THE COST OF RAILROADING AMERICA

[HT:PW]
Congress approved $8 billion for President Obama's high-speed rail program without ever asking what the total cost would be, how to pay for it, or who would ride the trains.

The dismal answers to these questions reveal much about American politics:

• State estimates indicate Obama's plan will cost around $90 billion, or about $1,000 for every federal income taxpayer.
• Since 17 states, including Arizona, aren't even in the plan, a truly national network would cost far more.

The main users will be the wealthy and downtown workers whose employers pay their fares -- in other words, bankers, lawyers, and government officials who hardly need our transportation subsidies.

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