Why?

Public transportation like bus and light rail are there for three basic types. Those too poor to afford a vehicle, those who are more "green" who would like to reduce their carbon footprint and those who do not want the congestion on their commute. But it is there, when I lived in Kansas there was no public transit and if you did not have a car you walked or bummed rides. Or used your riding lawn mower. When I moved back to Sacramento I bought a bus pass because I lost my license in Kansas. It was about $45.00 per month which was a hefty bite out of my cash flow but with budgeting I was able to get one every month. Now I live in Placer county so to get to school I would need to buy a ride from Placer county for $ 2.50 for a 24 hour pass to get to the transfer to Sacramento county station where it would cost me either $2.50 for a one way pass or $6.00 for a 24 hour pass. That would get me down to the Sunrise light rail where if I bought a 24 hour pass I could ride down to Rancho Cordova city hall which is right by the school. That would take me a couple hours by my math. The return at 9:30 is shorter but it only will get me back to sunrise mall. IF I get out of school in time to catch the bus by 9:53 with class getting out at 9:20, on a good night.
So what I am asking is why are the powers that be making it so damn hard on people in the tree categories I listed? Lets talk about the working poor first off. They cannot afford a car and live in South Sacramento ( Not meant as a racist statement but it does sound like it) and works at someplace up by Arden Fair. So they need to start going to work about two hours earlier then co-workers who drive to work. Then if they are lucky and no breakdowns occur and no missed transfers (which are no longer free, thank you budget cuts) they get to work in two hours. Then they work their assigned shift, most time it is eight hours with an hour lunch. They then make the two hour commute home. By my math that is 13 hours. If they weren't working a minimum wage job they might be able to afford a car to get to work but the vagaries of the bus system makes them at risk for missed connections and breakdowns on our oh so well maintained transit buses. Then since they are not reliable they lose the job, and I know how hard it is to get one in this day and age.
I have another friend who rides the light rail downtown to her job on days she works. Read that as non-furlough days that Arnie allows his people to work since his legislature cannot make a budget in what was at one time the fifth largest economy in the world. She is a fortunate one it is by choice not necessity. But to avoid the hassle of driving and parking downtown she still has to have a vehicle with all the expenses that come with one, such as insurance, registration, maintenance and gas. It may be a convenience for public transit but it still ain't cheap. In time or money. Of course while they are on the train or bus most people can do other productive things. I read it makes the trip pass faster.
So we get back to my original question. Why do the lowest economic strata get the shaft like this? Yet if you are a member of one of the higher strata's things happen easier. Is it because the working poor don't donate to the politicians since they are struggling to put food on the table? Or is it a more sinister plan like the English in Ireland back in the late 1800's? Of course if we drive the working poor out of California who will wash our cars and cook our food? You know I have a fifteen year old who won't think about what happens tomorrow either. Why should I expect our politicians to be more mature?