If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
I’m a businessman. When light rail came to AZ, I came to the rescue of an incompetent general contractor and cut a sweet deal to join the game; nothing better than doing work cost plus on a Davis Bacon job. Like all good things, it ended. And yes, I know. Light rail in AZ was a complete bamboozle. As predicted, ridership is pitiful. Schedules have been cut back sharply. Losses mount. And the government’s reaction? Build a monorail to connect the system to the airport. Expand the entire system. There can never be too much of a good thing, even if it can never be economically feasible. And light rail is good. Why? Because it is. Everyone knows this. What’s wrong with you people?
Now I’m faced with a new prospect. Should I jump into an ARRA funded initiative to bring broadband to government locations in rural AZ? Forget that this is neither technologically nor economically feasible, that is without the $39 million of stimulus cash, if that is enough (or perhaps too much?) I’ve decided to investigate. The schools and libraries in the Navajo Reservation could use broadband. So could those national park outposts. I’m in. Capitalists are people too and we can’t afford to be choosey, especially in this economy.
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Dec '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
You could be describing Seattle with the light rail/monorail stuff.
Oct '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
That's EXACTLY what I was thinking! It went right by my apartment; I think I rode it once when I had family visit. It's actually run by a private contractor, though its high ambitions are to break even by 2020.
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 10:46amDec '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Grab the money while its there. After all at least some of it is yours and its not like the money is going to be unspent now that its been earmarked. Take full advantage of the current system even while trying to create a better one is my view.
Jan '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
I thought Obama signed some executive order to give capitalists the same status as a fetus.
Aug '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Nobody is spending money out there, except the governments. I especially like the knobby red blocks within the cut curbs that have appeared everywhere in the small town I inhabit in the Midwest. I have yet to see too many wheelchair-bound folks use them, but they are great for the free scooters that the government gives away to anyone who asks. Have you ever seen a drunk wheeling one of those around in the dark with someone on their lap ? That'll make some plaintiff lawyer's day.
May '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Everyone I know that is working and not having financial issues is either employed by a government entity, works for a company with government contracts or works in healthcare.
I struggled with my decision to enroll in an ARRA-funded certification program, healthcare related no less. I feel as though I'm feeding the beast by participating.
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 12:21pmOct '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Sounds like you have the ability to freely make choices. If ones choice does serve a good cause, then do so. All it comes down to is a moral and economic choice.
The starving author ideal is well proven.
Aug '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
If your widowed father-in-law spends his nest-egg on women and wine, I say, join in and raise a glass, even if he'll soon be living in your basement.
Feb '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
There is light rail in Arizona? Phoenix, I presume? We winter in the Phoenix area. I've never seen it. I haven't even heard of it. With public awareness like that it must be raking in really big bucks! No wonder they want to expand it. How much did you say they spent to build it? No matter. I'm sure our money is in good hands.
Aug '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
It makes an odd L from the old money residences ( Lawyers, Doctors and Big 4 Accountants) down Central to downtown, east past the United Airways Arena, past Chase Field all the way almost to the Airport (not quite - a monorail is correcting that oversight) where it jogs past ASU and extends to Mesa. An investment banker friend of mine loves it. He lives in a fancy townhouse on N. Central so it literally helps ensure he does not get another DUI when he drinks and dines at his favorite hotspots. Total 22 miles. $1.4 billion. $63 million/mile. Ridership - est.18,500/day round trip. Number of Honda Insights that could be purchased with $1.4 billion? 65,000 - including tax and registration cost.
Sep '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Even more interesting is that the bulk of our fancy new light rail runs parallel to, and within several blocks of, existing rail. Could have saved a bundle by using existing rail lines, or at least the right-of-way. We're now talking about extending it a few miles northwest, from downtown Phoenix to Glendale, along Grand Avenue - where existing rail lines already run. (If, that is, we can secure some more federal funds.)
I live and work within a half mile of the line; never used it. Perhaps I lack civic pride.
PS - anybody up for a (small) Phoenix meetup?
