How exactly are you able to see into the future and know with complete certainty the train will be something you won't use?

Because Americans, and especially Californians, just love their cars, El B.

I hope this one passes, not least because from a selfish point of view I could do without the six-hour drive from Fresno to San Diego (especially now we've lost our direct flight).

But unfortunately, when Californians think trains they think of the abysmal Amtrak services in the state - and not so much of shiny, fast, clean European-style high-speed bullet trains.

And no-one wants to pay for it.

Sick as it makes me to admit it, 1A is going down in flames.

I think anything that seeks money this year is likely to be on the losing end

Sick as it makes me to admit it, 1A is going down in flames.

We've shot down a similar TGV-type proposal, linking MIA, TPA, and MCO, a couple of times here in FL, Doc.

My German mother-in-law, who died never having learned to drive, despite having lived in the US for nearly fifty years, never could understand the American car love affair.

It is something quintessentially American; incomprehensible to furriners (except the Japanese, of course, who understand it well enough to cash in on it - big time).

I travel a lot between those points showing boats, but would never use it if it were built, I need the wheels on the other end.

Besides, the price tag was astronomical, even BEFORE the inevitable cost overruns.

I think anything that seeks money this year is likely to be on the losing end

And rightly so. Whomever takes office in January I hope will do so machete in hand, to begin slashing the fed into a much smaller entity.

I doubt, however, that either of these guys will.

And even if the chosen one does, the bureaucrats will resist tooth and nail, and they're better at protecting their jobs than they are at doing them.

I travel a lot between those points showing boats, but would never use it if it were built, I need the wheels on the other end.

That's sad, but you touch on a good point, Clav. It's not simply a question of getting the tracks built and the trains running on them, but of integrating the system with existing transportation networks - which in the US are often laughable.

Nevertheless, what's wrong with doing what we used to do before ExpressJet went bust - and renting a vehicle at the other end?

"Whomever takes office in January"

The Governator isn't up for re-election, lucky for him

You're right, Doc, one CAN rent.

And sometimes, I even do so, but in those instances, the client and I have flown to TPA, SRQ or wherever.

A guy contemplating spending a large sum of money will usually expect more plush transportation than a train. And he's usually not swayed by the argument of fuel savings when the object of his desires will likely burn upwards of 150 GPH.

Ok. So no money for trains, renewable energy vehicles or children's hospitals, but money for gang prevention. Not sure I get it.

And as for gay marriage. Would you even KNOW if gay people got married? Or had the same civil rights you did? Would it affect your life? Why not just leave the law as it is, leave them alone, and let them be? They don't have to "approve" of you and vice versa.

As for bond issues, it is okay to listen to your dad, but at some point you will have to make up your own mind which bonds are ones you support and which ones are those you don't.

Nonetheless, certainly ever citizen should be informed about every proposition they vote on. So we agree on reading before you go into the voting booth, for sure.

Clav, truth is the train doesn't need you and your yacht buyers to ride it. Those aren't the people who ride it in France.... There would be plenty of other riders, believe me. America NEEDS trains. And we need to start somewhere besides the few we have on the east coast.

Maddy,

Tom McClintock supports Proposition 12: Veterans' Bond Act of 2009

He coauthored it and explains how it doesn't cost tax payers anything. It is a self-liquidating bond. Ditto opinion from an article in Mother Jones. I recommend you look at this one again.

There is dissenting opinion on Prop 2 from some scientific organizations and some other vets.

Housing animals without enough space and ignoring other methods like free-ranging, is unethical in my opinion. I would rather not eat as many eggs or veal.

You didn't ask for my advice, but you did discuss your methodology. So, I think it's within bounds for me to give my opinion.

The best advice I ever got when researching a thing is to look at both sides. So, while looking at what people you respect is useful. You're not done until you know what your opposition says.

It will also make you an excellent debater. You will base more of your opinions on facts. You may also win more debates as very few people actually do this.

Good article.

