Let them eat BMWs O'Rourke hits it on the head..

On yesterday's WSJ's Opinion Journal feature article, P.J. O'Rourke "extolls the virtues" of mass transit. In the course of events, Mr. O'Rourke hits on a topic that is near and dear to my just-about bled-dry taxpaying heart:

Then there is the cost, which is--obviously--$52 billion. Less obviously, there's all the money spent locally keeping local mass transit systems operating. The Heritage Foundation says, "There isn't a single light rail transit system in America in which fares paid by the passengers cover the cost of their own rides." Heritage cites the Minneapolis "Hiawatha" light rail line, soon to be completed with $107 million from the transportation bill. Heritage estimates that the total expense for each ride on the Hiawatha will be $19. Commuting to work will cost $8,550 a year. If the commuter is earning minimum wage, this leaves about $1,000 a year for food, shelter and clothing. Or, if the city picks up the tab, it could have leased a BMW X-5 SUV for the commuter at about the same price. (emphasis mine)

Well, isn't that just special? Whether they're actually buying commuters BMWs or not, isn't it soothing to know that in the midst of deteriorating roads and the spectre of resultant higher gas taxes making already record high fuel prices even more so; that we here in Minnesota will be paying through our collective sinus cavities enough of our own hard-earned money for this plaything that would even make that a possibility?

My, but it must be easy to be so generous with other people's money! P.J. O'Rourke muses that the only reason he can come up with subsidizing public transportation the way we do would be for our children. I would submit that many of us will have to sell our first-borns to pay the burdens that such largesse entails.