Well that's a damned good reason to indebt my grandchildren.

I don't give a stuff about the cost. Nor for that matter about the rabbit warrens of the north east. High speed rail is something best suited to the intra-continental distances coast to coast and thru the wide open spaces out west.

Spending money on a 400plus mph mag lev system to parallel the interstates would massively boost various sectors of the economy and provide employment in design, engineering, operation, and maintenance thereof. In addition it would leave the country something useful in the process.

Those who go on about the cost and it having to be financially self sufficient miss the bigger picture by way more than a mile.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

If it's such a winner, go for it! Sell stock in your venture. I hope you become richer than Vanderbilt.

Don't extort my money to finance your dream.

We did it for the interstate system. Worked out pretty well.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Because something works is not a reason to do it. Take for example, death camps and atom bombs.

really thought I saw 'drugs' coming as the punchline for that statement....

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

So you are you of the opinion we'd be better off without the interstates? ATC, National parks etc?

By the way Bot, when I come to power you shall be the first donor to my new shiny MagLev project

- Peter

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

As dumb as CT's $567,000,000 (thank you all for your $455,000,000 federal funding), 9.4 mile "busway" from one dead city to another dead city?

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

"Better off" implies I can predict alternative paths through history. I cannot.

In my opinion the government that governs least, governs best.

If interstates are a good idea then find investors and build them. If National Parks are a good thing ... If National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments National Endowment for Arts, National Endowment for Humanities, National Science Foundation, national health care, ... etc.

Or we can indebt ourselves to trillions of dollars for the next century for our grandchildren to pay off. We can live well on their dime. Hope they figure-out a better model.

I've taken the Acela and the regular train from New Haven to Philly (via the Berlin to New Haven) several times. While my experiences have been perfectly acceptable; between stops and speed limits; the time difference is negligible between the two. Long distances over wide-open spaces on dedicated lines are where the high and medium trains can begin to shine. Things the northeast lacks.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Agreed. However there is a difference between "governing" and providing services that the private sector cannot.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

1. No there isn't. Only the gov can legally coerce and compel, by force of arms, support for it's ambitions.

Using the word, "service" as thought it is a free market voluntary activity is a disingenuous tool of propaganda introduced to America by FDR.

2. If it cannot be done without government coercion then it shouldn't be done, except under the strictest constitutional interpretation. Like compelling young men to enter the military in time of war or compelling industries NOT to pollute the air and water of the nation. Government should be Restrictive, not Proscriptive.

General. Welfare. Clause.

Over. Used. Misinterpretation.

The source of the government’s authority is 'the consent of the governed.' This means that the government is not the ruler, but the servant or agent of the citizens; it means that the government as such has no rights except the rights delegated to it by the citizens for a specific purpose.

Every instance in which we cede power or authority to the government diminishes our freedom. As a people we recognized that in order to live with each other it would require us to cede a measure of absolute freedom. But the hard lesson of history had taught us that a government will take all of the power it can and never, ever give any back to the people.

So we established an intentionally weak and fractious governmental system, which was designed to fight itself, thus giving a wise and tolerant people a way to control the government.

Over time, the people have decreased in wisdom and in tolerance and have substituted comfort and acceptance in their place. Comfort is provided by the government and acceptance enables us to live self-indulgent lives without effort. Happy little bunnies in a safety cage, protected by a hungry government.

Have you ever noticed that the government always offers more and takes more? Is that a coincidence?

Enjoy your Lazy-Boy.