Jan 4 - High Speed Rail

Tonight's chat-n-chew was prompted by a note in the NY Times about how a panel in California had recommended that California reject $3.5BB in Federal aid to help build a high speed rail system between Los Angeles and San Francisco. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/us/california-panel-advises-against-rail-project.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=ca%20high%20speed%20rail%20&st=cse

I started by telling the kids about the benefits of high speed rail: reduced travel time, job creation, less traffic congestion, reduced oil dependence, lower environmental impact etc.  I then asked the question "why do you think the California commission would tell the state to reject the $3.5 BB of free money?"

My goal was to have the kids hypothesize about why a state would turn down free money.  This is what they came up with:

• The trains would go too fast and people would get sick (from my 7 year old)
• Not enough people would ride the train because the first phase was only from Bakersfield to Chowchilla
• California cant afford its share ($2.5BB for phase 1) given how in debt the state is
• The money would be better spent on other things.
• The cost of running the train would be too high relative to the amount they could charge for tickets.

Overall, a pretty good list that nicely summarizes the major objections of the Commission.

I then asked them to think about solutions that might change the Commission's mind.  Here were there replies:

• Get the Federal government to pay for it all.
• Build the first phase between more populated cities to be sure there is enough demand.
• Put a cap on how much California will pay to build the train and its annual operating cost
• Turn the train into a cargo train

We discussed all of these at some length and then our time was up.

Overall, mission accomplished.  75% of our dinner conversation was discussing a current event / policy issue and the kids had a chance to exercise both their critical thinking and problem solving skills. In some respects the topic was a bit challenging because there was no specific answer they were working toward.  I'll consider that when I choose the next topic.  In the mean time, give this topic a try at your table and let me know how it goes.