🚀 go-pugleaf

On Fri, 16 May 2008 21:02:03 -0700, "Paul Hovnanian P.E."
<paul@hovnanian.com> wrote:

>"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:
>> 
>> "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:ieidnSvlPKQURrDVnZ2dnUVZ_qjinZ2d@earthlink.com...
>> >
>> > Reality.  There isn't enough generating capacity to convert to electric
>> > cars.
>> 
>> It may not exist at the moment, but the switch to electric (as well as
>> other more efficient vehicles) must be accompanied by an overall reduction
>> in our total per-capita energy consumption. Even if new electric power
>> plants would be built, using the same fossil fuels that now power
>> automobiles, they would be much more efficient and cleaner than millions of
>> individual cars and trucks being driven in stop-and-go traffic.

That is a bit more than  presumptuous.

>> But the
>> ultimate resolution to this problem will involve people changing their
>> lifestyles, using more public transportation, living closer to jobs (or
>> telecommuting), and generally becoming a more cooperative society living
>> and working closely with other people, rather than isolationism, needless
>> competition, and broken families.

And that is near the a reasonable objective.

>> 
>> Paul
>
>You will live where we (the central planning bureau) want you to. You
>will shop where we tell you to. 
>
>Our region (the Seattle area) is going through a fiasco called light
>rail that seems to be designed to feed customers and employees into one
>area (downtown Seattle). Any attempts to relocate the route, even a few
>blocks, to serve another major shopping mall (Southcenter) were shot
>down by the downtown gang. We certainly can't have shoppers go to the
>wrong mall.

Typical.

>
>The route was carefully designed to pass through neighborhoods (poor,
>low income neighborhoods) where friends of the planners had made shrewd
>real estate investments. A competing plan intended to serve existing
>residential areas was shot down. We can't boost the property values in
>areas where the good ol' boys haven't managed to corner the market.

Also typical.

>
>The earliest incarnation of the project was supposed to run from
>Everett, through downtown Seattle (and be funded by Everett residents as
>well). Trouble was, the downtown Seattle planners refused to extend the
>line into downtown Everett. Instead, there would be a park-and-ride a
>mile or so south, where people could catch the train to Seattle. God
>forbid that someone might actually take it in "the wrong direction" to
>work, thereby propping up the economy of the Everett business district.

Typical.

>
>Don't get me wrong. I think mass transit is a decent idea. But only if
>the central planners don't try to use it as a tool to divert my money
>into the pockets of their favored business partners. Rail seems to be
>favored by these folks because, after sinking billions into a fixed
>system, they can argue for further tax funds to rescue the investment.
>If they went with buses, they could just change the routes to match
>demand.  

Maybe you could be starting to get it.