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[quote user="Phoebe Vet"] [quote user="Sam1"] What the government spends the military, education, social programs, etc. has nothing to do with what it should spend on promoting or operating a commercial activity like passenger rail.  The question is whether the spend is a good investment.  Investing in a commercial activity (intercity passenger rail) that has a low probability of covering its operating costs, let alone its capital costs, is a poor business decision no matter what spin you put on it. [/quote] It is you who cited the huge national debt, even quoting the debt per taxpayer to support your argument that Amtrak is a terrible burden that we are leaving to our heirs.  I merely pointed out that Amtrak's portion of the deficit is infinitesimal, and is worth the investment.  Mass transit benefits society as a whole.  That is why every municipal bus system, light rail system, and subway system is subsidized by the political entity it serves.  A national rail system benefits the entire country and therefore is a proper use of federal tax dollars, no matter what spin YOU put on it. [/quote] You failed to include my comments recognizing that the $8 billion slated for high speed rail is indeed small compared to the national debt or the annual federal operating budget and deficit.  However, it is more debt.  And one does not cure an addiction to debt by adding to it anymore than one cures alcoholism by giving a drunk just one more drink. Amtrak is not a public transport system ala a municipal transport system.  The elimination of a public transit system in most cases would work a hardship on the many poor people who rely on it.  Amtrak is an intercity system, although some people use it to commute.  If it dried up and went a way, most users would have a viable alternative.   Investing $8 billion of taxpayer money in high speed rail, or any other rail for that matter, should be a function of a demonstrated need for it.  The best way to determine whether there is a need for it is the market place.  If high speed rail was truly a good idea, investors would fall all over themselves to fund it.
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