Sheesh....

I blogged the other day about the Metropolitan Planning Office wanting to take another look at the MATA "light rail" project, which will cost the City of Memphis at least $100 million. I'm opposed to the project on a variety of ground which you can read in the post.

Moving at its normal plodding pace, the Commercial Appeal's editorial staff today makes its pronouncement. Their stance? Here you go:

If light rail is worth doing, it's worth doing right. And that means getting a broad community consensus before any plans move forward.

They aren't exactly saying don't build it, though there's wiggle room there if they need it. But they are saying "When we decide to do it, we must have the community lined up in support." I don't read that as "make sure the community is in support" but as "make the community support it."

One of their arguments in support of the "light rail" is this:

Light rail will ultimately succeed or fail because of its ability to move large numbers of people back and forth between Memphis and its fast-growing suburban neighbors.

One problem there, Pecko. The rail line under discussion goes nowhere near those "fast growing" suburbs. It's a direct line through south and midtown Memphis between the airport and the Downtown!

It only makes sense for the local governments that represent those suburbs to have input into the plans. They should work with Memphis leaders to develop a system that best serves the entire region's interests.

Don't you just love the Memphis paternalism and condescension dripping from that statement?

Even with high gas prices, it's going to take some doing to convince many commuters to trade in the convenience of their cars to ride on public trains. And if the trains get bogged down in the same rush-hour traffic cars muddle through, then light rail could be a very tough sell.

It's all about the PR. About changing people, not responding to their needs.

It's called opinion leadership. They are where they want you to be. They are going to take you there, where you like it or not, because it's for your own good. They are smarter and better informed than you -- they're journalists, after all! -- so just do your duty and line up quietly.

The wise sages at the CA have studied the issue for you and given you their considered opinion. It's a very good opinion indeed. The best that the Church of Journalism can produce. Those protesters banging on the door? Ignore them. They will be burning soon, and burning in Hell slightly later.

The CA's masthead says "Give light and the people will find their own way." Their logo is a lighthouse beacon. But what the crew there does isn't to build an enormous fire lighting up the landscape for the people to study it. Nor do they act as the lighthouse, marking your position along the coast and warning of dangers to ships conducting their business.

No, they act like the guy who has the flashlight. "It's mine and I'm pointing it there. You can follow me or stay behind."

No thank you.