4 ms·

US House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, for whom the mainline tunnel is named, cajoled and persuaded Congress to pay 80 percent of the project... Ah yes. Imm

by webXL 11y ago

US House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, for whom the mainline tunnel is named, cajoled and persuaded Congress to pay 80 percent of the project... Ah yes. Immortalizing those who appropriated other people's money with absolutely no regard for the inevitable cost overruns and mass-transit-crippling debt-- aka "bringing home the bacon". How commendable! No wonder why everyone hates Congress but loves their representative.

Anechoic 11y ago
Immortalizing those who appropriated other people's money Prior to the Big Dig, Massachusetts had funded all of its interstate highways entirely with its own money while still sending it's share of gas tax money to the Feds. The CA/T project wasn't so much appropriating other people's money as much as getting back what it donate to other states to build their highways. mass-transit-crippling debt This is a valid point, but something needed to be done about the elevated artery and tearing it down and replacing it with light rail/commuter rail isn't a practical solution - if nothing else, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island would have been up in arms. If anything, blame the car-focused planning of the 1940s and 1950s for creating the mess in the first place.
- revelation 11y ago
  That's the favorite pastime of armchair transportation experts, blame the past for mistakes made today.
nck4222 11y ago
Massachusetts pays more in federal taxes than it receives in federal funding. There are lots of examples of pork barrel spending but this really isn't one of them. This is a project that has and will continue to provided many tangible, measurable benefits to millions of people for decades.
vermontdevil 11y ago
There's a reason why we have a United States. We all chip in our money and spread it around to help fund various kinds of infrastructure projects that would be too burdensome for one state to handle. I mean Alaska is in a harsh environment. Why should I fund their infrastructure projects? But I gladly do so knowing the rewards are greater - having a strong and prosperous union. That's the point. Of course there's always the issues of cost overruns, corruption, etc.
gist 11y ago
Not to mention the favors that he certainly had to trade in order to get that deal done. But then again that is what politics is all about. You support my pet project I will support yours.

by webXL 11y ago

Anechoic 11y ago

Immortalizing those who appropriated other people's money Prior to the Big Dig, Massachusetts had funded all of its interstate highways entirely with its own money while still sending it's share of gas tax money to the Feds. The CA/T project wasn't so much appropriating other people's money as much as getting back what it donate to other states to build their highways. mass-transit-crippling debt This is a valid point, but something needed to be done about the elevated artery and tearing it down and replacing it with light rail/commuter rail isn't a practical solution - if nothing else, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island would have been up in arms. If anything, blame the car-focused planning of the 1940s and 1950s for creating the mess in the first place.

revelation 11y ago
That's the favorite pastime of armchair transportation experts, blame the past for mistakes made today.

nck4222 11y ago

Massachusetts pays more in federal taxes than it receives in federal funding. There are lots of examples of pork barrel spending but this really isn't one of them. This is a project that has and will continue to provided many tangible, measurable benefits to millions of people for decades.

vermontdevil 11y ago

There's a reason why we have a United States. We all chip in our money and spread it around to help fund various kinds of infrastructure projects that would be too burdensome for one state to handle. I mean Alaska is in a harsh environment. Why should I fund their infrastructure projects? But I gladly do so knowing the rewards are greater - having a strong and prosperous union. That's the point. Of course there's always the issues of cost overruns, corruption, etc.

gist 11y ago

Not to mention the favors that he certainly had to trade in order to get that deal done. But then again that is what politics is all about. You support my pet project I will support yours.