Alleviating Rural Poverty Act of 2015

[Blair]

Well buses are actually more environmentally friendly, and I'd want to see greener hydrogen buses introduced or something basically better

[Blair]

I'm really worried with the Senate, every time we try and propose something only for it to be completely dismissed by saying it's a regional matter-the regions clearly haven't acted, and transport is an area where we have have control. I don't want the senate to become a shell group that simply deals with rather arcane senate rules and regulations. We need to act to actually make a difference

[Blair]

I agree with the President, we're not calling for buses from sparsely located frontier towns in Texas to drive up to Montana. We're simply trying to support rural bus services, which helps the most vulnerable in our society, helps drive down CO2 emissions and helps economic investment

[Blair]

I'd like to add this amendment

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[Blair]

So we'll be making this already-impractical program even more cost inefficient?

Yes that's my exact plan. I'm proposing environmental legislation just to make this bill even worse

[Blair]

I'm not sure how this bill is impractical. I can see how it would be if it sort of required by law a bus service to every town with more than 500 people or something, but it doesn't do that at all.

It's impractical because the Senator is opposed to it

[Blair]

And I would say the point here is that there really is no good public transportation available in rural areas. I argue that it doesn't exist for a reason, but most people seem to disagree with me. I'd be interested to hear what the Vice President has to say actually, because I remember this issue coming up in the past.

But hell, I think vouchers for taxis would be more financially viable than this plan. But again, no one seems to be up for that. Instead we have senators wanting to spread the already limited funds even thinner on greening up buses... when all our car-less countryfolk really care about is getting from here to there. Alleviating those concerns is supposed to be the point of this bill. But now it's getting messy and inefficient. Let's set our minds to one goal and get it done.

Yes, climate change is a serious issue for the entire nation. Small steps like this actually matter-if you don't want to provide funding for green buses then I hope you'll support Cap and Trade, massive reduction in CO2 emissions, Talleyrands upcoming biodiversity act along with a limit on arctic drilling that I want to propose. I'm not going to apologize for trying to reduce our carbon emissions.

 'Country folk?' Don't insult the fine rural citizens of Atlasia by implying they don't care about climate change

[Blair]

And I would say the point here is that there really is no good public transportation available in rural areas. I argue that it doesn't exist for a reason, but most people seem to disagree with me. I'd be interested to hear what the Vice President has to say actually, because I remember this issue coming up in the past.

But hell, I think vouchers for taxis would be more financially viable than this plan. But again, no one seems to be up for that. Instead we have senators wanting to spread the already limited funds even thinner on greening up buses... when all our car-less countryfolk really care about is getting from here to there. Alleviating those concerns is supposed to be the point of this bill. But now it's getting messy and inefficient. Let's set our minds to one goal and get it done.

Yes, climate change is a serious issue for the entire nation. Small steps like this actually matter-if you don't want to provide funding for green buses then I hope you'll support Cap and Trade, massive reduction in CO2 emissions, Talleyrands upcoming biodiversity act along with a limit on arctic drilling that I want to propose. I'm not going to apologize for trying to reduce our carbon emissions.

 'Country folk?' Don't insult the fine rural citizens of Atlasia by implying they don't care about climate change

You do no one a service by continuing to deliberately miss the point and misconstrue my intentions. This bill is not positioned to reduce GHGs, even in its amended form.

And "countryfolk" is not an insult.

Frankly, you'd do better to show a bit of goodwill. Labor ain't gonna have the numbers it has forever.

As for your argument Mr. President, I understand the interests the state has in making public transportation happen, and I understand that operating at a marginal loss could still be worthwhile. The thing is, public transportation like what we're talking about never just runs at a marginal loss (at least not very often). Even in our cities, where we have the density to support public transportation, the farebox recovery rate, at some places, is less than 20%. So let's make no mistake about the profitability issue: It's more than a marginal loss. And let's also make no mistake about my position: I usually support public transportation anyway. I believe in its power to connect people to opportunities and help create more dynamic, walkable landscapes.

