The Taxpayer in New York and Kentucky, a Comment Zone

No. 14 -- VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAILWAY -- Nevada Railroad Reconstruction Chronicles

This is a short post. If you've been reading this blog and the recent posts, you might see I have difficulty understanding why so many historical preservation groups look to the Federal Government as the first and primary source of funding.

Granted, it's because both Democrat and Republican Congresses have encouraged such behavior by allowing fed funds from ISTEA and TEA-21 grants to go to historical projects that have nothing to do with roads or public transporation. This is done under the explanation that road projects have plowed over historical sites and we need to amend for our sins by offsetting the damage of progress.

That being said, if someone could explain to me why the taxpayer in New York or Kentucky or Arkansas should pay for a tourist railroad that will mostly benefit Virginia City and Reno, maybe I'll go away. When the local population refused to vote in tax increases to pay for these projects, why do we then pick the pockets of out-of-state taxpayers?

I'm waiting...