tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post4827254968328348003..comments2023-10-30T09:03:07.163-07:00Comments on California High Speed Rail Blog: Who Supported Prop 1A?Robert Cruickshankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-56301029593335022192008-12-05T16:33:00.000-08:002008-12-05T16:33:00.000-08:00Unfortunately Blogger.com is having some major tec...Unfortunately Blogger.com is having some major technical difficulties, otherwise today's post would already be up.<BR/><BR/>That reminds me - Blake, if you're reading, I have looked over the site design you sent me and I'll have comments for you later tonight.Robert Cruickshankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-18735400572575064122008-12-05T15:32:00.000-08:002008-12-05T15:32:00.000-08:00@ brandenI don't know what set of voters it is tha...@ branden<BR/><BR/>I don't know what set of voters it is that went to the polls with the question “What would Jesus do?" on their mind but I'd guess it's a pretty small subset of the electorate. One thing I do know about voters is that religious voters tend to register and vote republican. With that in mind I'd guess that the Jesus vote went pretty much against the bonds. Bringing these voters, and the rest of the skeptics, around to support HSR will not be easy. They will view it as a financial boondoggle right up until they use it.<BR/> <BR/>Please remember, fifty years ago this same set of voters vigorously opposed freeways for many of the same reasons they vote against HSR today. It goes beyond the simple "too expensive" argument to one of ideology. HSR is a government distortion of the free-market. After all if it's such a good idea wouldn't the free-market have provided it already? <BR/><BR/>This segment of the voting public will be in furious opposition right up until they can buy a ticket and ride for cheap. After all, they have no ideological opposition to driving the freeways now. There’s no reason why their opposition to the train won’t melt just as easily once they take a ride.<BR/><BR/>The key to the whole argument is to get the thing built on time and on budget.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I think Jesus would have voted yes!BBinnsandiegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496343232974588494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-59132368573770791182008-12-05T13:07:00.000-08:002008-12-05T13:07:00.000-08:00@ brandon -you mean like the homeland security dep...@ brandon -<BR/><BR/>you mean like the homeland security department in Kansas? Don't worry, God will fix it! Heckofajob, etc.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather have actual people held accountable for public investments and spending.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-67116979537526476142008-12-05T09:42:00.000-08:002008-12-05T09:42:00.000-08:00Did any survey questions speak to having faith in ...Did any survey questions speak to having faith in god in solving mobility challenges, congestion, global warming, jobs creation, etc?<BR/><BR/>I am only partially kidding. I really do not expect a survey entertain a line of thought like that. It's either too nominal to have significance, or it offends some people. <BR/><BR/>But, some people do decide their ballot booth vote on such things... believing in a higher power being able to find a solution for various life challenges.Brandon in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796810137823230737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-80399590806582715962008-12-04T21:50:00.000-08:002008-12-04T21:50:00.000-08:00Also from the poll:"Of those who voted yes on Prop...Also from the poll:<BR/><BR/><I>"Of those who voted yes on Proposition 1A, 71 percent have <BR/>at least some confidence in the state’s ability to plan. Of those who voted no, 61 percent have very little <BR/>or no confidence."</I><BR/><BR/>That's a pretty strong correlation between having confidence in government and voting in favor of HSR. <BR/><BR/>It seemingly behooves HSR proponents to emphasize the potential for government to be a positive force. For example, making comparisons to successful government works programs (dams, roads, bridges, levies, canals, etc.) that have benefited society or the economy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-83215230800935861812008-12-04T18:32:00.000-08:002008-12-04T18:32:00.000-08:00Interestingly, this implies the emphasis of the pi...Interestingly, this implies the emphasis of the pitch to Congress should be the energy independence and green tech jobs angles whereas the one to California residents should stress the additional north-south link, productivity in transit thanks to WiFi and avoiding even more expensive freeway/runway upgrades.<BR/><BR/>That said, the state budget deadlock really needs to be broken. It's not going to happen as long as it takes a 2/3 majority to pass one, giving all involved a chance to blame each other for delays and accounting shenanigans. Now that the housing bubble has burst, the cracks have become too wide to paper over.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.com