But it won't work in rural areas. The walkability and dynamic streetscape benefit is nil because of the sparse population. Connecting people to opportunities could happen, but at a huge cost that makes it such that there are probably better ways to do it than by bus. I mean, if Los Angeles only recovers 50% of its costs from passengers, I don't see how a place with more sprawl, lower density, and less people could get anywhere near that.

And you talk about the government's interest in funding projects like this, even at a loss. I agree. But these projects are usually financed by the regions and municipalities/counties. They have revenue streams. They find a way to make transit work. If these rural areas don't ready have working transit, it means busses would have to operate there at huge losses... Losses that other levels of government have decided aren't acceptable. Why should the federal government take this task on when a taxi grant could be cheaper and work just as well for the people who need it, if not better?

Because "muh transit" and "muh enviromets."

But now I hate the world because I think it's even worse to put out for more expensive green technologies when already these limited funds will hardly be able to scratch the surface in terms of connecting people to opportunities with an efficient public transit scheme. Hagrid's an evil climate change denier1!!1!

I'm not worried how many seats labor have-even if we had one I'd still propose efforts to clean up the environment

I don't know where you're getting the numbers from regarding green transport. There's clear evidence that electric buses (something I proposed) are cheaper to run and also emit less CO2. I'd be happy to take out Hydrogen buses, and make it a strict electric scheme. Look at this date here, it shows that electric buses are the way forward...

[Blair]

Yankee hit the nail on the head.

I'm not disputing the fact that green vehicles output less GHG emissions than regular buses and cars. I don't need a chart to tell me that.

But building the infrastructure that is required for this type of service is going to harm the environment as well. We're talking about a pretty significant investment in resources and manpower to roll out these transportation systems... and for what? A necessarily inefficient and limited system that not many people will use anyway.

People are missing the trees for the forest in this circumstance. There's nothing more I can say. We will be wasting government money.

Again, for the final time, I agree that we need to help connect people to opportunities in rural regions. Setting up a cruddy bus service is so cost inefficient and won't provide people with even half decent service or coverage. Taxi grants and a partially subsidized carpool service would give people quality service and cost the government less. But none of you are even entertaining the idea. It's like you want to waste money.

I would urge everyone to ask the vice president what he thinks. A much more respected individual than I.

Well Senator, I'm sorry that I put evidence in to back up my point. I really don't appreciate being talked down to Senator

I wasn't even proving that they emit less-I was showing that despite your claims they're cheaper to run.

We need a greener transport system, we have the resources in the Federal Government to do that. Several of the bills we've passed have put money aside for this type of funding, we can look into a public-private link to promote growth-I can even look into what can be done in the Department of Internal Affairs to help the transition.

It's absurd to tackle global warming, whilst restrained by a emasculated fiscal conservatism that teaches that all investment is bad investment. Climate Change will likely cost us at least $20 Billion, according to the Stern Report. It's small steps such as these that make the difference, that show the public that something must be done. We need to invest in our green infrastructure at some stage you know

I'll even consider withdrawing the part about green energy if I have your support for a comprehensive green agenda?

[Blair]

Surely wouldn't it be easier to give more funding to the regions to do it, and just add some rules and regs to said money

[Blair]

Couldn't we just give this money to Barnes at the Department of Internal Affairs and let him set something up from there?

[Blair]

In line with Yankee's comments, I'd be happy if the President approves to make this a comprehensive bill on rural poverty. Food stamps, transport, farm diversification, HIV, education and other issues could be included, and I think it would be a good thing for the senate to do because this bill seems to have died slightly 

[Blair]

so we're turning a bill about rural poverty into a subsidy for already profitable city bus companies?

[Blair]

What does everyone think of this bill?

[Blair]

I'm happy to second that motion, senators have 24 hours to object

[Blair]

A vote is now open, Senators have 48 hours to vote

[Blair]

Aye

[Blair]

This has enough votes to pass now

[Blair]

This bill has passed the Senate, and will be sent to the President to sign or veto

Aye 9 (Blair, Kal, Cris, Polnut, Snowguy, New Canadaland, Pit, Yankee, Rpryor)