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They say….when you are in a financial hole…..the first step to recovery is to stop digging! Of course, this advice does not apply to Goldman-Sachs, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, GM, GE or the World Investment Banking Community At-Large – that are busy trying to bail out Greece before Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France and Germany before they all bite the big one. In the meantime, the talk on this Sunday is all about whether to raise the debt ceiling……and pay Medicare and Social Security Payments, Military Retirees or maybe even our current Military.
The front page of the Sunday OC Register said: “Ambiguity Clouds High Speed Rail”. Actually, it showed a very descriptive projection map of the planned course along with the obvious extensions. The HSR starts in Sacramento, takes a spur off to San Francisco just past Merced….south of Merced the line runs through Fresno thru Bakersfield to Palmdale, Los Angeles, Anaheim and then finishing up in San Diego. We seem to be missing that well very publicized spur from Anaheim to Las Vegas on the map provided. The Barstow Outlet Mall probably lobbied hard against it…along with Southwest Airlines, Calico Ghost Town and Peggie Sue’s Diner!
The cost of this immense undertaking is projected to run anywhere from $45 Billion dollars to upwards of $213 Billion dollars. Now, how in the world can the projected cost have so much variance? Well, before we go there, let’s talk about some interesting pluses to creating a “World Class Transportation System”: Let’s try initially adding 160,ooo high paying Construction jobs. Let’s talk about adding 450,000 American jobs that cannot be outsourced! Let’s talk about leaving our progeny something to remember “the Boomer Generation” by.
So, how much will this “Expansion Bridge to the Moon” cost us exactly? Well, that’s what the nay sayers want to know. The nay sayers also want to know in nagging detail…..”What’s your detailed plan?” “How much is this boondoggle going to cost exactly?” “How are we going to pay for this when our state is going deficit $16 Billion dollars every year?” “Whose going to buy those dumb HSR bonds?” “Where is the Private Sector?” “What will the Private Sector do?”
Well, instead of asking those questions – why aren’t they asking these: “Where is the Citizen Oversight Committee that will be monitoring the progress of the project?” “Why can’t this process begin with a time-line chart with budgetary outlays under those time lines?” “Why can’t we say with impunity: This is a five year plan!”? “Why can’t we just say: the estimated or true cost of this HSR might well exceed $400 Billion Dollars before the last bit of track is laid.”?
The fact of the matter is: The World Banking System has cost the United States of America a little over $8 Trillion dollars since President Bush fell on the sword back in 2008. The National Debt in 2007 as you might remember was $6.4 Trillion dollars. Today: $14.8 Trillion dollars. The Republicans are busy trying to worry about a measley $4 Trillion Dollars….much akin to stamping on ants while the elephants are getting away. We have been placed in the terrible position of “Stagflation”…..brought to us first back in the days of Jimmy Carter. This time, the Democrats didn’t do it…..no, World Banking gets the nod. President Obama has to either build us out of this mess or simply close the doors to the Federal Reserve and watch people fly out of high rise windows…as they did back in the 1930’s! Remember “Stagflation”? That means we have a Stagnating economy….sending all our jobs out of the country…out sourcing and then watching the prices of staple goods rise like crazy – gasoline, food, energy, building and construction costs! Tried to repair your plumbing or electrical systems lately? Expensive isn’t it?
These are very complex and edgy economic times that require more sophisticated and capable responses…..than simple “cost cutting”. High Speed Rail with all its doubters will bring jobs, bring new technology and leave our next generation with options….rather than driving the “Grapevine Hill” bumper to bumper in summer and bumper to bumper skidding in the winter. Terrorist Attacks, Earthquakes or perhaps even a California Wild Fire aside……HSR needs to come and it needs to create and keep jobs for California. We encourage the Governor, our President and the entire California Legislature to help dig us out of this terrible economic malaise…..little by little. Make each step forward either a tactical or strategic solution. Let us add things to our society that we want to keep in the long term and that are sustainable. High Speed Rail is not for 2012…..it is for our future!
Finally, will HSR be the end all – be all answer to our National and International Economic problems? Certainly not, but what is certain; If we do nothing…the results will be exactly the same as they are now – or worse! If construction costs are high today…..when might they become more affordable?
Time to Get Onboard the Bullet Train folks!
Geez, you people are completely full of crap. If anybody read this blog, I’d be worried.
Ah! Roy “GoLightly” Reynolds. I knew you couldn’t stay away for long. How’s the push-polling business treatin ya?
Learn how to read IP addresses in prison, Jailbird?
HA! You little pissant. It was not the IP address at all, it was the content and style of your sour little gallstone of a comment.
And I was right. But this DOES mark the first time that you come back like a man to respond to the response you get.
Again, how’s the push-polling? Paying the bills at all?
“like a man”, Vern you’re giving the angry little pissant waaaaay too much cred, I would say he’s more akin to a skulking, ratfaced, two-bit criminal returning to the scene of his crime (or in Mr. Ratface’s case, the scene of his turd).
You may have noticed, anonster, that since acquiring the awesome responsibility of running this blog, I try to err on the side of gallantry.
But your description of Roy Reynolds’ behavior puts me in mind of a great old Jewish expression: “As the dog returns to its own vomit, so the fool returns to his folly.”
