The American Spectator : Never the Train Shall Meet

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Never the Train Shall Meet

Amazingly, Florida Republicans are determined to ignore all the lessons of Wisconsin.

Recent and ongoing events in Florida and Wisconsin demonstrate how difficult it's going to be to rein in incontinent government spending, especially when it comes to lushly paid public employees and crackpot infrastructure scams.

Public employees in Wisconsin, addicted to the over-generous pay and benefits packages their unions and politician enablers have put on the backs of cheese-heads not on the government gravy-train, indulged in a very public tantrum when asked to do at least part of their share in dealing with new economic realities.

The media, big corporate, and political establishments in Florida, including way too many Republicans, were set on a roar last week when Florida Governor Rick Scott became the third Republican governor in the nation, sensibly and courageously, to say no to high-speed rail, the boondoggle's boondoggle.

Last week Scott told the Obama administration "thanks, but no thanks" to $2.4 billion in "federal money" (definition: money we don't have that has to be borrowed or printed and that future generations must pay back) to help build a 90-mile rail project to connect Orlando with Tampa, two spread-out metropolitan areas already connected by an interstate highway. The response was operatic.

Wisconsin teachers, in the finest tradition of public employee unions, abandoned their posts, bringing many of their young charges along with them to help pitch a hissy-fit at the State House in Madison (no reports yet on whether students were offered extra credit for this activity, which is more fun than passing notes or texting friends in class).

The occasion for this self-indulgent display is a state bill requiring, among other things, that teachers make contributions to their retirement plan at a level about half that required of workers in the private sector (they pay nothing now). Their didoes are, to put it as charitably as possible, unseemly.

President Obama, with more time on his hands than you'd imagine, what with the Middle East popping rivets and the country lurching toward bankruptcy, has chosen to insert himself into the Wisconsin budget debate on the side of the local public employee unions. (TAS readers may here amuse themselves by imagining the fertilizer storm that would follow on a Republican president suggesting that unionized workers in a particular state be paid less.)

Mr. President, today's vocabulary word is federalism. You'll obviously have to look it up, as it appears nowhere in the handbooks for community organizers or teachers unions (motto: We got ours; ----you).

Not satisfied just to oppose the stringent budget and new rules for public employee unions, Wisconsin Democratic state senators, demonstrating the true spirit of the pleas from national Democrats for more hands-across-the-aisle comity in our political transactions, bugged out of the state altogether, denying the Wisconsin Senate the quorum necessary to conduct any business. (When the going gets tough, the tough go AWOL.) Perhaps the Democrats mean comedy rather than comity.

The players opposing fiscal restraint in Wisconsin are almost exclusively Democrats, who can always be counted on to defend big government, big unions, and big spending. So no surprise. It's in the natural order of things. But in Florida it's disturbing to see how many Republicans object to Scott's vetoing one of the worst transportation "investments" devised by the mind of man.

If times were flush and the country not on the brink of financial disaster, high-speed rail would be a bad idea. Today it's a horrible one. Measured by cost per passenger-mile, rail is not only the most expensive form of transportation, it's the most expensive by a multiple over everything else.

Rail projects across the country have in almost all cases: cost way more than original estimates to construct, attracted fewer riders than pre-construction estimates, generated less revenue than anticipated, did not significantly reduce road traffic congestion, did not improve the local environment, and generated large annual expenses for operation and maintenance. Expenses that taxpayers have to pick up, whether or not they take the train.

So why did a majority of members of the Florida Senate, where Republicans hold a 2-1 majority, send a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood asking for time to find a way to circumvent Scott's rejection of the non-existent money? Why did the Florida delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, 3-1 Republican, meet with LaHood in an attempt to create an entity other than the state that could receive the federal money?