Jan '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Bob Croft:
PS - anybody up for a (small) Phoenix meetup? · Dec 6 at 3:46pm
I'm in Prescott but would like to have a meet up, on a Sat or Sun, in the north part of the Valley. Or maybe we could have it on the light rail train.
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 4:08pmJul '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Douglas Kimball
It makes an odd L from the old money residences ( Lawyers, Doctors and Big 4 Accountants) down Central to downtown, east past the United Airways Arena, past Chase Field all the way almost to the Airport (not quite - a monorail is correcting that oversight) where it jogs past ASU and extends to Mesa.
As if the Light Rail was not enough, they just have to throw in a Monorail. It's a Boondoggler's Dozen...take a Light Rail system, and we'll throw in a monorail for just $330 million more.
Dec '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Doug, as the saying goes it takes one to know one. A long time ago in a Galaxy far far away I was an analytical instrument & process control salesman. The bigger it got, the more political it got, the more dangerous it got, the more I was able to out-perform the regular pack. Getting the order wasn't the problem. Making it work wasn't the problem. Living with yourself after you got the order was the problem. I don't want to be a wet blanket but if you ever feel like your soul is polluted beyond what you can stand, well I guess I could say I told you so. Anyway enjoy the $. Hopefully that thing about making a deal with the devil is just some religious myth. Unfortunately, in my experience it's not.
May '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Somebody's going to make the money, might as well be you.
Jul '10
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Well, if You owned a retail store, would You ask every customer what They did for a living? And if They replied that They worked for the government, would You tell Them that They couldn't purchase anything in Yer store?
From what I understand is that government agencies are buying goods and/or services that You can provide. Accept it. Its money is just a good as Ours'.
Assuage any guilt (ugh) at the ballot box.
Dec '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Delighted to read a business prospective on the Main Feed.
Jul '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Be careful sidling up to the broadband pie. There are a lot of these projects nationwide, a number of them having gone in the tank, as costs exceeded projected revenue streams. Even with the federal leg-up for start-up, there still needs to be some significant subscriber base, at a reasonable price, for it to perpetuate. Hell, even in small cities, taxpayer-funded broadband efforts have failed, massively.
Not to say it can't be a good opportunity, but hire a good cost estimator & project manager to size it before jumping in.
http://www.vermonttiger.com/content/2011/07/the-chittenden-county-states-attorney-tj-donovan-has-decided-not-to-pursue-a-prosecution-of-burlington-city-officials-as-a.html
Edited on Dec 7, 2011 at 10:06amNov '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Obviously, even for us running dog capitalist pigs, there are circumstances that can morally preclude participation in "an incredibly sweet deal."
But if I compete for the job honestly and perform the promised work at a level somewhat above mere competence, the coincidence of government waste of taxpayer money (now there's a redundant tautalogy) doesn't induce in me even the slightest ethical shiver.
(The great thing, maybe the best thing, about being a conservative is that I don't have to feel morally superior to everybody else; instead, all I gotta do is be able to live with myself.)
Others might be more pure, and they might better be more pure, if they (or a near relative) want to hold public office.
Edited on Dec 7, 2011 at 11:26amApr '11
Re: If It Oinks Like a Pig (or Why I Sometimes Hate Myself)
Bob Croft: Even more interesting is that the bulk of our fancy new light rail runs parallel to, and within several blocks of, existing rail. Could have saved a bundle by using existing rail lines, or at least the right-of-way. We're now talking about extending it a few miles northwest, from downtown Phoenix to Glendale, along Grand Avenue - where existing rail lines already run. (If, that is, we can secure some more federal funds.)
I live and work within a half mile of the line; never used it. Perhaps I lack civic pride.
At least they ran it past popular destinations (airport, stadiums, etc.). In many cities, they use exisiting tracks that are remote and only serve to take people downtown which limits off hours usage. Here in San Diego, it took them years to build a spur to Qualcomm stadium and later San Diego State. In Sacramento, the light rail goes neither to the airport nor Arco Arena which makes no sense to me.
I'm not against mass transit on the whole as I think it takes time to attract riders, but they need to put it in areas where people go during off hours.