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I have a burning need to know stuff and I love asking awkward questions.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

8 comments:

Marian H said...

And roads/infrastructure... Imagine if we had a billionaire actually interested in building a useful, realistic rail system (emphasis on useful and realistic).

Stephen said...

Elon Musk is into providing internet infrastructure to those in need. :p

I don't know if there's such a thing as a useful and realistic rail system in the US. They can't even manage a high-speed connection between LA and SF, let alone a national network that would attract people. There's a few places where train travel makes sense in the US (the NE corridor and Cali), but otherwise planes are the choice anyone and everyone is going for.

CyberKitten said...

Oh, I don't think that billionaires should be building roads etc, that's the States job! Some useful Public Buildings, sure... Maybe the odd bridge etc....

CyberKitten said...

Ah, yes... That great philanthropist Elon Musk... [lol]

Cars for short journeys, planes for long ones, trains for anything in between - especially for cargo. MUCH more efficient than road if done properly. Imagine Japanese style bullet trains across the Great Plains.... I'm sure that there's *some* routes out there that would be great choices for FAST rail. Not cheap though...!

Marian H said...

It's definitely the state's job... I just wouldn't mind if a rich person wanted to help it along. :) There was a guy named Samuel Hill who helped get paved roads built in Washington State and Oregon, back in the late 1800s/early 1900s. He advocated for the state to invest infrastructure, and he built paved roads on his private land for the government to take inspiration from!

Marian H said...

We would greatly benefit from more rail options in the PNW, even just regular speed trains. Politically and culturally, it's just unpopular with too many people.

Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are Taken said...

Wouldn't it be lovely? Instead they do things like continue to ruin our planet by running for president and then gutting departments that protect said planet.

CyberKitten said...

Not looking good for you guys I'm afraid. But people will *finally* learn that you can't really run very much without an actual Government involved... at least not on a Continental or even a State level. The transition will be brutal - but (hopefully) you can stop the worst of it with the mid-Terms if you have any.