\nIn his comments, LaHood tried hard not to criticize Georgia policy makers directly. \u201cI\u2019m not going to pretend to tell Georgia what to do,\u201d he said repeatedly.\n\nBut rather than criticize the lack of planning and support for high-speed rail in Georgia, he offered examples of regions elsewhere that \u201cget it.\u201d\n\u201cThe Northeast (high-speed rail) corridor has its act together,\u201d LaHood said. \u201cThe Midwest corridor has its act together. The governors there have set aside their own egos and their own ambitions\u201d to work together on bringing high-speed rail to those regions.\n
\nLaHood made no mention of the stark contrast to the Southeast, where our governors are too busy posturing to discuss resolution of the ongoing water wars, let alone high-speed rail.\n<\/blockquote>\nAin’t that the truth.\n
\nThe best part is in a comment:\n
\nYou see the state legislature wants to control the tax revenues from metro\nAtlanta so they can spend them in Hahira, Rome, Valdosta, etc., etc.\nAntwhere but metro Atlanta.\n<\/blockquote>\nAh, Atlanta! Just more important than anywhere else!\n
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<\/a>\nYou know, if Atlanta cooperated in creating a rail plan for the entire state<\/em>,\nsuch as for example the long-established rail corridor from Chattanooga\nthrough Atlanta, Macon, Tifton, Hahira, and Valdosta to Jacksonville and\nOrlando, we might actually get rail in Georgia.\nIt doesn’t have to all be high speed.\nIf I could take a regular passenger train to Atlanta, I sure would,\ninstead of having to drive or squeeze into an ASA toothpaste tube.\n