4 ms·

Because near-term job creation is the government's job, right? If this were such a good idea, it would have been privately funded. It's nice to know I'll be pay

by josh33 17y ago

Because near-term job creation is the government's job, right? If this were such a good idea, it would have been privately funded. It's nice to know I'll be paying for another state's rail system for years to come

ryanwaggoner 17y ago
Other funding sources for California’s bullet train include $10 billion in voter-approved bonds and cash from private investors, which the California High-Speed Rail Authority hopes will provide about $10 billion.
- patio11 17y ago
  Californian voters are in the unique position in American history where they can unilaterally approve bonds that will probably be repaid by other people's taxes. (Its similar to the position California unions have been in for the last few decades, where they can unilaterally approve pay/benefits raises which will be repaid by other people's taxes. These two situations are not unrelated.)
kevinh 17y ago
Actually, you won't. California pays out more in federal taxes than it gets back. It's more likely that your state is getting money from Californians.
- waterlesscloud 17y ago
  Of course, it's all deficit spending anyway, so no one will have to pay for it! Wait.
jsz0 17y ago
That's one way of looking at it... Another way is CA is a huge part of US federal tax revenue. They are basically subsidizing other states via the taxes they pay the federal government. If you have benefited from the protection of US armed forces, or the safety of modern air travel via the FAA, or the safety of modern food & drugs via the FDA you are reaping the benefits of CA's population. I use those specific examples because they are programs most people would not dispute as being essential government services. In my opinion it's a very wise investment for the country. We want CA to keep being rich and prosperous so they can keep giving us lots of tax revenue in the future.
- dnsworks 17y ago
  I absolutely dispute our armed forces as "essential government services" in it's current incantation, especially the TRILLION DOLLARS of our federal tax money that has been used to fight two needless wars in order to increase oil profits.

by josh33 17y ago

ryanwaggoner 17y ago

Other funding sources for California’s bullet train include $10 billion in voter-approved bonds and cash from private investors, which the California High-Speed Rail Authority hopes will provide about $10 billion.

patio11 17y ago
Californian voters are in the unique position in American history where they can unilaterally approve bonds that will probably be repaid by other people's taxes. (Its similar to the position California unions have been in for the last few decades, where they can unilaterally approve pay/benefits raises which will be repaid by other people's taxes. These two situations are not unrelated.)

kevinh 17y ago

Actually, you won't. California pays out more in federal taxes than it gets back. It's more likely that your state is getting money from Californians.

waterlesscloud 17y ago
Of course, it's all deficit spending anyway, so no one will have to pay for it! Wait.

jsz0 17y ago

That's one way of looking at it... Another way is CA is a huge part of US federal tax revenue. They are basically subsidizing other states via the taxes they pay the federal government. If you have benefited from the protection of US armed forces, or the safety of modern air travel via the FAA, or the safety of modern food & drugs via the FDA you are reaping the benefits of CA's population. I use those specific examples because they are programs most people would not dispute as being essential government services. In my opinion it's a very wise investment for the country. We want CA to keep being rich and prosperous so they can keep giving us lots of tax revenue in the future.

dnsworks 17y ago
I absolutely dispute our armed forces as "essential government services" in it's current incantation, especially the TRILLION DOLLARS of our federal tax money that has been used to fight two needless wars in order to increase oil profits.