Hi Speed rail too expensive? Let the Irish build it

Hi Speed Rail costs are getting to be astronomical.

California's estimated costs to build a high speed rail system between Los Angeles and the San Francisco bay area have now risen to 100 billion dollars. Original estimates presented to voters just three years ago pegged the price at a measly 43 billion.

Today's estimated price has more than doubled in just three years and from experience this won't be the last time that estimate and/or final price tag more than doubles, especially when you consider the project is mapped out to take 20 years to build. Just using the model of every 3 years the price doubles, you get into US National debt territory.
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-------------------- Of course in order to build this project you will see every special interest that can walk crawl or run, hitch a ride on this gravy train. Experience shows when the stars align like this, under the banner of a "noble cause" nothing can rival the expense and cost overruns when everyone has finally given the OK and climbed aboard the "piece train".

A good example was when the earthquake damaged portion of freeway in Oakland California had to be replaced. It took nearly a decade to build a three mile stretch of freeway at the cost of 1.2 billion. At the time it was called the most expensive stretch of road in the history of mankind and probably still is.

These same forces are pushing the high speed rail project.

Looking in the historic context of railroad building, nothing could rival what occurred in America in the 1860's, when east and west were connected by a transcontinental railroad. These tracks made their way through the harshest conditions imaginable wending through the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and the stark rugged lands of Nebraska and Utah. Almost 1,800 miles of railway built in six years.

The substantial amount of work on this project was by the new Irish immigrants/Civil War veterans who constructed the eastern portion of the track and by Chinese immigrants who worked on the line from the west.

The government sold bonds to help finance the project, but also gave the railroad builders land rights and right of way along the routes that would be extremely valuable after the rail system was complete. New towns sprung up along the route and brought hundreds of thousands of new immigrants to settle along the new thoroughfare.

As the rail line was built, a new system of communication was installed next to the tracks, the telegraph line, which connected east and west instantaneously with information and news of events in the land.

The railroads not only carried passengers, but carried manufactured goods from the east coast and sent back raw materials and goods from the west. The dangerous trip across country which used to take months, now took just days and cost about 65.00.

But back in those days, there wasn't an EPA, Department of Interior, teams of environmental organizations armed with lawyers, or any organized groups opposing progress...Unless you counted the displaced Native American tribes, who got swept aside by the call of manifest destiny. These tribes of people were not happy with the westward progress that aimed directly at them. They referred to the new steam locomotives as "iron horses". Guns were called "fire arms", whiskey was called "fire water" and the covered wagons that brought settlers to their lands were named "God dams".

But nothing could stand in the way of this expansion. It showed when the nation pulls together and there is a will to get things done, great things can be accomplished.

The same spirit of "can do" is lying dormant right now as evidenced by the red tape and "molasses in winter" speed in which this high speed rail project is being formulated. So from the perspective of cost effectiveness and the 20/20 hindsight that history gives, I nominate the Irish and Chinese to take charge of this endeavor. My guess it will be built under budget and come in way ahead of schedule.

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard: www.carrollstandard.com
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Aruba: sand, sun, murder and Casey Anthony's Lawyer

Casey Anthony and attorney Jose Baez in court

With the unjust verdict in the Casey Anthony trial months behind us, some of the outrage about the failure in our justice system had started to simmer. But the epitome of that legal failure by manipulation grabbed the spotlight, and outrage has flamed anew.

Attorney Jose Baez, still strutting with pride from his masterful hoodwinking of the Florida Jury, was able to grab the spotlight again this week when he paraded his new client, accused murderer Gary Giordono in front of the television cameras in Aruba.

Giordono in an eery similarity to missing American teen, Natalie Holloway, has been accused of murdering his girlfriend, Robyn Gardner, while vacationing with her on Aruba. He was the last person to be seen with her while they went snorkeling together off a secluded Aruban beach. Giordono claims Gardner was pulled out to sea by a strong current as they snorkeled near the shore.

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Aruban authorities jailed him for almost 4 months while they conducted a massive search for the missing woman and checked his changing alibis for clues. It didn't help Giordonos case for authorities to learn that he had purchased a multi million dollar life insurance policy on the missing woman the day they left for their vacation. It cast further doubt on his alibi when it was learned he had been anxiously calling the insurance company to inform them of the disappearance of the woman and to check that the policy was still in force.

