The Soapbox

Joined: 03/16/2005 Posts: 16379
Likes: 28582

What's this?

Isn't this the problem though? CA doesn't have it at the state level but

they would happily build it with other people's money? And I'm sure Florida and the DC - Boston corridor would love to build more rail with federal dollars from other states. What that really means is federal borrowing of money. That's just like free, right?

Either these projects are worth the money or they are not. If LA to SF is worth the cost then Californians should pay for it. If it is not worth the cost then getting other people to pay for it doesn't make it worth the cost. And yes, I would love to see a real rail system, especially along those routes.

The question that people should be asking is why are they so horrendously expensive to begin with and why are their initial cost targets never hit? I don't want to hear "regulation", I would love to see how many man-hours for design and construction, how many pieces of rail at $x/piece.

It's not just rail, highway construction is just as bad if not worse. Maryland recently announced a $90 million study to improve I495 and I270 in the DC region. One constraint is that solutions stay within existing rights of way, so this is rather limited in scope. How can you possibly spend $90MM trying to figure out where you can put more lanes and exits, etc? It's a STUDY! They are not buying or building anything (except lots of overpriced posterboard, I'm sure) so it's labor that's 600 people for a year at $150,000 each to study how to utilize 70 miles of existing rights of way. SERIOUSLY?!

Whew, I feel better.

[Post edited by 81_Hokie at 02/14/2019 08:54AM]

(In response to this post by 111Balz)

Posted: 02/14/2019 at 07:46AM

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Current Thread:

The Green New Deal is on Fyre (link) -- JMHoo 02/13/2019 8:46PM

What should America do -- DanTheFan 02/14/2019 08:41AM

Yeah, after all, it is all our fault! Enjoy your wind-powered car. smdh ** -- CA Cav 02/14/2019 10:39AM

Of course an electric car can be wind powered, or solar powered, or nuke... ** -- hoolstoptheheels 02/14/2019 10:51AM

Sure it can. What % of electeicity is currently supplied by wind or solar? -- CA Cav 02/14/2019 11:03AM

The point of the editorial I linked was to focus on changing that -- hoolstoptheheels 02/14/2019 12:13PM

The trend lines for alternative energy -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 1:31PM

Here is some info for you -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 11:24AM

Lol. 2.09 % of available power. Nice link Balz...did you even read it? ** -- hoothat 02/14/2019 11:29AM

A material amount. 15% to 20% nationwide? ** -- nyhoo 02/14/2019 11:20AM

8-9. ** -- hoothat 02/14/2019 12:02PM

That is total consumption - not electricity ** -- nyhoo 02/14/2019 12:03PM

CA #1, AR #2 but I was impressed NC is #3, VA is #21 barely on the grid. -- Hoakie82 02/14/2019 12:16PM

No, that is available power. -- hoothat 02/14/2019 12:05PM

Right. We are talking about electric cars which are powered off the grid -- nyhoo 02/14/2019 12:13PM

Got anything handy I could read that backs that up? ** -- hoothat 02/14/2019 12:15PM

Looks like 7.6% total for both wind and solar in 2017 (link). Now TBF solar -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 12:40PM

Yeah, I saw the same. Reread NY's post and you'll see our problem. -- hoothat 02/14/2019 12:44PM

Yes, there seems to be some disconnect. Perhaps NY was suggesting 15-20% of -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 12:59PM

Well, not from devout, closed minded deniers you won't. A decent editorial -- hoolstoptheheels 02/14/2019 09:32AM

Wind power? Yeah! More broken turbines wasting space! -- hoothat 02/14/2019 11:34AM

I would definitely argue -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 09:39AM

Well, sure. How do you think Trump became the face of the repub party? -- hoolstoptheheels 02/14/2019 09:58AM

Rasmussen says that this has been a good two week stretch for Trump. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 10:07AM

Here's the thing about those polls -- Hoodeac 02/14/2019 11:02AM

Understood. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 11:04AM

That's definitely a mistake. There is no reason to put "all credence" in -- hoolstoptheheels 02/14/2019 3:41PM

It's a mistake. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:54AM

That's the wrong question. What should the world do? -- BocaHoo91 02/14/2019 09:31AM

You don’t think scientists, engineers, etc. are working on that every -- Mad Bowl Hoo 02/14/2019 09:09AM

