Disaster

Let's talk about the economic stimulus package, shall we? Why in the world would legislators think that adding more money for new highways (with, by the way, no money for maintenance) and cutting mass transit out of the budget is a good idea? We have all the highways we need, in my opinion. Further, with all the talk of cutting our dependence on foreign oil and lowering our impact on the environment, why would we counteract all the process we've made so far. I mean, seriously. There are also incentives in the bill to entice people to buy cars. The price of gas is really low now because the world's entire economy is struggling. But, people are so myopic that they don't see that eventually that will reverse itself and they'll be stuck with more car payments and a car they can't afford to drive. Brilliant.

As someone who cannot drive, and who knows the amazing benefits of public transportation, I am appalled that mass transit funding was not just reduced, but cut. Nelson and Collins, of Nelson-Collins amendment fame, need to go to Europe, China, Japan, etc, to see how public transit works. It's a wonderful thing. I could cross a large chunk of Tokyo (including the walk to the station and transfer time) in 40 minutes. 40! In DC, it takes and hour to go through downtown, and buses run only every 10-12 minutes after rush hour. DC is much smaller than that chunk of Tokyo, folks.

Now, I admit fully that America needs roads (only connecting distant cities. Within, public transit should take primacy). It's a sprawling country and it would take a while to get a transcontinental high speed train network down. But, we don't need any more roads than we have now. The road construction project that worked so well during the Great Depression worked because it was appropriate for the times. Doing it again at an inappropriate time accomplishes nothing.

Both Nelson and Collins, and all the senators who voted for their amendment should resign from office for not taking care of their constituencies.