"The case does not end here,” Aruba’s Solicitor General Taco Stein vowed. “Mr. Giordano will remain our prime suspect. We know he is lying; His story is not true.”

The outrageous irony in all of this certainly didn't fail to disturb many Americans as we remembered another infamous murderer set free by Aruba, Joren Vandersloop. He is the confessed killer of another teenager and last person seen with Natalie Holloway who has been "missing" ever since her visit to Aruba on a high school class outing.

Vandersloop, like Casey Anthony was jailed by authorities because of bizarre alibis which changed as frequently as the tides which which rip past the infamous island. Vandersloot was finally released by Aruban authorities, due to"lack of evidence." Many believed Vandersloot's escape from justice was orchestrated, aided and abetted by his Father, who just happened to be a prominent judge on the island.

Vandersloot went on to further infamy when he was arrested for the murder of another young woman in Peru. But this time, unluckily for Vandersloot, the crime wasn't committed in Aruba. Peruvian authorities don't take kindly to foreigners murdering their citizens and have not treated him with the kid gloves Aruba handled him with. Peruvian authorities didn't believe the pathological lies/alibi Vandersloot fed them and have imprisoned him on overwhelming evidence of murder. It seems that Vandersloot's final home will be in a Peruvian prison.

Is Jose Baez planning on visiting Peru in the near future?

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard: www.carrollstandard.com

Penn State sexual abuse scandal tied to Climategate?

Protest over Penn State scandal

The recent revelations of alleged long term child abuse by Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, have lead to the firings of iconic coach Joe Paterno, other staff members and Graham Spanier, the University President.

But is this just the tip of the iceberg?

It doesn't seem that Paterno or Spanier were involved in the actual abuse, but the finger points to their knowledge of the abuse and by turning a blind eye, they allowed it to continue.

Bad enough that young boys are alleged to have been raped, sexually molested and abused, but equally criminal, is that it could have been nipped in the bud and stopped,....if those in charge had not been seduced themselves, by money and power.
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Update July 16, 2012:

Official probe shows Climategate whitewash link to Sandusky child sex link

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Football at Penn State is a huge moneymaker, any threat to it, no matter how horrendous, would be swept under the rug, so it seems. From the President on down, a sort of pass the buck attitude hid the abuse that occurred under their watch. Abuse that if made public, would cripple the sports program and effect money flowing to the school.

As more of this sex scandal unfolds, along with the malfeasance used to cover it up, it starts to shed a different light on another simmering scandal. This scandal is casting a pall over the Penn States science department and has worldwide implications.

This scandal concerns questionable scientific data that emanated from science professor, Michael Mann. It is being asserted his data was manipulated to create the now infamous hockey stick graph, used to falsely predict soaring global temperatures. This is the same hockey stick used to beat us over the head by Al Gore and others in his movement, in order to convince us that mankind was causing global warming.

Twice the university was called upon to conduct major academic investigations into the procedures and data used to back up Professor Manns Hockey stick theory. Under the watchful eye of now fired and disgraced President Spanier nothing was turned up. But if child abuse could be easily swept under the rug, why wouldn't a scientific scandal that could threaten the flow of millions to the university? Especially when it is learned that last year the university allocated over 800 million dollars for research , 470 million of which were federal grants and research contracts.

With the release last week of another 5,000 hacked emails between scientists central to the global warming movement, it is starting to become plain that where there's global warming smoke...There's global warming scandal brewing. Could it be that grants are awarded on the basis of scientific outcome?

There are renewed calls for an investigation into Professor Mann's global warming numbers, now that Penn State no longer has disgraced President Spanier in charge. For the future of this institution there needs to be a thorough and honest cleansing of the way it conducts itself...Stay tuned.

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard: www.carrollstandard.com

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Newt Gingrich draws arrows for humane solutions on immigration

Newt Gingrich is the first candidate on stage that specifically addresses the illegal alien population living amongst us. His bold plan is drawing criticism.

He has earned the name "Mr. Speaker," for good reason. First because he was Speaker of the House, but also because he speaks boldly on complicated, thorny issues and has done it again with his ideas on immigration.

He stayed within the safe political confines by saying our borders must be secure, of course, that goes without saying. All candidates on that stage are saying secure borders are mandatory, that will not separate you from the herd. Our nations borders are dangerously porous and must be secured

But it was what he said following the secure borders which drew a collective gasp and a shocked momentary silence. Newt said we need to be humane and not separate families that have lived here as peaceful law abiders for 25 years. With that he conceded that some illegals would be allowed to stay here.

