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[quote user="MidlandMike"]   <blockquote> <div><img src="/TRCCS/Themes/trc/images/icon-quote.gif" /> Bucyrus:</div> <div>     <blockquote> </blockquote>  However, the solution to the problem is indeed doing less.  That is exactly what will avert the problem of a spending meltdown.  But the California legislature is not wired for that solution, so their rail project will go forward and will speak for itself in either confirming or refuting my prediction of becoming an economic black hole.  I would say that it might be a large enough project to become the first example of the economic black hole.    <div style="clear:both;"></div>   </div> </blockquote>   I think if other countries can figure out how to build HSR without being sucked into a black hole, we should be able to do it also. [/quote] Conceptually the answer is simple. Since passenger rail depends on taxes to cover its costs, especially the capital costs, raise taxes or shift the government spend priorities, i.e. take money away from another program and give it to high speed passenger rail or passenger rail in general. The people in most of those "other countries" pay considerably higher taxes than we do in the United States. Every time a special interest group, i.e. high speed rail advocates, reaches  into your pocket, not to mention mine, no matter how well intentioned, it is taking away your freedom and mine to decided how to spend our money.   Sometimes taking our money as well as the money of everyone else in the country is for the public good. But on many occasions it is for a narrow interest that the advocates dub the public good, e.g. like a new football stadium in Arlington, TX for the Dallas Cowboys. Accordingly, a key question regarding high speed rail is whether it is in the public interest or good along side of defense, education, housing, etc.?
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