I wasn't the only one to vote against it, Lisa.

It's come up twice (possibly thrice) in this state, and each time, the people (millions of them), who must provide the taxes to pay for it, have shot it down. So since millions of people have said no repeatedly, I doubt that it would be well ridden if it were built, and I'm not the only doubter, obviously.

I can't speak for other areas, but we don't need that train, it's a boondoggle by those who would operate it, and the prospective riders have roundly declared, by referendum, that they don't want it or need it.

Democracy at work...

BTW, FL is on the east coast; the flooding from AGW hasn't floated us away yet.*



*Another good reason not to build a train that costs billions down here: we're going to be flooded over in a few years.

Clav,

About that "western" Broward land...

RE my # 11

Make that I would rather not eat ANY eggs or veal, if doing so would be unethical (as my opinion is that housing arrangement they have at those animal factories in CA. goes against minimum human decency).

At least you got 7 and 10 right.

Sure she got 7 and 10 right Spokker, but for the completely wrong reasons.

Hey Maddy, the Pittsburgh Steelers endorsed Obama, that Liberal. You should stop liking the Steelers.

"Okay, okay, I know that I miss the voting age minimum by eight months"
PRAISE BE TO ALLAH THAT THIS IS SO

Prop 5: ...opponents say it will put 45,000 criminals on the street.

Those "opponents" equate substance users/abusers -- who haven't committed any violent offense -- as criminals. What these individuals are, however, are addicts.

Substance abuse, in and of itself, is a health issue, not a criminal one. Labeling someone a criminal for substance possession comes out of some arbitrary moral standard that people simply apply to an activity they don't approve of.

Here's why it's in your best interest to have tax dollars fund rehab facilities for nonviolent substance abusers:

1) Prisons are overcrowded with inmates who pose no danger to anyone but themselves, who are incarcerated purely because they have a psychotropic substance addiction, nothing more.

2) Millions of tax dollars are currently being spent trying to enforce existing laws against substance possession, which obviously aren't working very well.

3) If substance abusers are not properly treated for their addictions, they then become a financial burden on health insurance companies and hospitals (who will treat them for chronic illnesses that will cost more to treat than a rehab stint), which will consequently fall to the taxpayers to compensate.

That this country abandoned the rail system is criminal. Of course the cost and effort it would take to rebuild it would be astronomical. Several RR right of ways are gone.

In Germany, their public transit system is wholly integrated. One can purchase a day or week-end ticket allowing them passage on a train, say to Berlin, then access to all public transit in the city - buses, subways, etc., and then the return train trip - all for one money. It is nearly seamless.

In the U.S., excepting those cities which maintain subways, commuter trains, buses and even mono-rails, most places have little or no meaningful public transit available. Indy has only intermittent train service to and from Chicago, and I believe Cincinnati which arrive and leave something like 4AM. Really handy! There are a couple of bus lines serving various cities in the mid-west. In the city, Indy has no mass transit other than a very limited bus system. Efforts to build a commuter line to our northern suburbs has had moderate support, but even if it becomes a reality, it will take 10 to 12 years to complete.

Indy is one of the many communities which fell head over heals in love with the automobile. We have interstates out the kazoo.

I should also note that in Germany, and I believe in Austria as well, the trains do run on time. Actually, that ain't a bad thing.

B

You should consider remaining to young to vote for as long as possible. Ask Peter Pan. It's possible.

BUT BARITONE, GERMANY IS A SOCIALIST WONDERLAND! We can't have that in America, no sir.

Stu,

My son has lived in Germany for more than 5 years. We have visited a couple of times. Yes, it has its socialist leanings. It has national health care! Fie, fie!

While there are things my son misses about the U.S., overall he prefers it there. He likes it that the trains run on time.

B

Do you have any opinion that isn't a parrot of your father?

How rude...

Oh, no, no, Clavos.

This is rude.

And even if the chosen one does [win the election], the bureaucrats will resist tooth and nail, and they're better at protecting their jobs than they are at doing them.

