Ya'll can't throw a cowchip very far around these parts without hitting someone ready with a lecture about how "government is the problem" or that our tax dollars "shouldn't be going to all those congressional projects" or that government should just "get out of the way" and let the Rugged Individualist handle things like they used to in the "government-less" good 'ol West (except for the parts about the federally-funded transcontintental railroad, the federal army, the federal land surveys, the federal land-giveaway programs, the federal water/irrigation projects, the federal road and highway projects, etc.)
Where are all those cowboy libertarians when it comes to airport or Heartland Express funding? A recent Scottsbluff Star-Herald story explained that officials with Western Nebraska Regional Airport "might have to be inventive this year in order to meet the required 10,000 boardings needed to receive $1 million in federal assistance."
You know, whenever I hear the word "inventive" outside the context of people who actually invent things, I translate that into one of following: phony, dishonest, fake, false, bogus, spurious or sham. I think about the "accounting" at Enron or Bush's pre-9/11 intelligence or the flimsiest of lousy legal arguments attempting to help the losing client.
I think phony works just fine here. The "possiblities" listed to meet the 10,000 boardings requirement include a phony flight from Scottsbluff to Alliance, Nebraska, a distance of about 70 miles (55-minute driving time). This is only slightly less phony than a previous "solution," a flight (if memory serves) between Scottsbluff and Torrington, WY, a distance of only 32 miles (25-30 minutes driving time). Maybe we could start some shuttles between Scottsbluff and Gering or Mitchell or Morrill?
If you don't like the 10,000 number, change the law. But presumably someone thinks that number means something in terms of actual free market viability of airline service worthy of Joe the Plumber's taxpayer support. According to the free market religion so frequently praised by the anti-government acolytes--typically in response to suggestions that the government help people unlikely to be using the Airport (e.g. debate over public housing)--if you can't make it in the all-important crucible of the free market, then Adam Smith's invisible hand smacks your sorry ass into the dustbin of history. Henry Ford felt no sympathy for the buggy-whip maker..
Clearly this airport isn't meeting this test. If the test is unfair, legally change it. But please don't come up with phony and sham ways to "meet" the test. And if you do, please don't go around lecturing people or other congressional districts about the free market, minimal government, congressional "pork" etc.
3 comments:
Yes, you are not a true Panhandle conservative until you've helped yourself at the government trough while shouting out and pointing at others doing the same. It's all wasteful government pork until a slab of it hits your plate, and then it's deeee-liscious.
Holy Crap Batman...Overman is reading this blog! Today on KNEB the airport guru stated that the airport board would be considering "the possibility of making limited flights around the valley to help obtain the 10,000 boardings needed to qualify for federal airport improvement funds." This would include "allowing people to make reservations for free flights during the day and the evening on a charter plane provided by Valley Airways." Oink oink oink!
UPDATE 12/16/08: The holiday pork express!:
Twin Cities Development will be offering Cabela's and Christmas light flights over the next week. Twin Cities Development Director Rawnda Pierce says the flights to Torrington and Sidney are being offered as a bonus to the community and as a way to increase boardings at West Nebraska Regional Airport so they can be assured of obtaining the 10,000 passengers needed for a million dollars in annual federal funding.
The five Torrington flights are scheduled for five and six p.m.this Thursday evening, 5 p.m. Sunday, and 5 and 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Sidney flight takes off at 9 a.m. Sunday and includes a shuttle to Cabela's, where passengers can shop for two hours before coming back. The price for the Torrington flight is $35. It is $50 to go to Sidney. There's a limit of six per flight.
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