Top of the morning

The growing acceptance of light rail transit systems across the country is driving the right-wing crowd crazy, spawning all sorts of pseudo studies and outrage. They fought fiercely against legislation passed by the General Assembly this summmer to give local governments in North Carolina a way to raise money for transit systems.

The anti-government zealots must be beside themselves with frustration now, as light rail is working and is popular in Phoenix, the sprawling megalopolis in conservative Arizona.  The New York Times front-page Sunday story about the Phoenix system begins with a quote from the spokesperson for the Goldwater Institute, a group that describes itself as dedicated to free enterprise, limited government, etc.

The spokesperson says not only that she has used the light rail, but that it is useful. Imagine that, government doing something useful.

If the Goldwater Institute in Arizona can see the light on mass transit, maybe the rightists in North Carolina will wake up at some point too and stop fighting light rail efforts here.  That would also be useful.