What, exactly, are you supporting? -- DanTheFan 02/14/2019 09:24AM

Innovators ask themselves what might be rght about a new idea before they -- WaxHoo 02/14/2019 08:34AM

Like monkeys thowing shit, something will stick. -- Lupos 02/14/2019 09:05AM

Hereby making my point ** -- WaxHoo 02/14/2019 6:56PM

No and the authors of the plan are not monkeys ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:07AM

Really? ** -- Lupos 02/14/2019 09:10AM

*psst* you can't use that word anymore for anything other than actual -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:13AM

Oops, my bad. Should have used primates. ** -- Lupos 02/14/2019 09:14AM

It does around here. ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 08:53AM

:( ** -- WaxHoo 02/14/2019 6:55PM

It’s easy to shit on someone else’s ideas -- WahooMatt05 02/14/2019 08:12AM

Here's my plan -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 08:44AM

You nailed it on your last sentence. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 08:57AM

You might say she is a dreamer, but she's not the only one ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:01AM

Dreaming is as easy as lying in bed ** -- HokieDan95 02/14/2019 09:50AM

The best dreams come to the awake ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:09AM

That can be quite the nightmare for some. ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:59AM

Not the only one with her complete head up her complete ass? ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:02AM

Imagine ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:05AM

Yep, great song. Flawed concept. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:06AM

Dare to be great ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:07AM

What specifically do you find bullshit? i am assuming the parts about -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:47AM

How about -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 08:57AM

You forgot the part where if we don't do it, in 12 yrs we're all gonna DIE! ** -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 09:18AM

Those are the people who DIED! DIED! ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:58AM

What section of the plan is that in? ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:23AM

Oh, we're not allowed to criticize other things she says when criticizing -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 09:28AM

Just asking very simple questions -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:35AM

I used to be disgusted, now I'm just amused. ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:59AM

Don’t leave the building, Elvis ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:05AM

Angel wants to wear my Red Shoes. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 10:08AM

I assume you mean the singer! ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:12AM

The old one, yes! ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 10:13AM

The part with all the good ideas it has you keep pointing out. Oh wait.... ** -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 09:25AM

Try reading ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:26AM

Or you could defend this nonsense you just expect others to accept. ** -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 09:30AM

If you would bother to read you would -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:34AM

So you cannot name and defend one good thing about the plan. Got it. ** -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 10:18AM

Don’t play your little bullshit game with me -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:23AM

Says the guy playing the little bullshit game he always plays here. It's -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 10:34AM

Are you really this stupid? YOU are -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:46AM

So he doubles down on his "little bullshit game" and still got nothing. -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 10:49AM

I never tried to convince you of anything -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:51AM

When has this childish, idiotic clown ever known the first thing about -- WahooRQ 02/14/2019 11:02AM

HAHA, you calling others childish...yeah, ok. -- hoothat 02/14/2019 11:38AM

He knows he has nothing as usual and -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 11:05AM

True, but remember you think you're shouting him down, he thinks he's -- WahooRQ 02/14/2019 11:51AM

Shouting him down? wtf... ** -- hoothat 02/14/2019 1:15PM

LOL! Tripling down. Any other childish insults you want to throw my way to -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 10:59AM

Let’s posit that the time-line is unrealistic. What else about the plan do -- southdenverhoo 02/14/2019 11:13AM

It's a fluffy unsupported "I love puppy dogs" piece full of speculative -- Hoodafan 02/14/2019 11:56AM

Well at long last you said SOMETHING of -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 1:20PM

It’s all in how you pose the question to him. ** -- southdenverhoo 02/14/2019 2:12PM

I raised 4 kids and have 3 grandkids. I should know that ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 8:03PM

The plan is asinine on its face -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 10:09AM

Right. Sure. Sorry again for the tough question ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 10:13AM

It is just straight Socialism. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:01AM

No, it’s not ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:06AM

Tecnically you're right. Bartering would replace monetary structure. -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:07AM

What section of the plan was that? ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:24AM

Edit: meant for your other hyper-specific question about the so-called plan** -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 09:27AM

Hyper specific! I asked you to support -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:47AM

These people think the original New Deal, which actually saved capitalist -- southdenverhoo 02/14/2019 10:53AM

It is just aggravating that some people -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 11:00AM

The measure to be revealed later. :-) ** -- jdubforwahoowa 02/14/2019 09:25AM

An audacious goal. probably not achievable but one we should get started on -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:00AM

