More like high-speed wail

Okay, it’s been a little while since I’ve made a “piss people off” post, considering the last time I did, my entire blog disappeared, but since this is a local topic, maybe “they” won’t care enough about it to do it again.

So Springfield is all up in arms about the possibility of a high-speed rail system coming through town.

Um, why?

Why are high-speed trains any worse than the slow-moving freight trains that come through town 67 times a day now?  Seems to me that a high-speed train might get through town quicker, since it moves at- stay with me here- high speed.  Is it the noise?  Are they any louder than the freights, and if they are, won’t the noise have less of a duration since the train travels more quickly?

So far, the most compelling reason I’ve heard is that Geoff Isringhausen doesn’t want a big concrete wall blocking the view of his upscale car business from Jefferson St.  To that I say, tough shit, Geoff.  The people that shop for snooty overpriced imports already know where your place is.  Porsches, Lexi, and Mercedes Benzeseses are decidedly NOT impulse buys.  Isn’t that the whole reason you moved off of Dirksen Parkway in the first place?  To get closer to your clientele?

My other favorite argument was how someone was quoted in the paper saying, “we’re not ‘against’ high-speed rail; we just don’t want it on the 3rd St. tracks”.  People, people, people… that sounds an awful lot like “let the eastsiders deal with it”.  Just remember, when it happens- and it WILL happen- that y’all brought THAT little shitstorm on yourselves- don’t include me.

I don’t know that I’m necessarily “for” the high-speed rail coming through Springdale.  I also definitely cannot say I’m “against” the high-speed rail.  If any of you “against-ers” can give me a valid, legitimate reason why high-speed rail is a bad thing, I’ll jump on your bandwagon.  Conversely, a valid, legitimate reason why it is a good thing would go a long way for support in that direction as well.

Thoughts?