PIRG cites economic benefits of high speed rail Brian Imus 9 20 10

Illinois PIRG released a new report today, Connecting the Midwest, that puts clear numbers and a clear vision on how high-speed rail will boost the Midwest economy, reduce highway and airport congestion, reduce dependence on oil, and protect the environment. The report, including a summary of key findings, is available on PIRG's web site: http://www.illinoispirg.org/news-releases/transit/transit-news/high-speed-rai...

This video of Brian Imus, director, Illinois PIRG, was taken at the PIRG news conference, Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, at Union Station in Chicago.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• high-speed rail
• Midwest high-speed rail
• Union Station
• PIRG

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 to establish a clean, efficient high-speed train service linking Southern California, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area . . ." Californians knew they were voting for the real deal, not just for an environmental impact analysis, which again had taken place the previous 12 years already.

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 that Californians thought they were voting for an environmental impact analysis for high-speed rail. That is also completely incorrect. The environmental impact analysis for the system had been occurring 12 years before the proposition was voted on in 2008. It was finally ready in 2008. Here's a quote from the proposition: "To provide Californians a safe, convenient, affordable, and reliable alternative to driving and high-gas prices . . . shall $9.95 billion in bonds be issued

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 I looked at some of the videos on that site and there were many flaws in them. For example, one of the videos said that "there was not a single profitable system in the entire world." That is completely incorrect. The Tokaido Shinkansen, which started service in 1964, has been running at a profit since 1966, and it completely paid itself off in 1971. The Paris-Lyon TGV line started making a profit in the late 1980s, and has recently paid itself off. Then the video goes on to say

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 favor them. These laws often are not beneficial to the average American, but only to the wealthy few. And they're doing a good job screwing us over. Cutting public services and blaming public workers for the public debt, yet we're spending over $600 billion on the military every year.

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 And who did I say has bought up all of the lawmakers in the government? The corporations! Did you not read my previous posts? Who makes the largest contributions to political candidates? Corporations! If you get elected to office, and some corporation who helped you get into office calls you up to ask for favors, what do you think you'll do? You're right. The corporations don't make the laws. They use their tremendous financial power to influence the government to pass laws to

[pete5668]

@th3gtr0 high speed boon doggle(dot)com/

[pete5668]

@th3gtr0 The corporations don't make the laws, son. The government does.

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 anything but car. If you're going to blame anyone for controlling your life, blame the corporations because they've practically bought the government and over 50% of the news agencies that tell you they're "fair and balanced" and report nothing that is against their owners making money, e.g. high-speed rail. Another thing is that JR Central is a PRIVATE corporation that reports a profit from running the Tokaido Shinkansen. It is something that corporations can look into to make money.

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 manufacturers are objecting to people shifting to mass transit because they're going to lose customers. As for the government forcing us to do something, that's what it's been doing since the 1950's. Cars have a monopoly in transportation in the US. The feds are giving subsidies to oil companies. We're paying $8 billion a MONTH to secure the oil in the Middle East. This is all to make the price of gasoline artificially low, so it's too convenient for Americans to travel by

[th3gtr0]

@pete5668 "The government will offer incentives to the HSR companies to maintain the routes, while intentionally allowing the highway system to fall into disrepair, claiming lack of funding. They will do this to force Americans out of their cars." This is a ridiculous statement. Who funds politicians' campaigns? Who helps them get into office? Who's bought up all of the policy makers in Washington? The corporations. I'm pretty damn sure oil companies, tire manufacturers, and car and truck