Where is Obama When We Need Him?

The monster is back.



Last year the federal government, which will waste money on almost anything, refused to fund Lite-Rail for the Triangle because it was too wasteful.



Humbled, Mayor Meeker and other Lite-Rail boosters appointed a study commission and they’ve given us a seminar on how government shouldn’t work.



The commission studied the problem. And reached a conclusion. Follow their logic: The federal government thinks a billion dollar plan is too wasteful – so we should spend $2 billion.



It’s enough to convince you we need a change.



The Commission wants to raise taxes $500 million on the citizens of Raleigh (and hereabouts), then it wants to get its hands on another $500 million in taxes from folks around North Carolina. (Don’t you know Senator Mark Basnight is going to be delighted to have taxpayers in his district send their money to the Triangle Transit Authority).



Here’s a breakdown of what else the Commission wants to do:


Build a railroad line from UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill to downtown Durham. Cost: $739.4 million


From Duke Medical Center to northwest Cary. Cost: $579.6 million


From Cary to downtown Raleigh then north to Durant Road. Cost: $733.9 million



Stop a minute and think of how much time and effort these railroads will save. Instead of driving your car to Chapel Hill, you can walk to the nearest bus stop, ride the bus to the train stop, ride the train to UNC Hospital, ride the bus again, then walk to your destination.



Could anyone but a dreamy-eyed social planner spending someone else’s money think this makes common sense?



Well, yes. According to the News & Observer developers in Charlotte have started or planned $1.8 billion in new projects along the Queen City’s first rail line. (Planned is the key word – it means most of the $1.8 billion may never be spent).



But that’s a powerful enticement for the social planners to wave in front of the land speculators.



So we have a City Council determined to put the brakes on growth; and a transit commission determined to raise taxes to deal with the avalanche of people moving to Raleigh.



Where is Obama when we need him?



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Carter Wrenn

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Where is Obama When We Need Him?

The monster is back.



Last year the federal government, which will waste money on almost anything, refused to fund Lite-Rail for the Triangle because it was too wasteful.



Humbled, Mayor Meeker and other Lite-Rail boosters appointed a study commission and they’ve given us a seminar on how government shouldn’t work.



The commission studied the problem. And reached a conclusion. Follow their logic: The federal government thinks a billion dollar plan is too wasteful – so we should spend $2 billion.



It’s enough to convince you we need a change.



The Commission wants to raise taxes $500 million on the citizens of Raleigh (and hereabouts), then it wants to get its hands on another $500 million in taxes from folks around North Carolina. (Don’t you know Senator Mark Basnight is going to be delighted to have taxpayers in his district send their money to the Triangle Transit Authority).



Here’s a breakdown of what else the Commission wants to do:


Build a railroad line from UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill to downtown Durham. Cost: $739.4 million


From Duke Medical Center to northwest Cary. Cost: $579.6 million


From Cary to downtown Raleigh then north to Durant Road. Cost: $733.9 million



Stop a minute and think of how much time and effort these railroads will save. Instead of driving your car to Chapel Hill, you can walk to the nearest bus stop, ride the bus to the train stop, ride the train to UNC Hospital, ride the bus again, then walk to your destination.



Could anyone but a dreamy-eyed social planner spending someone else’s money think this makes common sense?



Well, yes. According to the News & Observer developers in Charlotte have started or planned $1.8 billion in new projects along the Queen City’s first rail line. (Planned is the key word – it means most of the $1.8 billion may never be spent).



But that’s a powerful enticement for the social planners to wave in front of the land speculators.



So we have a City Council determined to put the brakes on growth; and a transit commission determined to raise taxes to deal with the avalanche of people moving to Raleigh.



Where is Obama when we need him?



Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles

Avatar photo

Carter Wrenn

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