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Title: Trump Agrees With Democrats on High-Speed Trains
Source:
TIME
URL Source: http://time.com/4247162/donald-trump-trains-infrastructure/
Published: Mar 10, 2016
Author: Haley Sweetland Edwards
Post Date: 2016-03-10 09:07:57 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 10685
Comments: 40
In a freewheeling speech Thursday afternoon, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump stumbled into a riff about how great trains are. It’s sad, he said, that the American rail system is so dilapidated while China’s is now slicker than ever. “They have trains that go 300 miles per hour,” the populist billionaire exclaimed. “We have trains that go chug … chug … chug.” The line got a laugh—it’s not often that one sees a presidential candidate imitate Thomas the Tank Engine—but it also underscored one of the most solid planks in the billionaire businessman’s rickety policy platform: to fund and rebuild U.S. infrastructure, including its crumbling railways. The thing is, that’s usually a Democratic talking point. President Obama spent the better part of his second term pushing for a $478 billion infrastructure bill to fund roads, bridges, and rail lines. Before that, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who at one point practically moonlighted as Amtrak’s spokesman, pushed a new U.S. Department of Transportation initiative awarding $8 billion to states to build new high-speed intercity rail. “[T]here’s no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains when we can build them right here in America,” Obama announced in a 2010 statement. “By investing in high speed rail, we’re doing so many good things for our country at the same time,” Biden added. We’re creating good construction and manufacturing jobs in the near-term; we’re spurring economic development in the future; we’re making our communities more livable—and we’re doing it all while decreasing America’s environmental impact and increasing America’s ability to compete in the world.” Trump’s language, six years later, is nearly identical. “Our airports, bridges, water tunnels, power grids, rail systems—our nation’s entire infrastructure is crumbling, and we aren’t doing anything about it,” he wrote in his 2015 book, Crippled America. He went on to promise that fixing it would spur economic growth. “These projects put people to work—not just the people doing the work but also the manufacturers, the suppliers, the designers, and, yes, even the lawyers. The Senate Budget Committee estimates that rebuilding America will create 13 million jobs,” he wrote. Which, incidentally, was Obama’s point in 2011, when Congressional Republicans blocked his $60 billion infrastructure jobs bill. Republicans have generally fought efforts to increase federal spending on principle. That includes vast infrastructure projects, even popular ones. In the hours after the deadly Amtrak derailment in May 2015, for example, the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee voted to slash the rail budget by 20%. In December, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate joined to pass a less sweeping $305 billion version of the infrastructure package. But both of Trump’s top rivals for the Republican nomination, Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas, voted no on the bill. In a nod to the fiscal conservative tradition of the Republican Party, Trump has admitted that rebuilding American infrastructure would cost taxpayer dollars. But then waved away the concern with Trumpian bravado. “On the federal level, this is going to be an expensive investment, no question about that. But in the long run it will more than pay for itself,” he said. “It will stimulate our economy while it is being built and make it a lot easier to do business when it’s done—and it can be done on time and under budget.” Poster Comment:Go Trump Go!!! Woohooo Choo-Choo!!!
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
Are you now a Trump voter or you just like this one issue?
Trump is right about this. Investment in the nation's infrastructure pays massive dividends over time. But investment in overseas military adventures has no return: the money is burnt, and it's gone, and we have nothing permanent to show for any of it other than crippled soldiers and coffins. We didn't hold onto Vietnam. Iraq is a Shi'ite ally of Iran for all practical purposes. What did we get for our trillions? Heartache, and a permanent stream of interest payments. That's why Trump's foreign policy, which is basically: end the Cold War and the War on Terror by allying with Russia, letting them have their sphere of influence, clobbering the terrorists for good, and bringing the forces home from Europe, is so very right. THAT saves money - a permanent drain. And that money that is freed up can be used for debt reduction and infrastructure improvement.
Of the ones who are left, Clinton, Cruz and Rubio will absolutely NOT get my vote... so that only leaves Bernie, Trump and Kasich as possibilities... I been voting for 44 years now, and this is the most pathetic bunch of candidates I've ever seen.
Great! With all the serious issues and the psychotic levels of corruption taking place, we end up talking about trains going nowhere at near supersonic speeds because somebody else has one. This nation has gone nuts!