In case anyone doesn’t know about Roy’s plucky little one-man push-polling firm Polling Strategies (for hire to any anti-worker cause) Mayor Quimby did the takedown:
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2011/04/roy-reynolds-podcar-booster-turned-pollster-and-our-report-from-feet-to-the-fire/
Oh. One last thing. As an adminstrator here I would NEVER out an anonymous commenter from privileged info like the IP’s. I correctly guessed his identity like I would have as a common civilian, 1) from his love of the word “crap”, 2) the 1-to-2 sentence limit of his capabilities, and 3) his hatred of High Speed Rail, and the Winships. And me. And Janet Nguyen. And Gus Ayer. And Van Tran. And Robert Cruickshank. And John Williams. And Joe Shaw. And Scott Baugh. And Almost everybody.
Oh, and if anyone needs an anti-labor push-poll make sure to contact Roy, he does need the money.
JWow. If you didn’t “read this blog” kindly share your secret as to how your comments appear out of thin air. An amazing feat to say the least.
Ron & Anna.
Having written two dozen OJ posts on the proposed HSR it was refreshing to read the extensive coverage provided in today’s Register. What they failed to include was the Reason Foundation/Larry Gilbert cost project of $80 billion for the entire 800 miles of track.
In our interview/meeting with CA congressman at WCPAC we both heard Rep. McClintock and Rep. Issa discuss controlling the purse strings on federal spending.
Unless the GOP crashes and burns in the next two cycles future federal funding will be nothing more than a pipe dream.
Reading the original Ballot Measure there were alternative destinations as it applies to which cities would be served first. The initial proposed leg from Anaheim to SF, while desired by Curt Pringle, created to many obstacles including the use of eminent domain to displace businesses and homes. For that reason, and to avoid intial public outcry, they selected the central valley where the cost per mile will be considerably cheaper.
Don’t let bogus ridership numbers get in the way of the few special interests driving the train off a cliff.
Next spring a “private sector” HSR may break ground to offer service from Victorville to Vegas. We both know the man behind that transportation system. He and I have discussed this project starting ten years ago at a CRA convention to the Flag Day ceremony that was just held in Irvine.
*Our greatest joy will be watching the HSR run by Baker, California and that wonderful 10 story Thermometer at 220 MPH. Just kidding. At any rate Dr. Gilbert, $80 billion might make the tracks happen, but as we said….the big current estimate of $213 Billion dollars seems conservative to usl. Your $80 Billlion…is certainly chump change.
No, the harsh reality is that the real number will probably be closer to $400 Billion dollars….which if spread over 40 years….will hardly be anything in real terms. Maybe, we can it make it a Toll Train at the end of the trail.
Cost really isn’t important. What is important are the jobs being created and sustained over the many years to come. Robert Poole or Curt Pringle….who ya goin trust? On this issue….we will stay with Pringle!
Ron & Anna.
Thanks for acknowledging my projected cost being on the conservative side, with tongue in cheek.
And this HSR will create “450,000 permanent jobs in related industries like tourism.” Prop 1A text.
What are you smoking? I know you quit several years ago.
Notice that recent spin gives the impression that these “permanent jobs” relate solely on the HSR.
I thought this rail system was simply to get us to our destination quicker. That does not translate in the need for additional tourist related employment.
And should we change our vacation plans and head to SF rather than Disneyland any increase in the Bay Area will have a corresponding negative impact for tourism in southern CA.
Lets get back to the HSR. Unless these are government jobs how many people does it take to check your ticket that will be dispensed automatically from a ticket dispatching machine?
Perhaps you can provide a spread sheet of staffing at the two dozen stations that are mentioned in the proposed HSR service.
With brand new equipment that should be under manufacturers warranty. How many service and repair staffing are included in the count?
At up to 240 MPH I don’t see crossing guards being used as the bullet train wizzes past
Some boys just love trains. The “O” Gauge Lionel was great….with the transformers and all. Wound up with three sets. HO Gauge was just coming in at the time and didn’t fit as well with all my Erector Set stuff.
Well, you see….some people just like trains that go fast and make the ding dings go and some don’t.
OK Dr. Larry…..let’s say that HSR created zero jobs. How many folks do you think
will be employed…just building that project? How many barbers will get paid and
how many Target Shopper will those jobs create? Try thinking out of the standard
box that says: If it doesn’t fill my Christmas sox…..it must be a lump of coal.
rw
R & A.
While I won’t dispute jobs being created IF this loser ever gets funded how long will those temporary jobs last?
How many of the vendors, and their employees producing the items used in this project, are based in CA?
What kind of rails are they planning to use for the 800 mile pipedream? From what I have researched the plan calls for the trains to run on steel rails with steel wheels. Last time I visited Cleveland and Pittsburg the US Steel manufacturers in America have left town. We surely do not have any rolling mills in Newport Beach.
*The japanese, the Germans, The Chinese….all make world class composite high-flex rail equipment. Titanium, Stainless, Heat Treated…….you name it….they got it. They probably are even making great stuff in the Czech Republic and Romania as we speak.
Hey, those cargo vessles will be pumping into San Pedro like crazy. Also up in NOCAL.
Let the games begin.
R & A.
So. You admit that the steel will all come from some foreign country. Hmm. Creating jobs in CA?
Maybe at the port of LA unloading cargo.
*We admit nothing…….if they start making steel again in Pittsburgh…..who knows? The truth is…that all construction required workers, rental and purchased new homes and a whole litnany of side benefits….it is called “circular flow of weath”…remember what that used to look like when we actually kept jobs here in the United States?
R & A.
Great idea. Let’s have a chain gang working on the railroad. As we provide food, clothing, shelter and health care for those in our prisons we can put them to work just as we see “James A. Musick jail” facility guests cleaning up the freeways in OC.
*Better yet, let’s just take the current Chinese prision labor gangs…smuggled in the holds of Libyan tankers…..They will literally work for nothing!