Forget Light Rail, This Is What Kansas City Really Needs

Actually, this post is indeed about light rail, I just liked the connection to the prior post. Damn, this is a big news day in Missouri think-tank world. And trust me, that is one small world.

In one of the politically gutsiest moves I have ever seen, the Kansas City Council overturned the voter-approved light rail plan for the city. The first question many people probably have is: How can they overturn a vote of the people? The answer is: I don’t know, but I assume it is allowed somewhere in their city charter, or else they would not have done it.

The Kansas City light rail plan was loaded with problems, starting with the direct taking of bus funds instead of new taxes for light rail. There are many more problems that just that, though, and the Show-Me Institute is going to weigh in on this issue in a serious manner soon enough. I look forward to seeing how the voters respond to this. Either this is going to be a shining moment for why we are a representative republic rather than a direct democracy, or the mob’s torches will be lit very soon. I hope it’s the former.