The short answer is that high-speed rail is popular in Florida and elsewhere. The arguments against it, based on hardheaded economic analysis, hardly ever appear in the left-stream media. So a majority of Floridians believe high-speed rail will: create jobs and economic prosperity, eliminate or at least reduce congestion on Florida roads and highways, and improve the state's environment. These are the phantasms that rail supporters have been retailing for years. Sadly, too many Florida Republicans have decided to cover their political butts on this one instead of leading. Instead of getting Governor Scott's back on this one, they're plunging an ice pick into it.

Congressman John Mica (R-Winter Park), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, claims Scott's no-rail money decision "defies logic." He says he's cooking up a plan to save the Orlando to Tampa train set, starting with a project to connect Orlando International Airport to Disney World.

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About the Author

Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (36) | Leave a comment

Melvin| 2.21.11 @ 7:19AM

This is the same Bull Squeeze that just before our financial fiasco, that there were what I call the Tambourine Men.
The men who strolled into a municipality patting his tambourine of the public/private partnership of building convention centers.
The extolled to the County and City Councils funding the construction of a convention center was the answer to every local governments financial needs.
The more the County and City Councils fell under the siren song spell of the Tambourine Man he pounded, and pounded harder his message. The County and City Councils fell into a rhythmic trance of, "If we build it they will come."
The Tambourine man pulled out of his carpet back reams of numbers that spelled out only one thing. MONEY, more money than ever could be imagined . Council members swayed to the rhythmic beat of the Tambourine Man of building marble edifices to themselves as great visionaries.
County after county, city after city jumped on the Tambourine Man's band wagon of debt, saddling communities with great beautiful empty halls to house thousands.
But as the County and City Councils looking adoringly at their new shiny warehouses the Tambourine Man smiled to himself pockets bulging with tax payers dollars of his fees to get the project started and he tilted his hat up on his forehead started to walked with a jaunty step, and headed towards the next town slowly tapping the Tambourine of the next bunch of Suckers that sat upon they're thrones of government authority.
These high speed rails are nothing more than a different scam upon the taxpayers. All these convention centers that were constructed in North Carolina now remain empty.
Municipalities within minutes of each other built these warehouses of debt, that have saddled property owners with multiple property tax, and sales tax increases.
And where is the Tambourine Man with his carpet bag of jacked up numbers you ask? Why didn't you know he traded that tired old worn out carpet bag for a nice new shiny train for the next bunch of suckers to buy.

Melvin| 2.21.11 @ 7:27AM

My grammar was atrocious on this post. I apologize, that is what I get for being in a hurry, and lack of morning coffee.

JP| 2.21.11 @ 7:32AM

This is the same GOP which supported Jeb Bush, and from whence Charley Crist political career spawned. These pols are as addicted to taxpayers money as the public employee unions and Dem.

If this is a trend of things to come, the GOP will eventually split.

emo| 2.21.11 @ 4:51PM

Ah yes one of those never happy with the GOP conservatives.
And yet you miss the point that the Gov of FL, WI and OH all cancelled high speed rail projects. But I guess youd rather focus on the legislatures so you can make yourself miserable

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.21.11 @ 7:37AM

Larry,
Is it possible that all the squawking is pure political theater to calm the roiling masses?

Intelligent Design| 2.21.11 @ 7:38AM

Governor Scott has correctly predicted that ridership will never provide enough revenue to make the high speed rail self-sustaining. It would be a constant burden on taxpayers, just like Amtrak, or the existing rail system in the Miami area. Average citizens know this, but apparently a lot of politicians and virtually all of the media don't.

KyMouse| 2.21.11 @ 7:52AM

When I was a kid, our parents took us to Florida every spring on the "South Wind," which had a wonderful conductor who took good care of us (and was very patient with giggly little girls).

A few years ago, a couple of us took the "Texas Eagle" from St. Louis to San Antonio; and although we adore trains (ours is an old L&N family) and were glad we traveled that way, the Amtrak train was far from ideal.

In fact, it was like something out of the Fifties. Our berth's lock was a simple hook-and-eye that wouldn't have slowed anyone down. When meal time came, people who didn't have private berths simply left their belongings on their seats and went to the dining car. Luggage was stowed on the lower level on open shelves right next to the exit door, where anyone could have accidentally-on-purpose taken someone else's bag and disappeared down the platform.

