Wednesday, April 20, 2016
What STA is aiming for
Spokane Transit is trying yet again to bring back buses or fake streetcars to Coeur d'Alene, with taxpayer funding. A hundred years ago the Inland Empire interurban (separate from the city streetcar system) ran to CDA, and also to Pullman/Moscow and Hayden Lake.
Important difference #1: In 1907 you couldn't get to those places by automobile. Cars were still a toy. The interurban was the only way to get there, so it was a successful business.
Important difference #2: In the 2000s STA is mainly tax-funded. The old system was mostly capitalist, with some implied subsidies from right-of-way easements and such. STA is trying to re-do the CDA service by taking money away from its normal service for poor people in the city. Tax funding is appropriate for a service that gets poor people to their jobs. It's not appropriate for a luxury.
Fucking idiots never learn. Never never never never never learn. Even after two consecutive bond failures, they just keep on whoring after the COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ones. Being COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL is infinitely more important than providing service.
Important difference #1: In 1907 you couldn't get to those places by automobile. Cars were still a toy. The interurban was the only way to get there, so it was a successful business.
Important difference #2: In the 2000s STA is mainly tax-funded. The old system was mostly capitalist, with some implied subsidies from right-of-way easements and such. STA is trying to re-do the CDA service by taking money away from its normal service for poor people in the city. Tax funding is appropriate for a service that gets poor people to their jobs. It's not appropriate for a luxury.
Fucking idiots never learn. Never never never never never learn. Even after two consecutive bond failures, they just keep on whoring after the COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ones. Being COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL is infinitely more important than providing service.Labels: Alternate universe
¶ 2:38 AM
