MCG, Are you sure that most residents of Florida desire the high speed rail system turned down by Scott? What if you are one of the many residents that are required to pay but will never use the system? If you are not aligned with Tampa and Orlando it is only a cost... I applaud improving our infrastructure when the revenue allows but not when it puts the State in debt at a time when spending is the opposite of the current spectrum.... I don't think Scott is synonymous with catastrophe and may even be the answer to Florida's current budgetary crisis....He is not your prototypical governor but that may be the best thing we have going...
Ralph, I was born and raised in this state. I understand what makes this state tick and tourism is one of the most important if not the most important revenue producer for the state. A high speed rail could provide a huge tourism boost to both the Orlando and the Tampa area because some come for the beaches.....some come for Disney but a high speed rail would easily allow both and actually promote doing both. That's my take on it and that's why it was embraced by state GOP and democrats alike as being good for Florida.
... but it does. If HSR is absolutely needed and viable, why hasn't a independent firm stood up and put their money down to reap all the profits that would be brought in? Free enterprise and subsidies do not go hand in hand.
The point is that Florida didn't go with it's hand out......it was 2 B already spent that just went to other states instead. As the GOP state senator said Scott's "concern" over cost overruns was unfounded but every damned right-wing blog and media outlet seems to have all of their right-wing lemmings convinced that it would. I think Scott was just doing some idiotic....self-aggrandizing headstand over the rejection. Great copy in the tea party coffee shop ....but....stupid and disregarding of Florida's future.
Actually for me the local Ft. Myers NPR news had the most in-depth discussion with a panel of experts for and against the HSR. The discussion was hot and debated with each expert having their own opinion on the merits or hazards of losing the appropriated money. Amtrack was mentioned and its inability to generate enough income to sustain itself and the question was asked why would this be any different. For me it came down to two things Dave; It makes more sense to invest in a high speed rail system from Jax to Miami then Tampa to Orlando. Number two personally I have no use for this system, it would be only a leach on the taxes I pay to the sunshine state and pull money away from other much needed infrastructure. It's funny when it came down to the end it was not so much that Florida was losing high speed rail service it was the fact Florida's governor was giving up 2 Billion in Fed money. This is what drives folks insane not the rail system. It's amusing to me because government and fans of government live for revenue appropriation. The revenue might not be needed but we got it and now we must spend it....
I continue believe that HSR would be a boon for tourism especially in the area of the state in which I live. That said......I would prefer to see the money appropriated for the public school system. I saw a ratings list of best states for corporations to relocate to and the only major drawback for this state.....the achilles heel for Florida is the mediocre public schools and with the recent budget cuts Scott has made that weakness even more of an obstacle. Not smart and it certainly will not help attract business to the state. Tom.....I think the HSR project is more of a "New Deal" endeavor designed to create jobs, improve our transportation system here in Florida and is a step toward alternate transportation other than the gas dependent automobile. As a nation we either go forward or we become Cuba......relying upon old technology and aging infrastructure. Maybe we cannot go forward but I like to think our progress is still possible and we are not ready to throw in the towel. I read of thousands of Space Center jobs lost after the launch today of Endeavor and I wonder what direction we are going in. Maybe we are positioning ourselves as a nation to go backwards and that is pretty sad and hard to accept.
And Perry rejected the state stimulus money from Obama. He was applauded by that move by most of the Texas residents. Money from Washington comes with strings we don't want.
Then the smartest and most honorable thing would be to build one and pay for it. As for Disney and the beaches, why would somebody stand around in a rail station in Orlando and take a high speed train to Tampa to go to the beach, when the beaches of Daytona and New Smyrna Beach are practically only a taxi ride away?
Clearwater Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida and is 92 miles from Lake Buena Vista.....home of Disney. Daytona Beach is....well.....Daytona and is 70 miles. Lots more to do and see in the Tampa/St. Pete area.
