Wis. Gov. Has Hard Time Living Up To Jobs Pledge | Fox News: 'A recent report by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance backed up complaints about the national economy dragging down job creation in the state. The report found job growth and unemployment in Wisconsin has been closely tied with the national economy both during recessions like the one that began in 2008, and economic booms like when Thompson was governor in the 1990s.
State officials can change attitudes about the economy, but because it is so closely tied to national and global forces, there's little they can do to affect the actual direction of the economy, said Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry.'
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Deja Voodoo: Detroit Repeats Big City Rail Mistakes | Randal O'Toole | Cato Institute: Commentary
Deja Voodoo: Detroit Repeats Big City Rail Mistakes | Randal O'Toole | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'Although promoters often call light rail "rapid transit," it is actually very slow.
Nationally, light-rail lines average little more than 20 miles per hour. When operating in city streets such as Woodward, they average less than 15 mph. Such slow speeds entice few people out of their cars. The $60 million-per-mile cost of building light rail is enough to build a four-lane freeway. But the average light-rail line carries only about one-fifth of a freeway lane. Since most of those people would have ridden a bus, light rail offers little congestion relief.'
'Nor is light rail good for the environment. Nationally, light-rail operations use slightly less energy, per passenger mile, than the average car. But building light rail requires enormous amounts of energy that will never be repaid by the annual energy savings.'
'Buses can do anything light rail can do except spend lots of your money, but buses are faster, safer, and more flexible than trains. If traffic patterns change, bus routes can change overnight while moving a rail line takes years of planning and construction.
Rail advocates say you need rail transit to be a world-class city. The truth is that cities that use 1930s technologies to solve 21st century transportation problems are world-class chumps.'
Nationally, light-rail lines average little more than 20 miles per hour. When operating in city streets such as Woodward, they average less than 15 mph. Such slow speeds entice few people out of their cars. The $60 million-per-mile cost of building light rail is enough to build a four-lane freeway. But the average light-rail line carries only about one-fifth of a freeway lane. Since most of those people would have ridden a bus, light rail offers little congestion relief.'
'Nor is light rail good for the environment. Nationally, light-rail operations use slightly less energy, per passenger mile, than the average car. But building light rail requires enormous amounts of energy that will never be repaid by the annual energy savings.'
'Buses can do anything light rail can do except spend lots of your money, but buses are faster, safer, and more flexible than trains. If traffic patterns change, bus routes can change overnight while moving a rail line takes years of planning and construction.
Rail advocates say you need rail transit to be a world-class city. The truth is that cities that use 1930s technologies to solve 21st century transportation problems are world-class chumps.'
Team O's Denial on College-Cost Crisis | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary
Team O's Denial on College-Cost Crisis | Neal McCluskey | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'Only about 57 percent of people who start four-year programs finish within six years, and most of the remaining 43 percent will probably never graduate. So lots of people will gamble for $1 million, but few will win.'
'The Obama administration has set the goal of leading the world in the percentage of the population possessing a college degree.
But the reality is that we've already got armies of people in college who'll never finish. There's little reason to think we could get even more people in and through.'
'The Obama administration has set the goal of leading the world in the percentage of the population possessing a college degree.
But the reality is that we've already got armies of people in college who'll never finish. There's little reason to think we could get even more people in and through.'
Pa.'s Rhyming Justice Pens Insurance Fraud Opinion | Fox News
Pa.'s Rhyming Justice Pens Insurance Fraud Opinion | Fox News: 'Part of his opinion reads: "Sentenced on the other crimes, he surely won't go free, but we find he can't be guilty of this final felony."'
The Back Story: Santa Claus | Fox News
The Back Story: Santa Claus | Fox News: 'Although skeptics abound, the spirit of every Santa Claus is rooted in a real saint; St. Nicholas, a third-century bishop in the Byzantine Empire, or modern-day Turkey. The relics of some of his bones rest in New York's Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
"He was known as a giver of gifts, but he gave them secretly," says Father Mark Arey, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
"He redeemed people from slavery, but he did it secretly. He gave dowry's to women, but he gave them secretly. He helped the poor, but secretly, never to embarrass anyone or glorify anyone but to glorify God."
The stories go that St. Nicholas also dropped coins through windows, some landing in children's shoes or stockings hung out to dry.'
"He was known as a giver of gifts, but he gave them secretly," says Father Mark Arey, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
"He redeemed people from slavery, but he did it secretly. He gave dowry's to women, but he gave them secretly. He helped the poor, but secretly, never to embarrass anyone or glorify anyone but to glorify God."
The stories go that St. Nicholas also dropped coins through windows, some landing in children's shoes or stockings hung out to dry.'
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