June 24, 2009
Crisis in DC just another opportunity to spend, spend, spend
I didn’t realize the Metro crash on Monday was going to be warped into another crisis that the Democrats aren’t going to waste:
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that he plans to seek $3 billion for Metro transit capital improvements, just days after a crash between two trains killed nine people.
A large part of the investigation into Monday’s crash is focusing on the outdated train of six cars that slammed into a stationary train in front of it. All the fatalities were on that train, Metro transit spokeswoman Angela Gates said Wednesday.
Debris from the crash was removed Wednesday.
The front car of the rear train was severely damaged, leaving minimal space for survivability, said Debbie Hersman, the lead investigator from the National Transportation Board. The driver of that train died.
According to one report, 50 feet of the 75 feet in that lead car were lost to the accident, leaving only one-third of the space after the impact.
“The safety of our citizens is our highest priority, and we must take every precaution that this loss of life does not occur again,” Hoyer, of Maryland, said Wednesday.
“In the very near future, I will be joining with my colleagues from my region in introducing the final measure required to authorize $3 billion in dedicated federal and local funding for Metro,” Hoyer said.
What happened Monday night is sad. I believe the latest count is that nine people died as a result of the crash. And, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the people who perished.
For those who might have been concerned because of my extended silence over the last couple of days, I guess this is your confirmation that I am still alive. Life has just been busy. The Red Sox are in town!
Now, can we take a breath before we start throwing money away? Maybe what they are proposing to spend the $3 billion on is necessary. Perhaps if this money was spent earlier it would have prevented this crash. Admittedly, I don’t know the answer to that question. The even scarier part is, neither do any of the people trying to justify why we’re going to throw $3 billion at it.
I love the Metro rail system in DC. From what I hear, it is one of the best (and, definitely one of the cleanest) in the country. I’ve only been on New York City’s and Boston’s for my limited basis of comparison. D.C.’s is my personal favorite (although, Boston’s does bring me to Red Sox games, which adds some extra points, but this week Metro has them beat bringing me to Red Sox games right here in DC!).
What is the problem with politicians these days? This might have been the worst crash in Metro’s history, and I’m not arguing we shouldn’t find out the cause of it and address the issue, but why the quick rush to throw out $3 billion?
It is undeniable, at this point, that Metro prices have to go up or they need to find a way to cost cuts elsewhere. I’m not comfortable with my fellow Americans subsidizing my next metro ride, especially if they’ve never even had the honor to experience riding the metro. Cut costs and raise prices in order to make metro sustainable. If that can’t be done, then the metro system should be done away with. If it can’t be made profitable or sustainable without burdening the millions of Americans who get no use from it then it should be closed.
I realize this argument goes against my own personal self interest (when viewed on the surface), but it actually doesn’t. If all Americans would take this view about whatever is happening in their state (for the record, I know that DC is not a state), America would be a better place. If we would stop allowing our politicians to buy our votes by subsidizing our daily commutes with money stolen out of the paychecks of our faceless fellow Americans from other states, then America would be the country that I believe it was founded to be.
I should be responsible for bridges and libraries and guardrails in states that I have never even been to and you shouldn’t be responsible for a train system that you have never been on. The number of people who died on Monday does not change that simple fact.
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I just love the way politicians come out of the shadows AFTER a major incident like the Metro crash and sadly enough convince themselves and constituency that they are heroes by coming to the “rescue” with a new bill that will throw money at improvements. Where were these folks when the NTSB said five years ago that the trains had major issues that needed to be addressed?
Comment by Kevin — June 24, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Here we go again! The beloved democrats want to spend everybody’s money again. Money they don’t have, money that will put America in debt further, one unit will destroy america’s future. While I’m not in favor of it I realize Federal money needs to be used to build new mass transit systems like it is for new highways. These systems however should be self supporting for operating and maintenance costs once the infrastructure is built. People from outside of any region shouldn’t subsidize transportation for people in other areas. Only the major cities have mass transportation systems so why should millions of Americans that don’t use them pay for them? The answer is they shouldn’t!
If you look at what may be the cause found some preliminary investigation it had nothing to do with the car itself. It was a problem with a control circuit, something they could’ve affected a new car the same way it did an older car. Maybe the new cars are stronger, but by the car being weaker It absorbed the energy of the impact and actually probably helped reduce the overall number of injuries! The energy had to go someplace and it went into this car.
Comment by MarkR — June 24, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
well mark R. Maybe the country shouldn’t pay for a transit system that they dont use. But then again your point is invalid because thats like saying: well maybe NY’krs shouldnt pay for projects and assistance for people from other states-and we shouldnt. But then again society wouldnt not function if there was no mass transit system support
Comment by alex — June 25, 2009 @ 5:45 am
Aging infrastructure and transit systems should be inspected and replaced if required. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=1941
Comment by carlyt — June 25, 2009 @ 7:50 am