Hey everyone, just a quick comment on the recent news that Wisconsin has turned down the federal money for the rail system. That money now goes to other states. Basically, my opinion is this: Scott Walker, YAAFM (Google it if you don't know what it means).
That money would have gone towards jobs, no doubt about it. Not just jobs associated with the railroad itself (staffing, maintenance, management), but the other jobs surrounding the rail system - work in the stations, manufacturing parts, to name a couple. Even if you didn't agree with the kinds of jobs that would have been created, I'm sure there are at least a few Wisconsinites who wouldn't mind working on the rails, or working at all for that matter.
Walker wanted to spend that money on road repair instead. Well first, that's not how federal earmarks work, Scott. Second, that's such a stopgap measure I don't know where to begin. Sure, you could have repaired all the roads and bridges in the state, and probably expanded a few of the highways. And that money might have lasted five years. But after five years of winters and heavy driving and summer traffic, and the money's all gone, what then? I mean, Wisconsin doesn't have a toll system (and I'm probably among the few that believes it'd be better if the state did), so money to keep up the transportation system won't come from there. Wanting to take money for rails to spend on fixing roads is short-sighted.
Bottom line: You missed out on jobs and you missed out on money and you certainly missed out on road repair. Scott Walker, YAAFM.
