High-speed rail too costly

One would think that Gov. Jerry Brown and his Democratic majority in the statehouse would curtail massive public spending in light of California's dire financial mess. But no, now they have served up an unfunded mandate of $100 billion for a high-speed train running from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which bypasses Modesto, hence us.

The question stands of how the Democrats will fund this. The usual way, by adding yet again to the deficit, which we can ill afford. The cost to our society of this folly is to short change education, police protection and maintaining the infrastructure.

The ultimate source of this problem is that Californians usually vote for Democrats with their tax-and-spend agenda. Consider this next time you vote.

LEE STURGILL

Modesto