Amtrak has I believe one line that is actually profitable . The rest of it is Soviet style subsidized transportation. Amtrak’s ridership and revenue has been steadily increasing . 2011 it set a new ridership record with 30.2 million passengers, and $1.9 billion in ticket revenue. But, even though it took additional $1.42 billion from Congress , it still manages to lose $1 billion annually. Trains are a 19th century technology that we are attempting to apply to a 21st century problem.On longer distance trips, air transportation is faster. The car isn’t much slower, is fairly inexpensive (particularly with multiple passengers ), and provides far greater convenience, including door-to- door service and the use of a car when the traveler arrives at the destination. Bus transportation isn't much slower than Amtrak, are cheaper, and aren’t that much less comfortable. Let the Chinese keep their high speed trains . High speed trains there mean high spead accidents to cover up. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8658959/Anger-in-China-as- bodies-fall-from-carriages-during-train-crash-clean-up.html "If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
Amtrak is profitable in the NE Corridor where it owns, upgrades and maintains its own track. On other routes, the freight carriers are reluctant to upgrade their infrastructure to provide safe and competitive passenger service. Those tracks and right-of-ways should be seized by eminent domain so that the rail infrastructure can be upgraded.
or the NE corridor and the rest of the stinking enterprise could be privatized . Why should the American taxpayer be footing the bill for rail freight transportation ,or for the travel of passengers to and from the Washington beltway ?
"If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
No... Private ownership of transportation right-of-ways is an unreasonable restriction on Americans' Freedom to Travel. The railways should be publicly owned, just like the roadways, highways, waterways and airways. The private sector can own the vehicles that travel on these right-of-ways, but the railways themselves (the tracks) should be publicly owned, maintained and regulated.
I can't wait to have the Government overpay for another Big Dig project. Last time the money went into the pockets of likes of Kennedy and Kerry and numerous MA politicians and {ah-hem} businessmen. I wonder how it will get into Dollar Donald's pocket the next go around. потому что Бог хочет это тот путь
But investment in overseas military adventures has no return: the money is burnt, and it's gone, and we have nothing permanent to show for any of it other than crippled soldiers and coffins. We didn't hold onto Vietnam. Iraq is a Shi'ite ally of Iran for all practical purposes. What did we get for our trillions? Heartache, and a permanent stream of interest payments. That's why Trump's foreign policy, which is basically: end the Cold War and the War on Terror by allying with Russia, letting them have their sphere of influence, clobbering the terrorists for good, and bringing the forces home from Europe, is so very right. THAT saves money - a permanent drain. And that money that is freed up can be used for debt reduction and infrastructure improvement. Good post. And we can tax the left wing globalist billionaires to pay for it. They want to import socialism so much by importing democrat voters, then let them be hoisted upon their own petard. Kind of like the Bernie Sanders yard sign. Non auro, sed ferro, recuperando est patria
That's not the way it's done here . (excluding Amtrak and some municiple systems ) .The tracks and railroad companies are privately owned The goverment gave land grants to the railroads back in the day ,but otherwise stayed out of the business.
"If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
Bernie's going to find that is what is going to happen to his delegates . He has to share them . "If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
don't fret soso, president trump will come up with an idea so the tax payers can make a buck off of it.
don't fret soso, president trump will come up with an idea so the tax payers can make a buck off of it. Ah, he will get China to pay for it. Thanks for clearing that up. потому что Бог хочет это тот путь
No problemo... whatever the Government giveth, the Government can taketh away...
Trump makes me love America again. He has inspired my inner patriot that was lost because of all the god cursed neocon policies.
Yea, we would have been better off without railroads. So being anti-Trump now is to go off into stupid land?
...and destroy the only productive and profitable use of rail in the country ...the movement of freight. If people wanted to ride the railroads they would already be the best in the world. When we started driving cars ,the trolly lines were dug up and replaced with better roads . Americans don't want to be stuffed like sardines in a can to get to and from work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7kor5nHtZQ If you are telling me that we should be investing some R&D money into something similar to Elon Musk's Hyperloop then I'm interested . But to tell me that you want to create a market that isn't there using old technology then I say that the market doesn't exist ,and it won't exist no matter how fast you get trains on wheels to go ,and how fancy your trains and stations look. There are plenty of infrastructure issues that need addressing . Passenger rail is low on that totempole. "If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
If it helps disrupt the shipment of double-stack containers from China, yeah, you bet.
they will still be transported to their destination ...except they will travel on multiple heavy rigs on the highways.