What does this line mean? -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 09:09AM

Many kids have little to access to -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:22AM

I know the answer. 30+ years ago, deny climate change is even happening -- Late 80s Hokie 02/14/2019 08:17AM

Actually, 15 or so years ago GOP solution was cap and trade but Rush or -- 81_Hokie 02/14/2019 08:30AM

Just like Obamacare ideas were Republican ideas before they turned on it ** -- WahooMatt05 02/14/2019 08:46AM

Yes, I'm not sure about the specifics of this 'Green New Deal', but it's -- Hooddihsm 02/14/2019 08:17AM

From what I have read it does not go far enough in addressing climate -- Tuckahokie 02/14/2019 08:27AM

I love it when people lie to American citizens and you pass it on as truth -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 06:49AM

Sort of like how AOC tried to gaslight the American people by claiming -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 08:37AM

Lol wut? You must have a PhD in AOC ** -- wahoo138 02/14/2019 10:06AM

I have no idea what you are talking about. Im was asking about the plan -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:49AM

There is no 'plan' to read. There is a list of pipe-dream goals, but no -- Hokie5150 02/14/2019 08:35AM

This document (link) -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:50AM

As I stated...a list of pipe-dream goals with no plan of how achieve them -- Hokie5150 02/14/2019 09:12AM

Pipe dream? Which ones? ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:25AM

Did you? Anything in there on excessive car commutes and carbon emissions? ** -- TpkeHoo 02/14/2019 07:21AM

I have. Your name comes up in the cow emissions discussion ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 07:45AM

We can count Gavin Newsom as one of the unbelievers now -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/13/2019 10:40PM

So, you should read what he actually did. He stopped work on certain -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 06:49AM

I did read what he actually did -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 08:32AM

Well its not largely empty. bakersfield has nearly 400,000 residents, -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:45AM

LOL. ** -- hoothat 02/14/2019 12:30PM

Isn't this the problem though? CA doesn't have it at the state level but -- 81_Hokie 02/14/2019 07:46AM

I'm with you. There needs to be a business case. I think there is one -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:02AM

Not just a business case but transparency and audits and the assurance that -- 81_Hokie 02/14/2019 08:42AM

I think the first question is -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 09:04AM

Actually that info is out there and easily gound -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 09:53AM

Again, no disagreement from me ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:51AM

I can agree with almost all of that, except maybe the "other states money" -- Late 80s Hokie 02/14/2019 07:54AM

Ahhh...Wealth redistribution in action ** -- Tuckahokie 02/14/2019 07:59AM

Yes, residents of some states pay a disproportionate share of federal taxes -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:06AM

Bakersfield to Merced...which is the rough equivalent in populations -- Tuckahokie 02/14/2019 07:04AM

Newsom made the right decision. Like Jimmy Carter killing the B-1. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 02/13/2019 11:27PM

Bad ass looking plane -- HokieDan95 02/13/2019 11:52PM

Capable of carrying multiple bombs totaling 100 megatons in the game -- Late 80s Hokie 02/14/2019 07:57AM

Trump wants our $3.5 billion back (link) -- JMHoo 02/13/2019 10:48PM

The Unwilling to Work and No Cow Farts Act ** -- ryno hoo 02/13/2019 10:16PM

Cheerleading the destruction of earth to own the libs. ** -- hooshouse 02/13/2019 8:50PM

Be Aggressive -- jdubforwahoowa 02/13/2019 9:12PM

No, it's what stupid ideas deserve ** -- HokieDan95 02/13/2019 9:05PM

What stupid ideas are you speaking of? ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 06:51AM

Have you read the plan? ** -- HokieDan95 02/14/2019 07:20AM

Yes I have. Are you going to answer MY question? ** -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 07:46AM

When you ask a good one sure ** -- HokieDan95 02/14/2019 08:06AM

Okay since you can't specify ONE thing in the plan that is a stupid idea -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:21AM

If you would just pay attention you wouldn't need to ask ** -- HokieDan95 02/14/2019 09:56AM

What in the plan is a good idea? ** -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 02/14/2019 08:46AM

So I am not the one who has called it 100% bullshit or full of stupid ideas -- 111Balz 02/14/2019 08:48AM

The legislative proposal that the Dems are upset might be called to vote -- Wembley 02/14/2019 2:06PM

The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many...... ** -- Hooooooooooooooo 02/14/2019 08:03AM