to mars by rail

[overall]

By now we have all heard about President Bush’s new space exploration initiative. Most of us have seen the pictures coming back from Mars thanks to the Spirit probe. President Bush wants us to return to the moon and this time build a colony. I support all this 100% but it begs the question, “Where will the money come from?” May I suggest changes in transportation policy to encourage shipment of more freight by rail? Maybe a tax credit for shippers using the tax PAYING railroads rather than the tax ABSORBING highways. This would mean less tax money spent on highways that could be used for other things i.e. space travel.

I watched a documentary on the “big dig” highway project in Boston. I forget now how much they said it cost to build this project, but it was way up there into the billions of dollars. I wonder how many space stations; lunar colonies, replacement space shuttles and Mars missions went into that highway. It only looks like farmland that gets paved over when they build highways. It is actually a lot more.

[vsmith]

It was around 14 billion , rather cheap compared to infrastructure costs in Japan or Europe. The trouble is that we have built a system of highways that are now getting obsolete at best and dangerously deteriorated at worst. Projects like the Big Dig need to be done in almost every city in America. The system here in California is dangerously close to gridlock in many cities. We have to do projects like this or else our city centers will cease to function. Its not about whether or not you like cars, its all about creating a system that will work for the next 30 years.

Like I said, Big dig wasnt anywhere near as expensive as some oversea's projects. Think about how much those dike systems in Holland cost, or the miles long bridge linking mainland Japan with Hokkaido ( or the rail tunnels that do the same). How much did the English Channel tunnel cost? In Hong Kong Airport and Japans Osaka Airport are built on new artificial islands. (mucho $$$)

Our leaders in America are so screwed in the head about taxes that we have no clear priorities for what needs to be done, So the Big Dig costs 14 bill? the B2 bomber cost over 200 Billion to develop and its still detectable and has a very limited mission role. At 2 billion a pop, where's my benifit from that? Meanwhile I'm being told that all this "infrastructure" is nothing but pork barrel and a waste of money. How much tax payer $$ were wasted by *** Cheney's croonies on the Centurian Project? (a mobile Howitzer that was so big no plane could carry it and it had a nasty habit of crushing thru any pavement under it or sinking in loose dirt or mud) Cheney fought hard to keep it funded and get an Army contract for it even after the Army said they didnt want it, and even after Congress killed it. Thats OK but nessecary infrastructure is pure pork barrel.

I would rather see my tax dollars spent on infrastructure projects like the Big Dig or science exploration than seeing it being squandered oversea's on an ungratefull foriegn nation, or see billions spent on some Pentagon pie in the sky pork barrel weapons program that our Fearfull Leaders are hell bent on spending.

I dont want another B2 bomber, I want a replacement space shuttle (we only have 3 now, and they are over 20 years old and Congrees thinks they will last forever) , I want bridge repair, highway repair, a national passenger rail system that works. How about commuter rail funding incentives for crowded cities? Intercity rail like Europe has. I want to see the ISS completed. Traveling to deep space isnt the best place to be spending right now, we have far too many problems right here in Earth orbit. How long before all these deteriorated bridges we keep hearing about start failing? Will the Government act?

No one in this country has any balls, I swear. No one will say, "Hey we really need to do something about our crumbling infrastructure", no, they are all to concerned with cutting taxes and increasing military spending, Where do they think the Money will come from?

Bad news is that NOTHING will happen until a major bridge collapses and theres 100's dead and then they'll talk and talk and in the end nothing will happen because no one can agree on anything. Thats the state of our idiotic Congress. The Space Shuttles will never be replaced because no one in will support funding, and we'll be hitchhicking to space with the Russians.

Ever get that feeling that your England and its 1946?

[JoeKoh]

i argree we have to many internal problems to send money over to some other country.and in some areas like the ne corridor texas and california rail does work.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

Well, railroads usually took up less space, and then Henery Ford came along and screwed up the "amber waves of grain" and "purple mountains magesty above the fruited plains" with miles of wide ugly roadway. If Autos didn't exist, the only thing I would miss would be auto racks!

[rrnut282]

Highways and bridges aren't the only "crumbling infrastructure" we need to worry about. There are thousands of miles of crumbling (literally) clay sewer lines and ancient water mains in dire need of replacement. Because these are out of sight, out of mind, there isn't even anyone bringing up the subject unless you count the EPA and their new rules on eliminating Combined Sewer Overflows. Also, last summer's blackout illustrates that there are still some gaps in electrical tranmission that need addressed. What's needed? Lots and lots of Money. Where's it coming from? Who knows? The railroads aren't in sad enough shape (yet) to make them a priority as long as stuff gets from point "A" to point "B" safely. Just as sewer and water aren't on the "political radar" railroads and their possible improvements will be where some of the money will come from. So I wouldn't buy any shares in the high-speed rail network just yet.