"If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." Plato
Yep.
Gone where Comrade Vic? You commie Jesuits are so predictable. Why don't you tell the class about how both forms of government expenditure affect the velocity of the almighty dollar? Here, I'll help: http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Velocity_of_money
And will they do that, in part, by making a profit on selling back the steel that used to be in, cough, the American railroads... that crony mercantilists have been selling to them? http:// www.google.com/#q=american%20steel%20sold%20to%20china What a hoot. Not to mention the fortune the Jesuit Marx Banksters and their cronies will make by financing the construction of low income multi-residential slums all along the tracks. Chicago Here We Come! Whoo Whoo! All Aboard!
Because it's irrelevant and I don't care?
It's presumably not irrelevant to the folks employed in the Military Industrial Complex. How many jobs you s'pose that is Comrade Vic (beings as how you're so "well informed" and all)?
Lots of jobs. Which will be lost when we make peace with Russia
Is VxH one of these GOP idiots that hates govt programs except where the build weapons and carry out wars? They only like socialism for the Military Industrial Complex.
I don't know his politics. I only know from his posts to me, which are inveterately hostile, that he thinks I am a narcissistic, deceitful, Ba'al- worshiping parasite and a hypocrite to boot. He's not a fan of what I have to offer. For my part, once people start talking to me that way I stop listening to their points and just focus on their nastiness. My court is open to all, and I'll converse with anybody, in a civil way. He talks down to me and speaks of me in the most degrading terms he can imagine, so obviously I ceased to really follow his thoughts or logic a long time ago. I reply, but my replies are not based on serious analysis - why would I actually do any WORK for somebody who (a) isn't paying me, and (b) is nasty as hell?
Vicome is right, VxH likes to talk nasty smack but if you give it back to him, then he bozos you. That pretty much shows you the kinda guy he is, start crap then hide behind the bozo's little dress.
Face the doors, Comrade.
That's because you're too inept to recognize (or too amorally corrupt to acknowledge) the historically self-evident fact that the "infrastructure" builders and the Military Industrial destroyers are just two sides of the same blood sucking coin. Exhibit A: Dick Cheney's Halliburton mob.
I'm neither inept nor amorally corrupt. I recognize that good infrastructure and military forces adequate to national defense are positively good things, that these things are orchestrated by government and paid for by taxes, and that therefore government is not the evil thing that you wrongly assert it is. Excessive infrastructure and bloated militaries are bad things, requiring too much in taxes, and making government overmighty and overbearing. But this is the point of philosophical and theological difference between us. You define government, all government, as evil by definition. I recognize that right-sized government is a positive good, a thing that does things nobody else can, that extend human lives and improve human happiness. You consider this alliance with Satan. I think your position is ungodly. And I note that your language is so vituperative that, placed side by side with mine, the demons fairly scream out of your words, while my words are generally pretty mild. In other words, we each think that the other has a demon, but I'm right.
Yes, you are right. Some folks have deep seated problems with authority that they have never quite worked out.
Trains are an absolute waste of money. Trains are for super heavy loads that must travel long distance. Community train system are one of the biggest waste of public money. Its just a public works project that pays high wages to low skilled workers who join a union and back demoncrats. You would be so much better off given everyone back their tax dollars! Trains equal no riders, gang hang out, noisy contraptions that have never paid for up keep and employees! ie socialist/progressives wet dream!!!! I would say buy everyone motorcycles/mopeds with that money but those things are huge polluters!
Ignorant luddites like you are guilty of surrendering advanced transportation technology to the Chinese.
Commuter trains make New York, Paris and London work.
700+ trillion dollars worth of derivative a$$paper conjured by your ilk into the global economic sewage pond contradicts your assertion, Your Worshipfulness. At least Alan Greenspan managed to demonstrate the character required to say "ooops". What was Drumpfenflipper University s'pose to teach folks again?
Has nothing whatever to do with trains, infrastructure, social security, public schools. The government doesn't issue derivatives. The private capitalist marketplace creases them.
