Should we built the high speed rail network? (holidays, companies, education)

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by ellemint

Only half of highway funding comes from "user fees" like taxes on gas. This graph shows where the money comes from.

Likewise, only 60% of gas taxes goes toward roads. The rest goes to other stuff like mass transit.

[ellemint]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Great idea. Any time a rich person boards a train they should pay $500. That would solve the problem.

lol

or maybe only the rich can sit inside and for the rest of us, there's this....

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Great idea. Any time a rich person boards a train they should pay $500. That would solve the problem.

that's the new standard answer. Any new program, any increase to a program, any unexpected Federal bill will just be paid for by the rich.

see..now we can pass all the spending bills we want. Bernanke can give us the up front loan and the rich will pay it back in higher taxes. No more debate.

And the constant question of "Who will pay of it" is answered each and every time.

BECAUSE IT'S FAIR !!!

[ellemint]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Likewise, only 60% of gas taxes goes toward roads. The rest goes to other stuff like mass transit.

I didn't know that --- you should know Roadking!

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

But SS is paid by people who may never use it
Roads are used by people who do not pay gas taxes
Schools are paid for by people without kids

SS is primarily a retirement insurance program. That's how insurance works... some get out more than they pay, others get out less than they pay.

Almost everyone pays gas taxes. Most directly, but others indirectly.

And I agree school funding is an issue. There are too many people without kids funding the needs of families with kids.

But with rail, the 1% who use it are supported by the 99% who don't.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

Running trains that cant keep a schedule on poorly maintained infrastructure and run by an apathetic unionized workforce for life, simply isn't in the budget right now.

If it's such a good deal, let the users pay for it. Ridership would drop to almost zero.

[DarkWolf]

Amtrak: Accelerating the Future of High Speed Rail - YouTube

[squarian]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

But with rail, the 1% who use it are supported by the 99% who don't.

So you're against the 1%? Welcome to the Revolution, comrade!

[ellemint]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

And I agree school funding is an issue. There are too many people without kids funding the needs of families with kids.

But of course it benefits everyone to have an educated populace.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by emcee squared

Okay. What would you cut most?

I'm not so naive to think that spending and waste isn't out of control, but I also believe taxes should be incorporated. Personally, I have no problem with paying more to the government (with the assumption that it helps the nation), as long as it is being spent in a worthwhile way.

Military could be cut by a few hundred billion. Close all foreign bases.

End (really) the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ... that would save $170 billion per year.

Cut welfare, both individual and corporate.

Eliminate farm aid.

Eliminate crony capitalism.. like for Solyndra and GM.

Cut or eliminate DEA, ATF, DHS. Get the government out of life style policing.

Cut or eliminate FEMA.

Stop all corporate and product subsidies.

And there are many many other areas that could be cut.