We asked a staff person about what seemed to us to be lax security, but he assured us that they never had any trouble.

Well, when we stopped in Dallas for a moment, two urban youths were taken off the train in handcuffs.

The only part of the train trip that seemed 21st century was the fact that the hot entrees we ordered at meal time were merely heated in the microwave (as our waiter informed us).

I'd love to have the "South Wind" back again, but I'm not in favor of government-backed high-speed rail, after this latest trip on Amtrak.

Richard Baker| 2.21.11 @ 7:56AM

These are the money whores. Sticking their heads up will allow the voters to know whose to cut off in the future.

Brian| 2.21.11 @ 8:03AM

Florida Repubs are notorious cowards. State Repubs have unprecedented power yet just sit on their hands as caretakers of the kingdom build by liberals over 75 years.

bert| 2.21.11 @ 8:09AM

Why ignore the facts. Fl reps are easily bought by the German owned Siemans Corp who who bought off enough Fl Reps to wn this pathetic project and Real Estate con men who can unload alot of worthless real estate. Scott has money and can not be bought off so he is a dangerous person in the state capital.
More trains to nowhere and crooked pols and union goons !

Jeb B| 2.21.11 @ 8:40AM

So if I want to go from Tampa to Orlando, I'll drive to the train station, get on the hi-speed, get off in Orlando, rent a car - prob total time of 1 and 1/2 hours. OR, I drive my own car fm Tampa to Orlando - total time of 1 and 1/2 hour. Hmmm which do I do?

JFGalt| 2.21.11 @ 10:33AM

Hey don't forget that TSA will be there to strip, scan and search you so add another hour at each end for your protection.

emo| 2.21.11 @ 4:54PM

This is why HSR will never work.

Think about LA to San Francisco area. The train will eave downtown LA and go to downtown SFO. But that isnt how most people will want to travel. Someone from Burbank or Orange County might want to go to Oakland or San Jose. The train in that case is far far slower and more expensive than flying Southwest from SNA to SJC.

Len| 2.21.11 @ 8:45AM

Maybe the one requirement that any politician should have for office at state level and higher is an economics degree? Preferably one that has caused the politician to be exposed to the Austrian School.

JFGalt| 2.21.11 @ 10:32AM

So far that adds up to 2.

dsayne| 2.21.11 @ 9:43AM

As a long time railfan, no-one would want to see the return of the successful passenger train more than I would. That being said, even I recognise that massive intervention by the Federal government and the unions is not going to restore a dead industry that they are largely responsible for killing in the first place.

JFGalt| 2.21.11 @ 10:43AM

The problem with trains is what do you do when you get to your destination? Walk? Unlike Europe where you can hop on a light rail or subway system to get to your final destination. This is the only reason that it works in the NE corridor.

JimH| 2.21.11 @ 10:28AM

As a Florida resident, I think all Florida legislators should be required to watch the Simpson's Monorail episode.

JFGalt| 2.21.11 @ 10:32AM

Years ago when this boondoggle in Florida was put forward - what happened? Politicians and their friends started buying up land. Guess where? Where the train's alignment was expected to run. They were privy to the studies and started buying up cheap land between Ft Lauderdale and Orlando ready to sell back to the state at inflated rates. many of them are probably still sitting on that land. If you want to know what's driving this - Follow The Money!

JFGalt| 2.21.11 @ 10:41AM

A train from Orlando Airport to Disney does make sense but that would only require a light rail line. Not any fancy high speed bullet train. Florida is not too bright in this regard. When Miami built their system - the first line should have been from the airport to the beach with a detour to the cruise ship port. Instant revenue to fund itself. But alas, no. It ran from a poor neighborhood to downtown which has little jobs for the poor and then to the financial district and then to a private university and then to a high end shopping mall. Guess what? No riders. When politicians pick the route you know it will be a disaster!

thomas| 2.21.11 @ 11:17AM

I'll am in total agreement that high speed rail anywhere in the US is a boondoggle. But, I am getting tired of the propaganda surrounding Governor Walker's initiative in Wisconsin.