"That said......I would prefer to see the money appropriated for the public school system. I saw a ratings list of best states for corporations to relocate to and the only major drawback for this state.....the achilles heel for Florida is the mediocre public schools and with the recent budget cuts Scott has made that weakness even more of an obstacle. Not smart and it certainly will not help attract business to the state." I have children.....one entering the 9th grade next year. Obviously these kinds of issues mean a great deal to me. But it should mean a great deal to those in Florida who would like to see big business move into the state to create new jobs. Frankly.....when I was seeking employment here the state the school systems were of great concern and affected my search significantly. And now.....the prospects are rife for a worsening of the public school offerings after severe budget cuts around the state.
The money isn't there...it's simple...just raise your state taxes like any other good Democrat would do. Then see how many businesses come in.
As I said....Cuba is right below the state......a couple of hundred miles away. We are closer to Cuba than ever it seems and your reaction without remorse is evident of that. Of course the elitist GOP comeback is usually one that asks people that can't afford a car or retirement savings or decent healthcare to pay for their kid's school on a privatized basis. They don't get how every family doesn't try to get by on 200 K per year and they don't understand that all the fruit pickin jobs they create just don't allow for squat other than squalor. My son is fresh out of undergrad with a teaching degree in Math and also one in English and there is no way he would subject himeself or his young wife to the viciousness and blatant abhorrence for teachers that exists in GOP governed states like Florida when it comes to the treatment of public school teachers. He is getting his masters at USF and is college teaching bound and smartly so. Good luck to Scott in trying to get any new business relocated to this state. Fat chance.
If I remember correctly Jo'Co isn't particulary thrilled with the treatment of public school teachers in California. Before anyone gives me any of that idealogical crap about why not suck it up.....and take one for America just don't even go there. In Pinellas county here even if a young 1st or 2nd year teacher felt that way they are getting laid off anyway. So much for idealogy.
My only "ideology" is that this HSR is a piece of unprofitable, unsustainable crap and you only want it because it is other people's money. If that is elitist, so be it...you always retort to name calling...I'm done here before I start stooping to your level. And what the hell does "reaction without remorse" mean?
Idealogy and elitist comment made specifically about school budget cuts and elitist especially made about GOP supporters/bloggers whomever that throw out privatizing schools and paying for pre-college education as a viable option for all Americans.. "The report included a separate survey of 1,055 college presidents that was designed by the Pew Research Center and the Chronicle of Higher Education. That survey, conducted March 15 through April 24, showed concern about diminishing higher education standards and quality. Some 58 percent of college presidents said public high school students arrive at college less well prepared than their counterparts a decade ago, according to the survey. Just 19 percent said the U.S. system of higher education is the best in the world, and 7 percent said they believe it will be the best 10 years from now." Damn.....hate to see how we look after the next 4 years of school budget cuts authored in by the state GOP legislators and governors of many states out there like Wisc. and Florida. But hey.....who's got the money for it so tough sh*t......deal with it. Cuba has hope yet of catching up to us...... :wink: :roll:
If you want to open the can of worms called education, you'd better be prepared to understand that the problem in America does not start in the classroom. It starts with the coddling attitude of many of today's parents and in some cases with the complete abdication of parental responsibility. All the money in the world will not change the quality of education in this country, because the problem starts at home. Politicians use education funding only to score political points. Those parents of underachieving students are oblivious to the responsibility thay have to motivate and prepare their children to learn. The teachers cannot squeeze water from rocks. When confronted with their children's lack of progress, they blame the teachers. Unfortunately, there are too many people in this country like the little sh*thead from Indiana, Mitch Daniels, who believe that teachers in public education are THE problem.
Sid....to some extent I agree with you but I don't think the blame is all on the parents. The kids themselves have so many distractions they never had in my day such as IM, Tweets, Facebook, video games galore, cable TV 24/7, etc. It is a big challenge as a parent to fight off all of these distractions. When I was a kid afternoon cartoons from about 4 pm to the 5:30 news were about all the media distraction you could get. Otherwise it was the lure of the fishing pond, the baseball diamond or the BB court but by nightfall it was homework or be bored. Think about the amazing difference between today and those days with regard to who and what is vying for a kid's attention span. .