Or regulate them, evidently. Hos 12:7-8 Maybe government should focus on regulating vampires instead of building infrastructure by colluding with crony vampires in the infrastructure bidness. Planning on using Rearden Metal in your fancy railroading enterprise are you?
Uhuh. That would be that "amoral" character flaw you deny having.
Go Trump Go!!! Woohooo Choo-Choo!!!
#2. To: Willie Green (#0)
“On the federal level, this is going to be an expensive investment, no question about that. But in the long run it will more than pay for itself,” he said. “It will stimulate our economy while it is being built and make it a lot easier to do business when it’s done—and it can be done on time and under budget.”
#3. To: A K A Stone (#1)
It depends who gets the nomination...
I really don't like any of them, so I'll be voting AGAINST whoever I think is the worst choice...
#4. To: Willie Green (#0)
(Edited)
#5. To: Willie Green (#0)
#6. To: tomder55 (#5)
mtrak has I believe one line that is actually profitable .
#7. To: Willie Green (#6)
#8. To: tomder55 (#7)
#9. To: Willie Green (#0)
“On the federal level, this is going to be an expensive investment, no question about that. But in the long run it will more than pay for itself,” he said. “It will stimulate our economy while it is being built and make it a lot easier to do business when it’s done—and it can be done on time and under budget.”
#10. To: Vicomte13 (#2)
Trump is right about this. Investment in the nation's infrastructure pays massive dividends over time.
#11. To: Willie Green (#8)
#12. To: nativist nationalist (#10)
Kind of like the Bernie Sanders yard sign.
#13. To: SOSO (#9)
I can't wait to have the Government overpay for another Big Dig project.
#14. To: calcon (#13)
I can't wait to have the Government overpay for another Big Dig project.
#15. To: tomder55 (#11)
The goverment gave land grants to the railroads back in the day
Afterall, it's not as if the private railroads ever paid for the land, so if they don't upgrade the tracks, just condemn them as unsafe for transportation and confiscate them for public use.
#16. To: A K A Stone (#1)
#17. To: Willie Green, tomder55, Vicomte13 (#15)
No problemo... whatever the Government giveth, the Government can taketh away... Afterall, it's not as if the private railroads ever paid for the land, so if they don't upgrade the tracks, just condemn them as unsafe for transportation and confiscate them for public use.
#18. To: Willie Green (#15)
No problemo... whatever the Government giveth, the Government can taketh away... Afterall, it's not as if the private railroads ever paid for the land, so if they don't upgrade the tracks, just condemn them as unsafe for transportation and confiscate them for public use.
#19. To: tomder55 (#18)
...and destroy the only productive and profitable use of rail in the country ...the movement of freight.
#20. To: Willie Green (#19)
#21. To: Pericles (#17)
So being anti-Trump now is to go off into stupid land?
#22. To: Vicomte13 (#2)
(Edited)
But investment in overseas military adventures has no return: the money is burnt, and it's gone,
#23. To: SOSO (#14)
(Edited)
Ah, he will get China to pay for it.
American Mass Transit
#24. To: VxH (#22)
Why don't you tell the class about how both forms of government expenditure affect the velocity of the almighty dollar?
#25. To: Vicomte13 (#24)
(Edited)
#26. To: VxH (#25)
#27. To: Vicomte13, VxH (#26)
#28. To: Pericles (#27)
#29. To: Vicomte13, Pericles (#28)
#30. To: Vicomte13 (#26)
when we make peace with Russia
#31. To: Vicomte13, paracles (#28)
(Edited)
He's not a fan of what I have to offer.
#32. To: VxH (#31)
That's because you're too inept to recognize (or too amorally corrupt to acknowledge) the historically self-evident fact that the "infrastructure" builders and the Military Industrial destroyers are just two sides of the same blood sucking coin.
#33. To: Vicomte13 (#32)
#34. To: Willie Green (#0)
#35. To: Justified (#34)
#36. To: Justified (#34)
#37. To: Vicomte13 (#32)
(Edited)
I'm neither inept nor amorally corrupt.
#38. To: VxH (#37)
700+ trillion dollars worth of derivative a$$paper
#39. To: Vicomte13 (#38)
The government doesn't issue derivatives.
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales;
he loves to defraud.
8 Ephraim boasts,
"I am very rich; I have become wealthy.
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin."
NIV
#40. To: Vicomte13 (#24)
I don't care?
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