Post-Gazette Editorial – 1/26/07

This page was last updated on January 27, 2007.

Radical plan: Strong public transit is good economic development; Editorial; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; January 26, 2007.

Rather do a full piece-by-piece critique, I’ll address only a couple of points.

Have you noticed the PG is a one trick pony when it comes to economic development proposals? They all involve taking taxpayer dollars and giving them to the likes of the Steelers, Pirates, Lord &Taylor, Lazarus, PNC Bank, government-run bus systems, et cetera.

As noted in previous critiques, the PG opinion pages FAQ alleges, “it wouldn’t be unfair to describe the Post-Gazette’s philosophy as generally liberal on social issues and more conservative on economic issues.” This is yet another editorial baring the falsehood of “more conservative on economic issues.”

The editorial asks the question, “What stronger boost can state government give the economy than helping to get people to work, get students to class, get customers to businesses -- in short, give citizens cost-effective transportation around their communities?”

Hmm, let me think. How about eliminating extraconstitutional spending, cutting taxes, and cutting unnecessary regulation? How about letting local communities solve their own problems and pay for their solutions?

Anyway, let’s look at the “cost-effective transportation” comment. The PG isn’t looking for “cost-effective transportation.” If it were, it would recognize the only “stable and reliable funding” needed would come from the fare box. Instead, the PG wants those of us who don’t use buses to subsidize those who do. This is nothing more than government driven income/wealth redistribution. When did income/wealth redistribution become a “more conservative” economic philosophy?