"Jaw-Droppingly Shameless:" Mother Jones on California High Speed Rail Projection

Kevin Drum of Mother Jones reports on the highly questionable "cost of alternatives" that has been routinely repeated by proponents of the California high speed rail project, in an article entitled "California High Speed Rail Even More Ridiculous than Before."

The mantra goes something like, "yes high speed rail is expensive, but it would cost even more to not build it." Yes, indeed, it is expensive, starting at the low estimate of $98.5 billion the press and proponents usually cite to the nearly $118 billion that the California High Speed Rail Authority itself indicates. Advocates then cite a $171 billion figure as what Californian's would have to pay if they didn't build the line.

Joseph Vranich and I detailed the flaws in this "alternatives estimate" in a Wall Street Journal commentary on January 10 ("California's High Speed Rail Fibs"). We noted that the claim "sets a new low for planning projections in a field that has been rife with abuse." This was a reference to "strategic misrepresentation” ("lying") that has characterized rail project forecasts, according to top European academics.

Drum goes further, calling the claim "jaw-droppingly shameless," an appropriate characterization based upon the method and documentation. He goes on to suggest that "A high school sophomore who turned in work like this would get an F."

Regardless of the views that officials or the public may have on high speed rail, they are entitled to a standard of professional (and taxpayer financed) analysis above "jaw-droppingly shameless."

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

I enjoy reading it. I

I enjoy reading it. I fundamental to learn more on this subject.. Thanks for the sake theme this marvellous post.. Anyway, I am gonna subscribe to your silage and I wish you post again soon.
Wedding Halls in Mumbai

This article has some great and useful

You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I feel I might never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very vast for me. I am having a look forward for your next submit, I will try to get the hang of it!
Credit card debt

Nga

máy in đa năngWe talked to a lot of people – máy nghe nhạc sony the legends who work here, our customers and partners.tủ lạnh toshiba We were delighted by what they said - we are a top agency delivering top creative solutions with superb technical solutions. We were very flattered and we also had the inspiration for our new name – tủ lạnh panasonic Solutions.

I newly found the submission

I newly found the submission well written. I have to personally appreciate the time you dedicate to generate the submission. It will be handy for all of us. You have prepared a superior effort. I will arrive here again to examine latest updates.Just CUFF | Paivand Eid Collection Summer 2013 For Girls | Khaadi Pret wears winter collection 2013 For Winter | New G-Pret Collection At London Fashion Week 2013 | Latest Embroidered Linen Collection 2013

Incredible! This blog looks

Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. windows 8 activator

Took me time to read all the

Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It's always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I'm sure you had fun writing this article. - spare part genset

Its like you learn my mind!

Its like you learn my mind! You appear to understand so much about this, like you wrote the e book in it or something. I feel that you just could do with a few % to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, that is great blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.windows 8 32bit key

thanks

El Centro de tai lieu Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) espanyol,
bao cao thuc tap
dependent del Ministerio de Presidencia, realitzà un estudi específic per a Catalunya, fet gens comú al CIS,
luan van ngan hang
i que no s'ha tornat a repetir. El CIS ha estat denunciat repetidament i públicament de respondre als
de an mon hoc
interessos dels partits en el govern espanyol, bàsicament pel que fa a les enquestes d'intenció de vot.

We know that getting a

We know that getting a Vietnam visa is just a small task in preparing for your trip to Vietnam, but often consumes a lot of time and money. Because some people think that getting a Vietnam visa is very complicated, they decide to cancel their trip to Vietnam Vietnam visas We think that in these cases, people have not ben updated on Vietnam visa renewal achievements.
In Vietnam, visa-on-arrival started in 2003 and as of 2011 it is the predominant way tourists from Australia, North America and Europe come into Vietnam Visa to vietnam As Vietnam opens its economic and travelling door, the number of arrivals is on a sharp increase, every time it is counted. Following the rise in the number of international visitors, visa-on-arrival service has grown accordingly to meet the demand. Pioneering this trend vietnam visa online is the international renowned service. Please find below information to see if getting visa upon arrival at the airport good for you or not.
Vietnam visa on arrival is the cheapest way for you. With us, you only pay 20 USD or less, depending on the number of people in your group. And visa for vietnam you will receive authorization to receive visas at the airport. after getting the paper work, Vietnam visa application you will pay an additional fixed charge for each person is: 25 USD/person for single entry, 50 USD/person for multiple entries, and 100 USD/ person for 6 months multiple entries. And no more hidden charged.
For more information please email to vietnam visa on arrival Or hotline: +84.90.824.6047 Kevin Nguyen (Mr)

We know that getting a

We know that getting a Vietnam visa is just a small task in preparing for your trip to Vietnam, but often consumes a lot of time and money. Because some people think that getting a Vietnam visa is very complicated, they decide to cancel their trip to Vietnam Vietnam visas We think that in these cases, people have not ben updated on Vietnam visa renewal achievements.
In Vietnam, visa-on-arrival started in 2003 and as of 2011 it is the predominant way tourists from Australia, North America and Europe come into Vietnam Visa to vietnam As Vietnam opens its economic and travelling door, the number of arrivals is on a sharp increase, every time it is counted. Following the rise in the number of international visitors, visa-on-arrival service has grown accordingly to meet the demand. Pioneering this trend vietnam visa online is the international renowned service. Please find below information to see if getting visa upon arrival at the airport good for you or not.
Vietnam visa on arrival is the cheapest way for you. With us, you only pay 20 USD or less, depending on the number of people in your group. And visa for vietnam you will receive authorization to receive visas at the airport. after getting the paper work, Vietnam visa application you will pay an additional fixed charge for each person is: 25 USD/person for single entry, 50 USD/person for multiple entries, and 100 USD/ person for 6 months multiple entries. And no more hidden charged.
For more information please email to vietnam visa on arrival Or hotline: +84.90.824.6047 Kevin Nguyen (Mr)