Agreement between Congress and the White House to virtually eliminate money for high-speed rail

[G_j]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/opinion/21thu1.html?_r=1&hp

NYT Editorial

How Not to Plan for the Future
Published: April 20, 2011

The agreement between Congress and the White House to virtually eliminate money for high-speed rail is harebrained. France, China, Brazil, even Russia, understand that high-speed rail is central to future development. Not Washington.


The budget package eliminated about $1 billion that President Obama had wanted to add to the current budget, and it rescinded $400 million of $2.4 billion that was already designated for high-speed rail this year.

That money was supposed to go to Florida, but it’s now up for grabs after Gov. Rick Scott mindlessly rejected a plan to build the first high-speed rail corridor between Orlando and Tampa. Despite the vast support of business, Governor Scott claimed it would be too costly for the state government. It turns out that a lot of other governors — including 11 of Mr. Scott’s Republican colleagues — would love that money.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has to choose among 90 proposals from 24 states, the District of Columbia and Amtrak — $10 billion worth in all. The real scandal is that Washington won’t pay most of them.

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[pinto]

1. Good editorial. The cuts for rail were disappointing. I'm a big rail fan,

and a Californian. We voted for a bond to help fund high speed rail here, as the editorial notes. And the EU is proving that in some instances it matches up well with air travel. Thanks for the snag.

[midnight]

2. Another win for the old infrastructure of oil energy... They are still calling the shots....Too bad.

[kenfrequed]

3. And America tumbles further downwards

Seriously, these people voting against this are brainless ideologues. I suppose they all think they can retire in 'Galt's Gulch' or wherever with the wealthy jerks that hold their leashes.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tx4obama]

6. I guess you didn't watch Obama's FaceBook Town Hall yesterday ...

President Obama talked about 'some' of the stuff not yet done but he is continuing to work on

1) Debt/Deficit
2) Immigration Reform and The Dream Act
3) Energy Reform
4) Eliminating oil company subsidies/special tax breaks
5) Improving education: math and science
6) Improving infrastructure

[gratuitous]

5. The multiplier effect of this spending would pay for itself

Construction jobs, railway jobs, ancillary jobs from businesses that would take root around stations, all would contribute to the economic health of the nation. The Wise Old Men of Washington are always on about Reducing Our Dependence on Foreign Oil, and high speed rail is a good way to do that. Less pollution is always nice. And how about faster travel times over middle distances, when you eliminate the "please check in two hours before your flight time so TSA has plenty of time to grope your private parts"?

So high speed rail is not just a good idea, but a great idea. It must therefore be killed. Well done, gentlemen. Well done, indeed!

[msongs]

7. We do have $$ for new aircraft carriers and bombers by the dozens though nt

[G_j]

8. oh yes

and also, the military is the single largest consumer of oil...


http://www.energybulletin.net/node/13199


The US military oil consumption
by Sohbet Karbuz

The US Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest oil consuming government body in the US and in the world

“Military fuel consumption makes the Department of Defense the single largest consumer of petroleum in the U.S” <1>

“Military fuel consumption for aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and facilities makes the DoD the single largest consumer of petroleum in the U.S”

According to the US Defense Energy Support Center Fact Book 2004, in Fiscal Year 2004, the US military fuel consumption increased to 144 million barrels. This is about 40 million barrels more than the average peacetime military usage.

By the way, 144 million barrels makes 395 000 barrels per day, almost as much as daily energy consumption of Greece.

The US military is the biggest purchaser of oil in the world.

In 1999 Almanac edition of the Defense Logistic Agency’s news magazine Dimensions it was stated that the DESC “purchases more light refined petroleum product than any other single organization or country in the world. With a $3.5 billion annual budget, DESC procures nearly 100 million barrels of petroleum products each year. That's enough fuel for 1,000 cars to drive around the world 4,620 times.”

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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN20416568



FACTBOX-US military fuel spending
Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:58pm EDT

U.S. military fuel consumption dwarfs energy demand in many countries around the world, adding up to nearly double the fuel use in Ireland and 20 times more than that of Iceland, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

From the start of the Iraq war in 2003 up till 2007, U.S. military fuel consumption has slipped by about 10 percent, but costs more than doubled due surging oil prices.

Following are the latest figures on the cost and amounts of fuel purchased by the U.S. military over the course of the Iraq war:

U.S. MILITARY FUEL SPENDING:^

2003: $ 5.21 billion

2007: $12.61 billion

Percentage increase: 142 percent

U.S MILITARY FUEL CONSUMPTION

2003: 145.1 million barrels

(397,500 barrels per day)

2007: 132.5 million barrels

(363,000 barrels per day)

Percentage change: -9.5 percent

2007 U.S. MILITARY FUEL CONSUMPTION EQUALS

- 90 percent more than Ireland's annual consumption

- 38 percent more than Israel's annual consumption

- 20 times Iceland's annual consumption

- 1.7 percent of U.S. annual consumption

AVERAGE ESTIMATED CRUDE OIL PRICE PER BARREL:

2003: $32.50

2007: $72.50

CRUDE OIL PRICE CHANGE SINCE BEGINNING OF IRAQ WAR:

March 19, 2003: $ 29.88*

March 19, 2008: $103.25*

Percentage increase: 245 percent


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