Fiscally Responsible and FOR the Light Rail Project

Discussions, arguments, and false information have been flying for years over the proposed light rail system in Florida. Many who know me and my political leanings know that I am typically against wasteful government spending (and my definition of wasteful is very broad). I am fiscally responsible, conservative, and in most aspects, very Libertarian. That is why I cause many heads to turn when I talk about the possibility of a light rail system in Florida. While I am not 100% on board with all of the plans, I believe it is possible and I don't think it is irresponsible at all. If government is going to insist on spending money on roads and such, shouldn't we demand that it be the most efficient dollars spent?

The lack of a light rail or some kind of mass transit in Florida is seriously hindering the economies of Miami, Orlando, and the Tampa Bay area. Think of a time when tourists and seasonal visitors could easily, cheaply, and environmentally efficiently travel between these cities, bringing their dollars to each destination. This route could be a selling point to visitors and agencies could sell tickets in packages with plane, rail tickets, hotels, etc. The potential is unlimited, and for such a populous state, we are one of the few lacking in mass transit. Our PSTA and HART could both be improved, and perhaps with this project we will see some improvement. So this rail system will not only be beneficial to visitors, but to residents wanting to travel around the state as well.

Now, most of my very fiscally conservative friends are probably ready to disown me at this point, but let's take a step back from the generic terms of “government spending” and “waste.” Waste to me is repaving the same roads every 3 years; Waste is spending money on enforcement of internet cafes; Waste is enforcing our bans on bongs. If our state and federal government insist on spending money on more overpasses, medians, and newer roads, shouldn't we make sure money spent on the means of travel in Florida be spent in the most efficient way possible. I see light rail as extremely efficient in the long run. As I already mentioned, the economic development opportunities are to great to calculate, and the efficiency of taking people off of our highways and on to mass transit is friendly to our roads and the earth.

My opinion on this system comes with a little bit of catch; I do not want to see any more taxes for this project. If we are going to do this project, we need a combination of federal, state, and local money to go in. If it takes separate “savings” accounts to do so or however is the best way to spread the cost out over time, we must insist on that. If we divert money from unnecessary road projects, and maybe repeal some of the ridiculous laws passed by our so called “esteemed” legislature, we can apply those savings to this project. Raising taxes, no matter how little or how “important” a project may be is never the solution. People are suffering now, so the long term efficiency doesn't really matter to the average individual. Besides, long term savings always seem to make there way into another project. Never the less, if we can fund this project responsibly, it will be good for tax payers in the long run, and generally good for our state. In my ideal world, I would have it privately funded and run, but that is my utopia and not reality. So while I hate spending other people's money, if our government insists on doing it, let's do it wisely!