it that liberals only apply “sustainability” to how us lowly private citizens use resources, but never to government spending?
“I have a pet theory that is partly–but only partly–tongue-in-cheek. The fascination with rail transit is really an expression of liberalism’s inner authoritarianism, and a plot to undermine Rush Limbaugh. Consider: if you’re in your car, the bureaucrats don’t know where you’re going, or what time you’re going there. And you’re probably going to listen to AM talk radio. But if you’re riding rail transit, the bureaucrats know your destination, your speed, and the time you are traveling. And you won’t be listening to talk radio; more likely you’ll be reading a liberal newspaper instead. Makes more sense than the idea that more passenger rail transit will actually work.”
–Steven Hayward
(on 02/14/2011)