While the USA got it's head stuck up it's "Murica nummer won" 1950's poop chute

[lambchopp59]

The rest of the world made progress.

Early teenage years reading about the fantastic systems in Popular Science magazine, predicted to criss cross our nation, I grew up and watched the auto/rubber/oil oilygarchs jail us all deeply into debt, paying exhorbitant insurance, tolls, taxes, fuel, licence fees, traveler assistance programs, snooty jonesing better-car syndrome, choking on CO2 and complex carbon gasses, lead poisioning, deteriorating highways, bridges, more and more unsustainable hellacious traffic, traffic violations, policing, road ragers, drunk drivers, horribly injurious collisions, repair costs, accessories, crappy glassed-in attitudes, noise...
I cry, USA, we're getting increasingly stupid every year.

[montanacowboy]

1. But..but..

Murrica has Amtrack....

God we are so fucking far behind the rest of the world it's pathetic

[2naSalit]

5. +1

[Snoopy 7]

2. Idiots in charge

We have been trying to get the high speed rail here in Texas for some time. Except we have a bunch of idiots who are paid off by the oil companies. Therefore, as I always tell people VOTE yet we have so many non-voters and people who think this repubulican system is working "don't California my Texas" BS is right.

[HAB911]

4. And we are still (not) dodging dump trucks

[2naSalit]

6. High speed rail is a great idea...

And I am in favor of some sort of system here though the only problem I can see with them is wildlife. The rails might be elevated to allow for wildlife to pass under them but I can see where that may not be practical.

I just worry that we would further reduce their habitat which, in turn, will deplete the shrinking wild lands further. That's the only negative aspect I can see.

And you can be sure that businesses will demand use of high speed before we will have it for passenger travel.

One thing I do know, many activities we find important in our lives now will soon become luxuries we can no longer afford. Things we take for granted will soon become the focus of our attention in regard to survival. Bad shit's coming and it seems we are waltzing blithely into the darkness only to be shocked when we can't find any source of light.