Reader comments
'Megapolitans' may be facing mega troubles

Absolutely true. These places have horrible mass-transit (TRAX is only a beginning) and traffic is becoming more and more a nightmare in these places, that on a global scale are really not that big. So yes, let's push to invest in infrastructure to sustain the economic viability of the West, including Salt Lake City

Well, central planning here we come! But, hold on a minute. Why are so many of the western metroplexes such a mess? The answer is the Federal Government with its massive investment in highways. In 1945 the west had some of the most advanced electric interurban railways in the world, private and tax-paying. But government's insistance on their replacement with public sector roads doomed the electric interurban railway to a very premature death. The ending of the Bay Area Key system and the initial planning for BART were sepearated by only 5 years! What waste! The government road networks have given us pollution, global warming, and the degraded social climate which goes with sprawl. The electric interurbans were private sector. I say it is time to give private enterprise a chance, and cut the central planning crapola.

We have Federal Laws thet Utah does not want to abide by
One being the U.S Constitution
Civil Rights and the Rights to Liberty
The apledgence to the Falg says Liberty and Justice for all
That is not happening
The Media is hushing all Constitutional rights such as Freedom of Press
The Media is a Federal Criminal blocking the Peoples Rights

"America`s Remaining FRONTIER" with that "can-do" spirit" wants GOVERNMENT to participate in combining various metropolitan areas into a "unit"?
Did I read that right?
Where on earth did the OLD frontier "can do" spirit come from? Government?
Incredible, phony and rediculous thinking!
THIMK !

Another Big Government snow job,with their supporting cast of "Boot Licking Lackeys".

Just another commentator telling us we are too stupid to get out of bed without the help of the Federal Government.

I'd like the government to show me exactly where they're going to generate all the money it will take to LINK the west. In which industries have they invested that are going to produce the interest that will be spent on these projects?

WHAT? My pay stub? That's their income? Forget it.

How about we take private sector bids on this.

How about we hire the best engineers in the world and let them plan something that will knock our socks off and that we can actually invest in and get a return on our money.

How about we DON'T use the central government planners who couldn't get a job anywhere else.

How about we don't do something that will indebt our great grandchildren and leave them with a tangled mess of transportation and communication nightmares.

The West is the region with:

- The most livable conditions

- The least traffic and pollution

- The longest life expectancy

- The most freedom

Apparently the people behind this study think those are problems that need to be cured by the federal government.

Look at all the things the federal government has "fixed"--crime, poverty, drugs, illegal immigration--and it's easy to see that when the government offers to fix something, you run the other way if you are wise.

Wouldn't it be inspiring if somehow the citizens of these 5 megapolitans could come together without waiting for the "leadership" of the Federal government and plan their own future? Have we really arrived at a place where we are unable to accomplish great tasks without their "help"? I believe that Western citizens with vision could take the lead and create a tremendous new paradigm! Hey - wouldn't that be me? And you?

I must say that I have never read a stranger bunch of responses to an article on this site. What on earth are all of you talking about. The article simply states that these areas have a lot of potential to do some good things economically for this country, they just need more help from the federal government in the way of funding and planning. What is up with al the conspiracy talk, and talk of global warming, and injustice against man! You people are crazy!

All our major infrastructure exists from governmental planning. How would the private sector build a freeway or a light rail line? The point of the story is lets plan smarter than we have been. Big roads are doomed to congestion as soon as they are built - homebuyers buy the cheap land far from work to take advantage of the new road. It doesn't take too many to follow out to the edge of the region until we have created a less efficient, more sprawling and polluting metro area. We need public transportation and pragmatic solutions - both private and public. Quit the dogma and look for solutions.

There you go again, it's snowing again from the media and the National Government PR system. When are we going to catch on that Federal govt. wants to control everything. More govt. is more socialism and what they want is not what the Founding Father wanted. When are the people going to stand up and take notice that this is not what the Founding Fathers wanted and get back to the Principles of the Constitution. "We the People" want big Govt. out of our lives.

Why do they need help from the federal government?

Because this article says so, that's why. There ain't no other reason. And you bought into it.

The rest of us are sick of being told by government officials (exactly why are they "official? but I digress) telling us what's wrong with us and how they're going to fix us.

They have more likely than not CREATED the very problems they're trying to fix. That spells disaster. If a plumber floods your house are you going trust him to repair the damage?

Heard of I-Provo? Disaster.

Illegal immigration? Disaster.

Foreign Policy? Disaster.

Economic policy? Disaster.

This is not conspiracy talking. This is real world. Why on earth would an engineer work for the federal government when he can make ten times the salary in the private sector? BECAUSE HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO SURVIVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR!

People work for the government when they're not smart enough to work for anyone else. Or when they're not brave enough.

Are those the people you want planning your country?

You've got to be kidding me.

The government builds roads therefore private corporations cannot?!? Really?

Government has to contract with the road builders in the first place, so private corps are building them anyway! Get the government out of it. Why must officials be the middle man? They mustn't. That's the answer.

Think outside the box. Good grief. Stop thinking that the government is the solution and start thinking that it's the problem, cuz it is.

Think of better solutions. Think of the future of your children and grandchildren before you rack up another trillion in debt.

Confused wrote:

The West is the region with:
- The most livable conditions
KingM: What? According to whom? I live in Vermont and people up here might take issue with that. We have beautiful green mountains, no air pollution or traffic, wonderful schools (my kids have class sizes if ~12 students, go skiing on Fridays in Winter and learn foreign languages and music in public elementary school), and cute little towns. No billboards or suburban sprawl up here.

Confused: - The least traffic and pollution
KingM: Hah. That's funny. There's no traffic in SL and Utah Counties?

Confused: - The longest life expectancy
KingM: I've heard Utah does, but do the other Western states?
- The most freedom
KingM: Why? You guys have a different Constitution?

One problem I've found with some Utahns is that they think they've got the best of everything and anything. It doesn't matter if you're trying to convince them to put in a roundabout or make a sign ordinance, if it developed somewhere else they want nothing to do with it.

The world doesn't turn into a cesspool of filth and degradation the minute you hit the state line (Wendover notwithstanding).

Just deed most all of the Federal Lands to the western states and/or its citizens. Let ranchers who have rented ranch land for so many years have first rights to get Fed land cheaply.

If we did this, we would not need Federal Government coffers, and we wouldn't remain the colonies we are to the national government, and to all of the special interests who control it.

It wasn't the feds that closed the trolley systems.

It was Big Oil. They bought and closed the privately owned railways. Then they lobbied Congress for the Interstate Highway System to sell cars. (A simple search on the Internet will confirm this.)

Same Big Oil folks that met privately w/VP Cheney to set the current oil policy. How are we liking it so far?

How are we liking it so far?

What are you talking about? Some of the most brilliant engineers in history have been government employees. Those who have worked for NASA would be just a few examples. Many have reasons other than money that motivate them to work for the government.

Man, you people live in a fantasy world. It seems like you have no idea how the real world works. You say let the private sector do it.
And what exactly is the private sector going to do? Rebuild a deteriorating infrastructure? On their own? Just let any company that wants to come in and build something do it. No government oversight? You know, as in the people we elect. As in our neighbors.
You want something to be messed up, bring in international companies to take care of the problem. I am sure that they will do what is best for the area and the people. Megacorp would never just come in and take the money they wanted with no regard to the damage and then blow town. No, megacorp, is very concerned about the welfare of the people, just look at their benevolent track record.

Salt Lake City lies on exactly the same latitude as New York City.

The Wasatch Front is not in the Southwest!