mass transit (sic)

[Max B. Sawicky]

I think the problem is not one of capacity, but a general
political bias against a system that appears to lose money,
thanks to much foolish talk about the evils of public borrowing
(ahem).

There shouldn't be a capacity problem because if the system
provides external benefits, it should be possible for the
Gov to capture those with general taxation.

mbs

That's true in the abstract, but fails in the political reality, because the
governments doing the spending on mass transit in the US usually can't
afford to run the deficits required.   And it makes sense to develop
political processes that are self-reinforcing.  If there are ways for the
state to capture its externalities, it should where possible.