Once again Washington follows Centrists lead

It looks like today President Obama has announced his plan for high speed rail. From what I am have been hearing and reading about it, everyone is wowed. They don't even seem to mind how much it would cost and are not even questioning where the money will come from, although I am sure some of it under Obama will come from the recent stimulus bill.

Hold on a second hasn't centrist groups like the American Centrist Party and others been proposing this already? In the American Centrist Party's case since 2004 when it was founded? http://americancentristparty.net/platform%20principles/Infrastructrue%20Platform%20Plank%20Summary.htmThe answer is yes.

I am not writing this to say Obama stole an idea or anything like that. I think it is important that we give credit and support to anyone in Washington who wants to improve the nation and the American Centrist Party thinks that High Speed Rail can and will do that. The issue here is the where is the money going to come from and how the American Centrist Party's plan is different.

Under Obama's plan $8 billion is going to come from the recent stimuls plan as part of the infrastructure part of the bill. And another 5 billion over five years in the federal budget. So at least the first $8 billion of the the high speed rail is going to be added on to the debt of the nation? Here is the American Centrist Party's plan for paying for the rail improvements and construction: http://americancentristparty.net/platform%20principles/Reinvesting%20in%20America%20platform.htm
Note the section regarding infrastructure improvements: "30 billion per year for infrastructure reform to include: work for new bridges, roads, mass magnetic rail intercontinental rail transit, and national broadband Internet access. It is estimated that American infrastructure needs 1 trillion dollars in upgrades and repairs for the 21st century. Amount from 2010-2030: $600 billion dollars." This will more than pay for the high speed/ magnetic rail system and all by slashing redundant programs and reforming spending in the existing budget. No taxes will be needed to be raised and no money will have to be added on to the national debt.

The American Centrist Party is glad that President Obama has decided to come out with a plan for this but it is clear that the American Centrist Party has a much better way for paying for this plan. Hopefully, our plans for paying for the rail system will not fall on deaf ears.

- The position on infrastructure improvements and the rail system is and official stance of the American Centrist Party-