Snyder to Nationalize Railroad Lines for Another Pet Project
By Greg George
As our nation nears $16 trillion in debt, Governor Snyder is using $140 million of taxpayer money that was sent back by Florida’s Republican Governor to nationalize railroad tracks for a high-speed rail project between Chicago and Detroit.
Governor Snyder, Obama Administration’s Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Congressmen Hansen Clarke and John Dingell, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow have all been pushing to receive these funds.
Snyder promotes the idea of “relentless positive action to reinvent Michigan,” but this does not trump the ideas of sound economic policy. His addiction to federal tax dollars must stop as it hurts both our national and Michigan’s economy.
Leaving our children and grandchildren new high-speed railroads and bridges through increased federal debt is not “positive action.”
Apparently Governor Snyder doesn’t understand the idea that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Whenever federal taxpayer dollars are available — whether it be pushing for ObamaCare health care exchanges, the NITC bridge project, or now projects to promote high-speed rail — Snyder doesn’t hesitate to snatch them up.
But, federal tax dollars are also Michigan tax dollars. The federal debt is nearly $16 trillion, the economy has been stagnant with 42 straight months of over 8% unemployment with even more underemployed, and billions have been wasted on projects like Solyndra and other scams.
Apparently, Snyder thinks of himself as ‘smarter’ than other bureaucrats attempting to centrally plan the economy to some degree or another. The ultimate goal of the high-speed rail project is to increase service from Michigan to Chicago. Intentions, however, are not results nor are they sound economic policy.
As a businessman, Snyder should know that it isn’t about creating jobs just to create jobs. The jobs must add value. This value is not determined by politicians but through price signals in the private sector. If all we want is jobs, we can hire people to dig ditches with spoons.
Remind Governor Snyder that real reforms that promote economic freedom will create prosperity, not so-called experts, politicians, or “relentless positive action.”
Write to Greg George, Government Affairs Associate, at ggeorge@afphq.org.
This post can also be found at The Hillsdale Daily News and The Daily Reporter.
Follow @gregmgeorge
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