April 20, 2016 -
Bill O'Reilly is not one to mince words. The conservative host of the O'Reilly Factor, the #1 cable news show in the U.S. thinks that our infrastructure and mass transportation systems are a mess. On his opening segment April 18, O'Reilly lashed out about the 'Big Lies' at what our elected leaders should be doing, but are not.
"The fact that we don't have a high speed rail system is flat out irresponsible", according to O'Reilly.
We are pleased to see that the icon of cable TV news shows tells it like it is. Our elected leaders talk a good talk about building roads, more roads, wider roads and spending general fund tax dollars to do it. One of the big lies is that roads pay for themselves with dedicated taxes from motor fuels. Hogwash. It has been proven that only about half of the highway funding comes from the fuel pump. The balance comes out of everyone's pocket and purse. Many Texans don't even realize that their elected leaders passed a law last year that will divert sales tax revenue to build even more roads. Roads are highly subsidized.
For years we have been massively under-funding all forms of transportation and the deterioration is starting to show.
At the state and federal level many of our officials turn a blind eye toward any form of surface public transportation like it's the plague. In Texas it's business as usual for highways. But rail transportation at the local, regional and state level doesn't even get a whisper of a chance in the legislature. The elected officials ride in their cars, oblivious of what the middle class working stiffs are asking for: more and better public transportation options including passenger rail. The citizens of Texas and the U.S. by far want a good public transportation system and it'd been proven by polls and surveys. The public is even will to commit some tax dollars to build a system with fast, frequent and dependable rail service. But this continues to fall on deaf ears. The car windows of our legislators are rolled up. Everything is just dandy as is.
There are even some politicos who want to KILL a high speed rail project between Dallas and Houston that a private developer wants to build. Texas Central wants to invest over $10 billion dollars and create 10,000 construction jobs for five years for a 240 mile high speed rail line between the two major cities. But one state legislator characterizes the project as "novel" and belittles it. Texas Central would be paying property taxes to cities and towns along it's rail line, a boost for those entities. It's expected to revitalize a portion of downtown Dallas and a stagnant area of Houston and will offer a 90 minute ride between the cities. World class. No state or federal handouts required.
Thank you Mr. O'Reilly for pointing out the 'Big Lies' and how we have neglected our infrastructure and transportation in this country. We can do something about it or just let it crumble and wither. It's our choice.
Bill O'Reilly is not one to mince words. The conservative host of the O'Reilly Factor, the #1 cable news show in the U.S. thinks that our infrastructure and mass transportation systems are a mess. On his opening segment April 18, O'Reilly lashed out about the 'Big Lies' at what our elected leaders should be doing, but are not.
"The fact that we don't have a high speed rail system is flat out irresponsible", according to O'Reilly.
We are pleased to see that the icon of cable TV news shows tells it like it is. Our elected leaders talk a good talk about building roads, more roads, wider roads and spending general fund tax dollars to do it. One of the big lies is that roads pay for themselves with dedicated taxes from motor fuels. Hogwash. It has been proven that only about half of the highway funding comes from the fuel pump. The balance comes out of everyone's pocket and purse. Many Texans don't even realize that their elected leaders passed a law last year that will divert sales tax revenue to build even more roads. Roads are highly subsidized.
For years we have been massively under-funding all forms of transportation and the deterioration is starting to show.
At the state and federal level many of our officials turn a blind eye toward any form of surface public transportation like it's the plague. In Texas it's business as usual for highways. But rail transportation at the local, regional and state level doesn't even get a whisper of a chance in the legislature. The elected officials ride in their cars, oblivious of what the middle class working stiffs are asking for: more and better public transportation options including passenger rail. The citizens of Texas and the U.S. by far want a good public transportation system and it'd been proven by polls and surveys. The public is even will to commit some tax dollars to build a system with fast, frequent and dependable rail service. But this continues to fall on deaf ears. The car windows of our legislators are rolled up. Everything is just dandy as is.
There are even some politicos who want to KILL a high speed rail project between Dallas and Houston that a private developer wants to build. Texas Central wants to invest over $10 billion dollars and create 10,000 construction jobs for five years for a 240 mile high speed rail line between the two major cities. But one state legislator characterizes the project as "novel" and belittles it. Texas Central would be paying property taxes to cities and towns along it's rail line, a boost for those entities. It's expected to revitalize a portion of downtown Dallas and a stagnant area of Houston and will offer a 90 minute ride between the cities. World class. No state or federal handouts required.
Thank you Mr. O'Reilly for pointing out the 'Big Lies' and how we have neglected our infrastructure and transportation in this country. We can do something about it or just let it crumble and wither. It's our choice.