Gingrich's proposed plan is not amnesty and would not result in citizenship for people who have lived in this country for decades, yet he would grant them a legal path to stay here. His plan would not result in them becoming voters either.

Of course he has been criticized by other GOP presidential contenders, saying that he is a liberal on this issue and he is pro amnesty. But we all know we have to deal with this sooner rather than later and it is going to take a courageous leader to tackle this issue. Gingrich has had the courage to put forth his idea.

Newt Gingrich said Republicans are for families and that's why he wants to find a humane solution for our immigration crisis. But truthfully, this plan by the Speaker was not just a statement on the stage that night to help him win the GOP nomination. It probably is going to cause him angst with the conservative base, but raise his popularity with moderates, in the other party.

This move was a strategic gamble to position himself as the GOP Presidential candidate, beyond primary thinking. By reaching across the aisle to gain favor with many who did not look upon Mr. Gingrich as a humane sort, this has caused many to wake up to the fact that the Speaker is capable of being compassionate. It shows he can be a humane problem solver, not to mention a brilliant political player.

Speaker Gingrich should flesh out his plan for the country to see and get some feedback on it. There are many questions he will be asked about his proposal and he should be ready with answers. For instance, he said families that have lived here for 25 years could be granted a path to remain here legally. How about those that have only been here 10 years?

What about social services and programs available to US citizens? Would these new legal residents be able to avail themselves of them? Also what about those who have tried to immigrate into our country legally, shouldn't they go to the head of the line?

It will be interesting to see how the Speaker weathers the storm of his ideas. But as Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said about him: "I wouldn't underestimate Newt, he's one of the smartest politicians out there, and don't think he hasn't thought this through."

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Would There be Room for JFK in Todays Democrat Party?

Recent polls show there is a strong backlash building against the Occupy Movements springing up around the country. One poll showed 64% of the American public disapprove of the movement and ominously for Democrats, the public is linking the OWS movement to the Democrat Party.

Probably what disturbed many Americans about this movement, besides turning our cities into squalid campsites, was the outward show of support for communism. Militants in the streets demanding "rights" while wearing Che Gueverra T shirts and communist party emblems, openly and brazenly.

The fact that President Obama and Nancy Pelosi have tacitly endorsed this movement at the same time it has been endorsed by the American Nazi Party, the Communist Party and former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke, creates a sort of surreal group of strange bedfellows.

I feel like a spectator to a tragic car crash when I watch these protests start to turn militant and violent. I don't want to look, but can't help see how our culture seems to be disintegrating in some of our cities. It looks as if there is a concerted effort to bring mob rule to the forefront, rather than the rule of law. Why would our nations leaders endorse a tactic which is against the grain of working within the system, a system they themselves are a key part of? A system which produced them?

If John Kennedy were around today would he be a member of the Democrat Party? After all his motto was "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Even his "Rising tide will lift all boats" showed his laissez faire attitude of unleash the private sector and it will bring forth prosperity to everyone. Of course one of the first moves he made as president was to lower the tax rates to help spur private sector prosperity.

Does any of this strategy and thinking resemble todays entitlement mentality embraced by todays Democrat party? If you look at it from this perspective, John Kennedy probably would have been a founding member of the American Tea Party.

But I can't help but wonder what John Kennedy would think today if he were around. He was probably the worst enemy the Communist Party every had, he hated communism and everything it stood for. He most definitely would be astonished to see them marching in the streets proudly wearing their colors.

Of course President Kennedy risked his life fighting a war which eventually crushed the Nazi's and he most certainly would not have tolerated the site of the Swastika being associated with anything American.

President Kennedy was also a strong champion of civil rights and didn't tolerate for a minute racism, or any type of intolerance against others, so he most certainly would be aghast at seeing mobs knotting up our cities, that were endorsed by a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan.

Sure times have changed from the 60's when President Kennedy was here, but the aforementioned groups goals and aims have not and John Kennedy, in his elderly state, would be standing up and speaking out about this.

Makes you wonder if the conservative JFK would be even welcome in today's Democrat Party?

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

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Obama's green energy policies make America vulnerable to terrorism

Oil first at sea

President Obama's decision to shelve the Keystone oil Pipeline project until after the Presidential elections, comes at the same time of news Iran is on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons. The "decision" showed that this vital step in keeping our nation protected from outside threats to our energy supply, is based on politics, rather than what is best for our country.

