All aboard?

Judging by the comments left on my last blog, you folks are as divided as to what to do about the state’s budget deficit as state lawmakers. That job got harder today as new figures were released, showing even less tax revenue than expected.
But let’s leave that subject for now and talk about something
really fun: high-speed rail.

Funny thing, when you pass a stimulus bill that’s more than 1,000 pages long, a lot of stuff gets little attention. Apparently, President Obama wanted high-speed rail as his signature on the bill — something he hopes people remember him for. So he got Rahm Emanuel to stick $8 billion in there for fast trains. (Read about it here.)
Apparently, the president first wanted school construction, and then upgrades to the electricity grid, as signatures. When they faded, the trains came zooming in.
I’ve got nothing against choo-choos. I also realize that without federal help, few rail systems ever would have been built in this country. I also ride TRAX to work every day.
But $8 billion to connect cities with fast trains? With cheap air fares out there, who is going to ride? And just how will this stimulate the economy?