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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Friday, April 22, 2011
Bike Lockers Illustrate Why Country Is Broke
In the grand tradition of serving up ham for Easter, the Gang of Six is working through the holiday to come up with a plan to slice the country's skyrocketing debt and deficit. At the same time, the federal machine is forking over six figures for bike lockers at New Mexico Rail Runner stations.
It will be the longest egg hunt ever to find rationale for this kind of spending when we are repeatedly told we are flat broke and as a country don't have the option of declaring bankruptcy. Hence President Obama's persistent plea to raise the debt ceiling.
To be clear, this is not a comment on the value of bike lockers as an amenity for folks utilizing the Rail Runner. Rather, this is a question of federal spending, especially in the wake of Standard & Poor's threat to downgrade the long-term outlook on the country's fiscal health from "stable" to "negative" because of the federal deficit, on pace to hit $1.5 trillion this year.
No, $144,000 for 110 bike lockers isn't going to make or break the nation's economy, the federal government spent far more than that in the time it took to read this clause. But replicate those lockers across the country, and add in all the other similar pet projects, and now you have some insight into the federal government mindset. And that kind of spending isn't done by someone who is broke, owes trillions in debt and is trying to balance the checkbook.
The Rail Runner is a local, not a federal, concern and as such got almost $12 million last year from dedicated regional transit taxes — local taxpayers. Its officials boasted about a $254,000 surplus.
If local officials deem bike lockers necessary to operations they should buy them, not look to Washington to either print more money or borrow it from China.
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