Israel, the vowed target for annihilation by Iranian President Achmadenajad, has been said to be making preparations to defend itself. These preparations would include proactive and pre-emptive strikes on Iran's known nuclear facilities. Iran has already stated that if it is attacked, it would strike back at not only Israel, but American and world interests in the most devastating way.

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The most devastating way for Iran to harm the west, is to choke off the most vital oil exporting route in the world, the Strait of Hormuz. Iran sits on the narrow choke point where 40% of the worlds seaborne oil must pass and that's Iran's hole card in this dangerous card game. By mining the strait, sinking supertankers with missiles or submarines, Iran would send the worlds oil prices skyrocketing. This would push the already teetering world economy over the cliff, including America.

Since our past and present policies have made us so dependent on imported oil, it would be easy to see world oil prices soar to 200-300-400 per barrel, if the turbulent middle east exploded in conflict....So why doesn't the administration link this real and present danger with energy policies
that would help shield us from this threat?

With the energy sword of Damocles poised over our heads, President Obama and his Energy Department idealogues, seem bent on leaving us vulnerable to energy terrorism. Last week, besides nixing the Keystone Pipeline, the Administration announced it's 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Plan. Unfortunately it looks as if the administration continues to ignore our fossil fuel energy resources. Said Rep. Doc Hastings, chairman of the powerful House Natural Resource Committee: "This plan takes some of the worlds most promising energy resources off limits."

Even in Alaska where there are huge proven oil reserves and infrastructure in place to tap it, red tape and permitting processes retard those efforts. Shell Oil paid 2.1 billion for leases in 2008 and they have yet to drill an exploratory well due to lawsuits and permit delays.

Not only is America suffering needlessly by being deprived of it's massive amounts of energy, Americans are desperately seeking jobs in this cruel economy. President Obama had a golden opportunity to help his country achieve energy independence, create thousand even millions of jobs and protect his country's national security by creating a network to help us become energy self sufficient. But President Obama chose to vote present on these opportunities and the nation will be at peril because of it.

In the meantime, no amount of windmills and solar panels will even begin to replace the energy that can be produced by our own natural reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. Looks like we will be getting Solyndra type scandals in our energy pipeline, rather than the real energy that powers Americas economy.

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard: www.carrollstandard.com

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Ann Coulter calls Ted Kennedy a pestilence

Right on the heels of loose cannon Alec Baldwin's slam of Ronald Reagan, a political bomb thrower of a different stripe stepped up to the very hot mic. While on the Sean Hannity radio program today, right wing conservative firebrand, Ann Coulter used her razor sharp tongue to describe Irish American Ted Kennedy as a pestilence on America.

If it wasn't for the fact I had tuned in to get pollster Frank Luntz's breakdown of the GOP Presidential debate last night, I probably wouldn't have been listening today. But after I listened to Mr. Luntz critique the debate in his scientific style, I kept the radio on a bit longer when Ann Coulter came on.

What caused me to pause was the ease of the pestilence description as it slipped off her tongue, in an off the cuff monologue describing the evils of liberalism. Said in such a matter of fact way, as if it is common knowledge and only an idiot would dispute her intelligent opinion on the pestilence matter. Very similar to the way Al Gore lectures us that man caused global warming is "settled science." Proven, settled fact, lets move on.

Now I have heard many unflattering descriptions of Saint Ted over the years, but have never heard him described as a pestilence before, maybe I just wasn't tuning in. Of course those critiques of Ted Kennedy came while he was still a living breathing member of the Senate, causing the mischief which Ann Coulter is criticizing him for.

But Ted left this world a couple of years ago and is not around to defend himself. So is it really necessary to use such derogatory language in grinding his memory into the dirt like that? Besides as I wrote in an earlier piece, the Kennedy family gave a lot to America including their lives. Lets let the Brothers rest in peace, if we have disputes with Teds lawmaking, lets change them through legislation.

The Reagan and Kennedy names are synonymous and symbolic of powerful Irish Americans in our nations history, let's respect those names. They have made an indelible mark on our country and culture. Lets keep their names out of the current vitriolic language, they can't stand up on the podium and fire back at their critics like they used to. They've already fought their last battles, let's keep their names out of the current battles.

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