The explanation for the promotion of mass transit by rail is that interventionists always think that they can improve upon the results of people’s voluntary choices — if given some coercive power and plenty of money taken from taxpayers. Their plans, whether rail transit, convention centers, sports facilities, medical care or whatever always have this feature: If they’re wrong, the interventionists themselves don’t bear the costs. Other people will.

When decision makers don’t personally bear the cost of being wrong, you’re quite apt to get bad decisions.

Alas, that’s a bit too long for a bumper sticker or a fortune cookie.