We need to build rail systems connecting every corner of the nation. These public transit systems could be built inside the converted factories that now make weapons for endless war.
We must demand that our government develop these technologies to help solve for climate change (while admittedly these would not be perfect solutions at least they would be a start) and in doing so we know that we get more jobs by building rail.
The UMass-Amherst economics department study of $1 billion spent on weapons production reveals that 8,555 jobs are created, but if that same amount of $$$$ was spent on public transit we'd get 19,795 jobs per billion $$$$.
Which would you rather have?
Help make it happen. Move your lips and make words come out of your mouth that sound like this - we want public transit....we want more jobs.
Let's hear those teeth chatter.
A recent article in Newsweek concluded that the $45 billion that would be spent to build high-speed inter-city rail lines would be wasted because people simply wouldn't use them. The rail lines would not replace airplane or car travel. It did conclude that money spent on intra-city rail lines was more effective in providing transportation that people would actually use. We could find better things to do with $45 billion, I think!
ReplyDeleteI don't agree....the rail lines up here in the northeast are very successful and as the price of gas keeps rising the public will increasingly demand public transit.
ReplyDeleteSince I moved to Maine I often take the train to New York or Washington....and they are usually full.
It works all over the world - price of gas goes up and people use trains. Don't believe everything you read in Newsweek.