Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same

[Adder]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Why not just focus on the essential infrastructure (bridges, roads, dams, water treatment plants, sewer systems, airports, train lines, etc.)?

We don't build those things anymore either, and we won't unless and until we break the Reagan/Thatcher fever of believing government is always bad and inefficient and lower taxes are good in all instances. The basic notion that government can do things is, in this country, a radical socialist thought.

There's a giant set of Comcast buildings in downtown Philly. Ugly as fuck testaments to the Roberts' families' egos.

Complaining the about existence of private-funded buildings is weird.

Carbon footprint is staggering.

Carbon footprint is certainly vastly lower than the same square footage done in any other way.

Why not think big again and develop high speed rail to criss-cross the country, and upgrade the regular rail we already have?

I'm a huge believer in rail, but not even I think it will work to criss-cross the country. It's too big and too empty.

But there are shorter, busier clusters where rail could mostly replace air travel if we were willing to build real high speed trains (like the rest of the developed world, ETA: except the UK). We aren't because it's "too expensive" and requires hard choices and Americans are in love with the "freedom" of cars.