Dear Group, Again, today, there are links from "bikies" contributors about "mass transit." Personally, I cross the country by train and have not flown for years. But suggesting that THE STATE is the solution to a shift toward mass transit flies in the face of fact and history. At every turn it is the government which killed off mass-transit. How can one have blind faith that matters will be different? It is the MASS of people who demand a mode of transport and government either follows the MASS for votes or certain other interests with power.
Who killed off streetcars with unfair taxes and road repair requirements in favor of gassy buses? ---government. And in my time we still had rail passenger service in Wisconsin. But the people spoke against that service and refused to ride if they could drive. Railroads were required to follow a lengthy regulation process to drop the unwanted services so they ran empty trains for years. Two such trains served Ripon. One went all the way to Milwaukee and the other ran from Fond du Lac and NW. Old railmen, high on their union bump list would play cards in the coach in the empty car. We are now seeing a rebirth of rail for freight in Wisconsin. There is a need. That way should precede mass passenger transit if it is to succeed. I know that the contributors to "bikies" would like GOVERNMENT to follow their advice or pressure and demands that people leave their cars at home and ride the rail. That will happen when the roads become so saturated that people CHOOSE RAIL. Then the same enterprisers who have revived Wisconsin rail will fill the need if it exists. But how can regional committee planners make this happen. Remember the money pot is only so large at the PUBLIC trough. The current budget crisis is an example that the "game" squeezes education rather than cut the "pets" of the advocates. Eric _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
