This day, Aug. 31, is not unlike Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve. For it marks an ending point but also a series of beginnings. There’s a new school year. There are new seasons of fall sports. Political campaigns begin in earnest. And legislatures, councils and commissions return from recess. And just as one might have a New Year’s resolution or two, we think it appropriate at this time of renewal — nay, we think it mandatory — that our elected leaders resolve to confront a wretchedly smelly load of nonsense that has been building up around these parts. Two items in particular stand out: Be it resolved that somebody in a position of government authority publicly call the proposed Pittsburgh International Airport-to-Greensburg magnetic-levitation train the featherbedding boondoggle that it is. Maglev works, technically. But it offers no economic practicability. Somebody in officialdom needs to say so — bluntly — to start a process that will save taxpayers billions of dollars. Be it resolved that somebody in a like position publicly call US Airways the extortionist that it is. From its arrogant demands on the public purse to the wishy-washy utterings of CEO David Siegel, it has become more than apparent that US Airways isn’t an asset but a liability. It’s time for a public official to speak that unvarnished verity and let the market respond with a replacement. Any resolved truth-tellers out there• A wanting public awaits.

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