Like David Zbaracki, the writer of the Dec. 9 Local View, "Europe can keep fast trains, and we can keep our pickups," I live in northern Minnesota. But unlike Zbaracki, I don't know any middle-class families that can afford a cabin unless they share the expense with relatives. My family is middle class and we could never afford to buy a cabin. We can't even afford to keep up on basic home repairs. If you can afford a cabin, a truck and multiple recreational vehicles, you're not middle class, as Zbaracki suggested; you're wealthy.
My family values our way of life in Northeastern Minnesota. We love outdoor recreation and can afford it by leaving out the motors. In the summer we bike, hike and kayak. In the winter, we Nordic ski. By the way, a small car can haul four people and a trailer with bikes or kayaks without a problem. Nonmotorized recreation has the added benefit of keeping us healthier. Members of my family have more strength and endurance than the average person, and none of us has a weight problem. It's good we're all healthy because, as a middle-class family, the only health insurance we can afford is a high-deductible plan. The deductible is $5,000 per family member per year. That means that all doctor visits are out-of-pocket expenses.
I support subsidized rail transportation because a national network of passenger rail is a sustainable way to decrease our country's dependence on foreign oil. I also support government-subsidized roads and airports as part of a multi-faceted transportation system. Guess what? We already have subsidized roads and airports! Why hold passenger rail to stricter constraints than automobile and airplane travel?
This letter expresses my opinions, and I don't pretend to represent others. I resent that Zbaracki pretended to represent my views as a northern Minnesotan.
Anne Carter
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Virginia