Quoted for truth.

"Okay, okay, I know that I miss the voting age minimum by eight months"
PRAISE BE TO ALLAH THAT THIS IS SO

Quoted (last sentence, in upper case type) for, to be kind, strangeness.

Dan(Miller)

Dan, I have my suspicions as to the true identity of 'Ron Paul', our Allah-praiser, but due to lack of evidence I will have to reserve judgment for now.

I would have thought he'd have exhausted all of the libraries in his neighborhood by now, though...

Um, Doc, in his neighborhood they are 'liberrys.'

To the OP; your bio indicates you're 17 yrs old. I suspect it's a bit dated and you're actually old enough to vote? In any case though I may disagree with some of your conclusions I applaud your industry and diligence. I suspect you're a pretty lone voice in your wider surroundings as well. It's refreshing to see a young person such as yourself taking and interest and thinking for yourself. Good luck to you from Minnesota.

Humm, just reread your first paragraph and !Doh! Shouldn't have skipped to the meat on my first read. Here's an early wish for a happy 18th birthday.

Interesting as usual, Maddy.

Hussein McCain--

Yes, Sarah Palin.

Maddy

Euro and Japanese train systems work wonderfully. I come from a railroad family... from my ancesters who built the road beds and blasted the tunnels to immediate family members who are presently career railroad employees. We've talked about this and the general consensus is that to compare Euro and Japanese systems to U.S. potential in this area may be akin to comparing apples to oranges... why? The scope of the systems. Now China is working up a lot of infrastucture right now. From RR's to Ports, Hydro-electric etc... all at once. They have the labor in place to take care of the construction logistics and the wages are low enough compared to the GNP there to pull it off. But it is an immense undertaking. I personnally would like to see how the RR works out over there since the landmass issue is fairly similar to the U.S., it will interesting.

Point to point systems while nice, really only connect two points. Wouldn't that be somewhat of a waste. Now, if you can remember the '70's it is important to note that the green-thought of the day was to rip up the evil trackbeds and turn them over to communities for footpaths and bike trails. That was nice, and it also cut the legs of future development of that resource. Imagine re-buying those trackbeds at today's prices! It would be cost prohibitive. We should have left well enough alone and today... the RR's could come in and lay new track on their old trackbeds for a low cost and we would have lots of light-rail options. But that is a 20/20 hindsight observation.

Prop 2. I believe you're reason to vote no on 2 is very misleading. Which means you were mislead too.

Right now eggs from hens that have been raised cage free are priced at $2.39 for a half a dozen. Hens who are cage free and are on organic diets lay eggs healthier and of course the cost is higher at $2.99 for a half dozen.

I prefer buying the caged free organic eggs today and will continue to eat and support these farmers.

The point is if EVERY farmer had to remove their cages then the cost of American produced eggs will rise in cost. This means healthier eggs for US.

It also means NEW COMPETITION for farmers which will benefit us the consumers. Within a short period of time caged free, organically produced and happier hens will be the mainstream and below current market price.

What I'm saying is the cost for the HEALTHIEST produced eggs will drop in price because of greater competition.

I consume organic food and drinks especially those foods and drinks I consume on a daily basis.

If you're unaware, eggs, milk and other dairy products come from animals that were given man made antibiotics and other gross and misleading and non mentionable substances such as steroids.

Yeah you can go to Mexico for your milk and eggs at your own risk.

Farmers are worried about their business, that is the bottom line. If you vote YES on 2 WE the consumer will BENEFIT highly, more than you think.

Oh yeah and the animals will benefit too! Please support -think about it- farmers who believe and follow organic farming methods.

What's wrong with you Republicans? I thought only Dick Cheney had a cold metal pump instead of a heart.

Girl, I am in my 30's and I concur with you on every single point. Not to be condescending - you make me proud! =)
You are one smart young woman and I hope you keep up the good work and always stand up for what you believe in. Take care!