[PRCo] Re: Transit___Funding

[James B. Holland]

John Swindler wrote:

> That was an authorization bill.
>
> Has the appropriation bill been passed for FY 2005/6?????
>
> Suspect Pelosi's press release is just the usual p.r. --- b.s. -- to 
> impress the multitude.
>
> But good comment, Jim, on 'rolling snowball'. Let's see what happens 
> after this weekend.
>
> John
>
> p.s. As a New York railfan commented on several occasions: 'how can 
> you tell when a politician is lying - their lips move'.
>
> ps. to p.s. On the other hand, lets see what DeLay does when Hurricane 
> Rita hits his home district in suburban Houston.
>
> p.s. to p.s. to p.s. - the authorization bill under discussion 
> includes the north shore connector in Pittsburgh, Schuylkill Valley 
> Metro and Corridor One light rail proposals (just to bring it back to 
> topic, Jim)


 >> "James B. Holland" <PRCoPCC at P-R-Co.com> wrote
> >
> >
> > What follows has implications for the Whole Nation -- Is this a
> > Rolling SnowBall???????


Yes, Rita is going to make a difference this weekend  --  to Many People 
and to fed finances!



 From comments received privately, I would like to clarify the purpose 
in sending this.       Taking Subject line together with my question 
above we have:::::::

"""Transit___Funding    ----    What follows has implications for the 
Whole Nation -- Is this a Rolling SnowBall???????"""

I.E., is this Just The Beginning of a Long Series of Cuts in funding for 
transit  --  will this turn into a rolling snowball?



This is  Not  a matter of Politics  (Republican, Democrat, Independent, 
Other;)  This is  Not  a matter of  Sexes  (male vs female;)  This is  
Not  a matter of Religion;  This is  Not  a matter of Race;  This is  
Not  a matter of Personalities.       The people involved in the 
newspaper article are Not The Issue nor is the politics nor sex nor 
personality nor employment nor history of the individuals in the article 
The Issue.

We  Are  A  Debtor  Nation which finances its debt via Bond Sales and a 
Not Insignificant percentage of those Bond Sales are overseas  --  We  
Spend  More  as Govt. and Individuals than is earned.       ALL  
budgeting should be balanced whether  Emergency,  Social,  
Discretionary  (where transit is labeled,)  Other  and the fact that 
transit funding is being sacrificed for an emergency  *-may-*  start a 
trend where people look more closely and budgeting for transportation 
and where cutbacks will be more common that giveaways  (granted  --  
emergency budgeting shall be difficult to balance because needs are not 
known.)

Another DisClaimer:       I am  NOT  saying that either cutbacks nor 
additions in funding are Good, Bad, or Indifferent    ----    I am just 
trying to identify what is or possibly shall happen in relation to 
transit funding  --  THIS    IS    *-The-*  Issue.


A side note  --  governments, esp. a democracy, are no more than a 
reflection of the people they represent  --  govt spends more than it 
takes in  --  statistics show that the average American does the same  
--  as an industrialized nation, the U.S.A. has The Lowest Savings Rate 
and the highest debt rate  --  Americans tend to finance wants through 
debt  --  money they do not have!       I think we need to be careful 
when pointing fingers at them!

And a PS to that if I may follow John's lead  --  I am not enameled with 
Mrs. Pelosi  (and getting shellacked wouldn't help the matter, 
either!!)  and It Does Seem To Me That she is using this for personal 
gain more than any real interest otherwise.       But the decision to 
single out transit funding as the sacrificial lamb is Quite Interesting  
--  is there a more general feeling that transit is over funded and that 
this could take on a life of its own where we will see persistent cuts 
in transit funding far beyond this weekend and into Many Years 
Ahead?        We Are a debtor Nation;  Airlines  (transportation)  have 
taken quite a hit  *-initiated-*  by 9.11 but nevertheless having to do 
with finances or the lack thereof now; biotech has taken quite a hit; 
High Tech has taken quite a hit;  Others have taken quite a hit.       
Is it now the time for Public Transit to take a hit?

In Reality, since we can't make conscious decisions for funding 
adjustments Up or Down, we are now being forced to do the same.       If 
we study history Very Closely I think we shall find that this is how we 
operate  --  Reactionary rather than Pro-Active!




Jim__Holland


I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!

down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!