Voice of the People

We have received at least four glossy, colorful mailings from the Northwest Indiana Forum promoting the South Shore Commuter Rail Expansion. However, the “Information” raises more questions than the propaganda presents. These questions include:

1. Who are the persons who will really profit from this project? (politicians and lawyers, land developers, real estate agents, or construction crews for new subdivisions?)

2. Will the taxpayers who pay Federal taxes as well as state and local taxes and who also pay any additional costs or over-runs have any voice in the decision to spend their money? (This is called “holding a referendum”, or “taking a vote”.)

3. Why is spending $1,000,000,000 (Billion) for a project that apparently benefits a relatively small number of patrons worthy of draining money away from projects that most likely could benefit a rather larger number of citizens? (There are surely many zeros in that number, are there not?)

4. Will the new population be walking or riding bicycles to the trains, or will they be driving electric non-polluting vehicles to park in the new parking lots or on the streets?

It is highly unlikely that straight, clear answers to these questions will be forthcoming, but hopefully some persons of integrity will consider the concerns of the taxpayers who become victims of an apparently unnecessary spending spree by political or industrial or commercial interests. (There are more questions coming!)

James Fant

Chesterton