Walker's actions are not economics based. In the first place, his initiative would impact not only state employees, but employees of counties and municipalities in Wisconsin, most of whom are not paid with state money. Secondly, only those public employees unions that normally support Democrats and which specifically did not support Walker's election are being targeted. The police and fire unions, which did support Walker, are specifically excluded from the bill. And, most telling is the fact that the bill would not only limit collective bargaining by these unions to salary only, it would cap what the union could request. The affected unions have now, reportedly, agreed to all of the monetary concessions [retirement and insurance contributions] and the Governor and Republican legislators are still determined to continue to bust these unions.

This is not about economics, but about political payback. And it is being done in a manner that the Republicans and Conservatives have chastised the Democrats for doing for years.

JimBrown| 2.21.11 @ 7:29PM

This year's budget is only part of the story. The only real long term solution to run away government cost is doing away with public employee unions. Even FDR recognized they would not work.

When a private company and it's union negotiate, the affect of increased cost on product sales is recognized. When union and what passes for management in the public sector conspire (more accurate then negotiate for what happens) the assumption is the "customer" has no choice but to pay more.

dirk| 2.22.11 @ 5:50PM

Of the 432 police and fire bargaining units in Wisconsin, only 4 supported Walker in the last election.

Paul from SA| 2.21.11 @ 11:51AM

I don't hate trains, just gov't trains. Gov't trains are just union boondoggles. That's the one main reason Democrats want them.

No gov't spending on trains!

Lois C| 2.21.11 @ 1:39PM

Shame on the Florida state representitives for trying to go around the governor. We finally have a governor who wants to do what is right for the state and he now has to fight not only Obummer but his own legislators who see only dollar signs not the huge financial burden this project will place on the taxpayer. High speed rail is a loser in any state!

Sam Levi| 2.21.11 @ 1:45PM

I don't understand why the Guv doesn't just pull a Ronnie on the teachers. "Go back to work, or your fired."

Sam Levi| 2.21.11 @ 1:46PM

sorry your=you're

PattyMor| 2.21.11 @ 2:41PM

Let's see choo-choo trains to nowhere which nobody wants to ride. Doesn't it just sound wonderful? If its so wonderful, why doesn;t the private sector want to build it. Its no different than "green energy" schemes. Without the gov'ment money, no one in their right minds would invest in this either.

Impeach Don't Wait| 2.21.11 @ 6:46PM

Good point, PattyMor. If there was a dollar to be made in this, the private sector would be all over it.

I hate to see what California's going to do. Quiz: How many people plan to travel between L.A. and San Fran. daily anyway?

emo| 2.21.11 @ 4:49PM

I found this on Huffington Post:

""an International Union of Railways spokesman estimates that worldwide, only two routes (Tokyo-Osaka and Paris-Lyon) have broken even""

I was in Spain in 1993 and Spain's rail system that year lost nearly $1b dollars. In 2003, I was in Japan and bought a JR Rail Pass. Luck too because high speed rail in Japan if you buy one ticket at a time costs as much as flying does.

Paul McGrath| 2.21.11 @ 4:57PM

No problem. Nobody read past the first paragraph anyway.

Vjay| 2.21.11 @ 7:06PM

I have come to believe that "governing" is another term for "spending." we should strongly consider paying our politcians to saty home, because whenever they are on the job, we go farther in debt. Is DC a right-to-work "state?" Tell them all to take an extended stay-cation and work on their next campaigns.

Osamas Pajamas| 2.21.11 @ 8:55PM

Taxpayer-funded highspeed rail is lunacy, and as if to prove that Democrats do not have a monopoly on lunacy, numerous Republicans also support taxpayer-funded highspeed rail. These projects should not get one penny in taxes. If private companies wish to fund these projects and lose money on them --- no problem!