Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
This has what to do with high speed rail?
regards
Mech
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In a one-word answer: politics. This is an election year in America with three weeks to go. People are getting edgy and contentious.
To SVOBoy, who proposed the topic of discussion: Your bias is showing in the way the proposition is phrased, and it is a loaded question. "We" in the U.S. are not "bad" at this. And just because we don't have it here, that does not make us "bad" as a people or a nation. We (the majority of taxpayers who ultimately would foot the bill for it) simply don't WANT it.
If we had wanted it, we would have built it!
This is a cultural and economic issue, as well as a political one. Assuming that a select few countries wanted a high speed rail system, they built it in that which is their relatively small country; may they enjoy it and their way of life there.
For you socialists out there who think America should be forced to emulate France or other similar countries in imposing a national rail system of mass transit, I suggest that you go live in France for a while, or better yet, permanently. If you think that any European society is Utopian or ideologically superior to America please stay and enjoy living there (including the high rate of taxation and relatively more limited freedom) without trying to impose what might be appropriate for one culture on another.
BTW, when the SNCF (French National Railroad) goes on strike, virtually the whole nation grinds to a halt, as they are highly dependent upon that one mode of transportation. France has a long history and tradition of strikes and social protests. I'm sure the socialists and unionists in France don't mind wielding the power implicit in that situation, but the cultural heritage of America is not one of socialism. (Perhaps our Belgian participant won't mind my pointing out that Belgium might hope to avoid the social and political policies and problems of neighboring France, as well.) France might be a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.