The introduction of federal legislation to replace (reauthorize)
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is nothing
less than a road map to transport disaster for our nation,
especially for our children and grandchildren.
Fiscal irresponsibility of our Congressional pork barrel
peddlers, whose compulsive spending disorder appears fatal for
those generations upon whose backs our debts will fall, knows no
bounds. The bill was originally $257 billion for six years as
proposed by Secretary Mineta for the Administration, but is now
pegged at $375 billion, with no ceiling in sight.
The introduction of federal legislation to replace (reauthorize) Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is nothing less than a road map to transport disaster for our nation, especially for our children and grandchildren.
Fiscal irresponsibility of our Congressional pork barrel peddlers, whose compulsive spending disorder appears fatal for those generations upon whose backs our debts will fall, knows no bounds. The bill was originally $257 billion for six years as proposed by Secretary Mineta for the Administration, but is now pegged at $375 billion, with no ceiling in sight.
Forget economics, logic and science as every rickshaw, bullet train and lunar escalator, and any socialist Utopian scheme (e.g. bullet trains to Indian gaming casinos) is included in the wild scramble to satisfy every conceivable special interest in all 435 Congressional Districts. Have they no shame? If they go through with this transport madness they’ll make the Robber Barons look like altar boys as they rape generations of taxpayers, our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren.
Why? What pride do they feel belonging to Boondoggles Empty Scat Transporters Association?
By the time they are done, Concorde flight seats will be cheaper; tax burdens for our Soviet systems will bankrupt all small businesses nationwide. Would you put your unbridled credit card debts on your children’s heads? Why are we letting our Congress do it with our transport debts?
In 1992 ISTEA carried a $187 billion price tag; 1998 TEA-21’s was $218 billion. Today’s transport must be paid with current revenues.
Tomorrow’s taxpayers will rightly curse our memories. It’s like they are addicted to heroin or cocaine, but won’t admit it. Irresponsible command earned the captain of the Titanic his reward – but he took most of the passengers and crew with him. This is exactly what our Congress is doing.
Caveat viator!
Joseph P. Thompson,
Tres Pinos
