Can you see how far behind the US is trailing?!?!?!?

[ruiner4u]

From the bbc...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5372922.stm

A monorail train <speed 120mph> crashed today to Germany.

Let us all take a step back and look at this and not interject personal feelings. Sad. yes for anyone killed. Sad for the people, sad for the animals, sad for etc...


Germany has the knowledge and money to build a high speed monorail.. We can not even fix our roads.. If this is not a wakeup call to our lack of national intelligence then I don't know what is.

[Vexatious Ape]

1. But...

We make lots and lots of great bombs--and planes that drop bombs, and ships that carry planes that drop bombs.

[Keepontruking]

2. time travel

that's how it feels when you go abroad and they are outraged
when you start to take off your shoes in airport
security....'that must be an American thing is what they
say...'we are more civilized and feel our monitors will know
if your shoes are a problem. Please keep them on.' Monorails,
trams and trains link everything I kid you not for a few cents
and no time!!!!!!!!!!!!  Circus Girl

[JDPriestly]

3. Our entire production goes into military junk.

We produce virtually no products consumers can enjoy or buy other than food.

Building a monorail -- or roads -- requires an enormous public investment with little expectation of return -- a public will. The Republican philosophy that dominates our culture right now does not respect or recognize as legitimate the investment or will required to build public transportation. We, our children and our grandchildren will suffer as a result. We will be "left behind," as will our children and grandchildren. Our money gets invested in the ruin of Iraq and the development of China, India, Mexico, etc. What fools we are, never thinking about or planning for the future.

[bhikkhu]

4. How about Amtrack?

This is more of a don't-get-me-started thing, but comparing the rail systems (the most energy efficient means of transport) of various countries is more fair. Ours is not so good, and not getting better. I would guess that many "developing" countries surpass the US in their passenger and freight rail systems.

[tenshi816]

6. I think it's very sad

the way the American rail system has declined since the Second World War. Think about it - up until then, the USA had a comprehensive rail system that covered the country. Now it's pathetic (and expensive - I took an Amtrak train from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta once back in the 90s and could have flown for less money, but I wanted to see what the train was like).

I find it appalling that outside of a very few major cities, it's virtually impossible to live in America unless you have an automobile. When I still lived in the States, I had to drive everywhere because it would have been impossible to live if I didn't. Now, in the UK, I put fewer than 5,000 miles a year on my vehicle.

[bhikkhu]

8. "impossible to live in America unless you have an automobile"....

that's a very apt statement. I lived for two years in Portland, OR without a car and enjoyed it very much, walking most places and using the light rail and bus systems when necessary. It is one of the better cities in the country. Seattle is also very friendly to the carless.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, is nearly impossible. I recall living there and hearing several times the general humor toward pedestrians and bicyclists "look at that - I bet he had too many dui's".

The biggest problem with Amtrack on the west coast is it has no priority on the rails and is constantly late due to working around the freight carriers - one day it might be an hour late, four hours late the next, very rarely on schedule.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Way back when Jesse Jackson was running...

for President, during the debate he pointed out: "We make plenty of stuff, it's just not stuff people want. How many of you need a missile?"

[razors edge]

7. I'll take a few,

just in case.