Except that you still need to pay for road maintenance which is funded largely by gas taxes. This is my problem with public transport. Why should I have to pay for train track maintenance, or pay to get a train up and running when I won't use it in the first place? At least MY form of transportation is funded directly by me. I don't rely on anyone who doesn't pay gas tax to fund the road systems (generally). I also have to pay a large up front cost to purchase a vehicle to drive on said roads. Perhaps people who want the trains so badly should need to pay a 10K up front cost like we motorists have to do. Then make them pay another 10K every 5 years like we motorists have to do.
Trains are a f**king joke. They've been most successful in the NE corridor of the United States which happens to be one of the more densely populated areas in this country. That train system services about 30-50K people, but the population in that area is around 50 million. Meaning that using our example of the most successful rail system in the country, it services less than 0.1% of the population... once again, trains are a f**king joke and as was said earlier is another one of those "feel good" policies the lefties love so much.
The idea that "if you build it, they will come" simply doesn't work with trains. Amtrak was supposed to be self sufficient, and yet it still relies on government investment to keep its doors open and its trains running.
This is why I think our 2 party system is somewhat successful... when one party controls both houses and the presidency, they go on a binge passing excessive legislation that appeals to their base. OTOH, when both parties share the power, it actually prevents excessive legislation from being passed (not always true, but its a generalization).
I do not own any firearms, however I can see the need to allow us citizens to legally obtain any firearm if we jump through the necessary hoops. I certainly don't like the idea of living in a country where the federal government has the ability to prevent its citizens from defending themselves from criminals or from the government itself.