neighbor islands opposed to paying for rail

[kalakoa]

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news...olulu-rail

Several neighbor island mayors and county council members told state lawmakers Monday they are opposed to the Legislature taxing their residents and visitors to pay for the over-budget Honolulu rail project.

Show of hands: did anyone oppose the fuel tax increase? Did it change the outcome?

[punaticbychoice]

I just refuse to help make Kirk Caldwell and his developer buddies even richer at our expense here on the BI.
By the way did anyone note that HART doesn't service the airport or UH Manoa?
What IS HART about if not a rip-off for the wealthy economic and political elite of Oahu?

[Chunkster]

One problem with out of control projects like this is that people are afraid to let them fail as they deserve to. We always hear stuff like:

"We've already spent so much. We'll lose our investment." - - - I prefer to look at it as throwing good money after bad.

"It will make us look like idiots to just walk away from it." - - - They already look like idiots for being so easily bamboozled.

"It really is a good idea to reduce traffic." - - - Questionable premise, and good ideas badly executed become bad ideas.

The list goes on and on, but you get the point. Punaticbychoice has it right when he says this is all about enriching the elites. I'm glad our Neighbor Island politicians are speaking up, but they of all people should know that the other politicians won't listen.

[kalakoa]

HART doesn't service the airport

Yes: my first thought was "I could ride it to Waikiki" ... but it doesn't go there.

We've already spent so much.

See "sunk cost fallacy".

good idea to reduce traffic

Latest studies show that it won't.

the other politicians won't listen

They don't have to. Remember, Oahu is merely raising State taxes.

[alaskyn66]

In alaska they still make fun of the million dollar bridge to nowhere. It appears hawaii has outdone them by building a billion dollar bridge to nowhere...good Job!