California, a state with a multi-billion dollar deficit, which is under court order to release prisoners due to overcrowding, has a Legislature that is busy aiding and abetting the violation of federal immigration laws and -- I'm getting to it -- spending billions of dollars it does not have on a so-called "bullet" train, the first leg of which will go from nowhere (Borden) to nowhere (Corcoran), which is essentially the same as going from the south side of Fresno to the north side of Fresno.
But hey, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one billion dollars, so let's be fair: how much faster will this train let people travel through California upon completion?
According to the website of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, some day you will be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in as little as -- drum roll, please -- two hours and 38 minutes. Wow. That number is impressive, compared to traveling by ordinary trains.
The number is far less impressive, however, when you compare it to aviation -- a mode of transportation used by actual human beings, as opposed to, say, freight and cattle.
Southwest can take you from L.A. to San Francisco in an hour and 15 minutes -- i.e., half the time, twice as fast -- and for just $59 one-way.
What's next? High-speed horse and carriage? I guess they could call it "Bullet Buggies" to give the illusion of speed.
Congratulations, California voters. You picked an extraordinary brain trust, political rocket scientists all, to run your state . . . into the ground.
But hey, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one billion dollars, so let's be fair: how much faster will this train let people travel through California upon completion?
According to the website of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, some day you will be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in as little as -- drum roll, please -- two hours and 38 minutes. Wow. That number is impressive, compared to traveling by ordinary trains.
The number is far less impressive, however, when you compare it to aviation -- a mode of transportation used by actual human beings, as opposed to, say, freight and cattle.
Southwest can take you from L.A. to San Francisco in an hour and 15 minutes -- i.e., half the time, twice as fast -- and for just $59 one-way.
What's next? High-speed horse and carriage? I guess they could call it "Bullet Buggies" to give the illusion of speed.
Congratulations, California voters. You picked an extraordinary brain trust, political rocket scientists all, to run your state . . . into the ground.
Outside of the Northeast Corridor(Boston to D.C.), HSR makes no economic sense in this country.
ReplyDeleteLA to SF HSR is DOA.
LA to Las Vegas HSR -might- have possibilities given the travel conditions on I-15.
One presumes then that this fiasco will require the importation of masses of coolie labor, as did the transcontinental railroad building of the 1860's. But wait, we already have thousands of illegal (scratch that) undocumented workers available to get their pick and shovels going.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously Walter, just where in the Constitution does it state that the principal role of government is to provide jobs? I can't find it anywhere in my copy - is it in yours? My copy talks about common defense, etc., - I guess I haven't received the new revised edition.
its all about the money...politicians need money from the contractors,their illegal voter base needs jobs and the huge corporation from over sea"s need the cash to pay their workers. very little will be MADE IN AMERICA....here that sucking sound....
ReplyDeleteThis project is nothing more than a feel-good spending spree for the environazis.
ReplyDeleteNotice on your webpage snapshot it says:
"CO2 saved/trip 324 lbs".
I think George Carlin RIP put it best when he explained:
Carlin quote
CARLIN: I'm tired of these self-righteous environmentalists, these white bourgeois liberals who think the only thing wrong with this country is there aren't enough bicycle paths, people trying to make the world safe for their Volvos. There is nothing wrong with the planet. Nothing wrong with the planet. The planet is fine. The people are (bleep) -- difference, difference. The planet is fine. Compared to the people, the planet is doing great. It's been here four and a half billion years. Did you ever think about the arithmetic? The planet has been here four and a half billion years. We've only been engaged in heavy industry for a little more than 200 years ...
Watch more of it on youtube http://youtu.be/EjmtSkl53h4
A bullet train from L.A. to Las Vegas? Can't be done, since ALL of us would buy a home in Las Vegas, and TAKE THE TRAIN TO L.A. AND THEN BACK HOME TO GET ENOUGH TIME IN NEVADA TO BE A NEVADA RESIDENT!!! SOOO LONG CALIFORIA SALES/INCOME/CAPITAL GAINS/CAR TAXES, HELLO MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKETS!
ReplyDeleteThat's why they build the train the path it takes--from one OVERTAXED LIBERAL HELLHOLE back and forth to, you guess it, ANOTHER OVERTAXED LIBERAL HELLHOLE. SMART FOR THEM, ISN'T IT?
Putting the train up and to Ventura County would be great for those seeking less taxes, so, you guess it, it doesn't go near there either.
"Wayne from Encino", I think you hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteBullet Trains to Las Vegas from Southern California, maglev or conventional, have been proposed for DECADES without result. Desert Xpress is the latest proposal. The difference is these are/were "privately funded" proposals, unlike the CAHSR which is public funding white elephant.
Public/Private funding for a bullet train to Nevada from Southern California? That would work. People in Nevada would like to see that. Senator Harry Reid is one, I believe. But most of the train line would be in the State of California and there has been no support for public funding for HSR to Nevada from CA politicians, State or Federal. They want any and all public money, state or federal, for HSR to go into the financial black hole called CAHSR.
Build a HSR line to SF to prevent one from being built to Nevada. Makes sense now.