TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Who's Against The CSX Deal? Why, Nobody!
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Published: May 3, 2008
Judging from the solid waste generated by some first-rate public relations flackery, you would think the good citizens of Central Florida arise every morning and gaze longingly out their windows in the unrequited hope that someday soon a CSX choo-choo will come blowing by to turn their pastureland into a teaming hub of locomotion.
As the Florida Legislature contemplated forking over nearly $700 million to CSX in a cooked-up-in-secret game of spin the pol to purchase some 61 miles of rail line in the Orlando area, the Central Florida Partnership attempted to make the whole thing look like the Treaty of Versailles meets the Louisiana Purchase.
In a breathless news release, which was full of more barnyard poo-poo-pa-doo than "Little House on the Prairie," the swells at the Central Florida Partnership endeavored to argue the residents between Orlando and Tampa couldn't possibly think of a better use of nearly a billion dollars in public money than to give it to a Fortune 500 company.
Air Kisses
Indeed, if the out-of-the-sunshine giveaway to CSX survives, a huge swath of Polk County, including the city of Lakeland would be turned into a Chinese fire drill of increased rail traffic.
But that, apparently, is swell with everybody, including those about to have their communities convulsed by the $650 million air kiss from Tallahassee to CSX, according to the poll released by the partnership hotsy-tots.
Respondents were asked whether they supported state investment in rail infrastructure: "If railroads are the most fuel-efficient form of ground transportation"?
Incredibly, the answer was overwhelmingly: yes.
As well 75 percent of those polled in Central Florida endorsed greater use of freight lines if it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Duh.
The poll also noted if "railroads are the most fuel-efficient form of ground transportation, would you support government investment in rail infrastructure?" You'll never believe the answer: yes, yes, yes, a thousand times, YES!
Oozing Boils?
In political circles this is called a "push poll" where responses are influenced with a prejudicial question. For example: "Would you prefer to be riddled with oozing boils and tumors, or have increased state-supported rail traffic?"
Of course, in the manner in which the questions were posed, a favorable response was assured.
But suppose the questions had been: "Do you favor a $650 million giveaway of public money, hatched in secret, to a private, investor-owned company which will have a deleterious effect on the quality of life in Polk County?"
"Do you support $4 billion in budget reductions in schools, public safety, health care and infrastructure needs so that a powerful corporation can get $650 million in public money to make it even more profitable?"
"Do you support absolving a private railroad company of liability for any accidents that might occur, even is CSX is at fault?"
Finally, "How do you feel being deceived by Central Florida Partnership propagandists who make it look like you've been played for a chump by CSX and its lotion boys in the Florida Legislature?"
Keyword, Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Dan's blog. And tune into "Road To The White House," on News Channel 8, Sunday at 9:30 a.m., for Dan's political insights.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( whasup ) on May 3, 2008 at 2:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I prefer YOUR poll.
Answers:
1) NO
2) NO
3) NO
and
4) Like they gave me the Ebola virus.
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Posted by ( Marty ) on May 3, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
At least it failed..........Hey maybe Ronda is right.....there is a GOD! The article in the Trib this morning after the loss paints the dire picture of the worst thing that could happen to commuter rail chances for Tampa. Don't worry says TBARTA, we are looking at other options even "new corridors". Watch out South County this translates to a BELTWAY and somehow because Orlando didn't get rail and Polk didn't get plowed with more freight trains then we can't get rail in Tampa???? Well, at least when we are in bumper to bumper traffic the bumper in front of you will now be free of bull NUTZ!
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Posted by ( donm ) on May 3, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Jeb, FDOT and CSX knew this deal smelled like dead mullet which is why it was hatched in secret meetings. Which is also why the funding was attached to a transportation bill without mentioning CSX. The less than honorable Congressman John Mica who was predicting the sky would fall if the deal didn't go through while saying this would affect future rail deals for Tampa Bay was a real hoot. That was at best exaggerations and bordered on being outright lies. The costs and liabilities put on the taxpayers were too great in this time of economic troubles. Heck they would be too great in times of a healthy economy. Thank God there were some sensible pols looking out for the state and it's taxpayers.
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