UBER, champion of the working class!

[Sovaal]

If you have high population density areas, yes. Problem is, the majority of the US is not like that. I've literally been to areas where I haven't seen any man made structures between tow towns in the US but a road for nearly a hundred miles.

That's the point.

The cost of laying 100 miles of track over open ground is nearly nothing. It's when the track is laid in urban areas that the cost increases.

Those 100 miles of track in the middle of nowhere have to be maintained as well, and they don't get the benefit of getting priority, nor will they ever approach the capacity of urban areas.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Maintainance is cheaper than the initial construction cost. Which is why it is America's best interest to maintain their car loving tradition. Cheaper and overall ok as is.

implying cars dont have to be maintained lol

I'm talking about the road system.

Cars do have to be maintained and so do trains.

[Thermodolia]

If you have high population density areas, yes. Problem is, the majority of the US is not like that. I've literally been to areas where I haven't seen any man made structures between tow towns in the US but a road for nearly a hundred miles.

That's the point.

The cost of laying 100 miles of track over open ground is nearly nothing. It's when the track is laid in urban areas that the cost increases.

No it's not. Somebody owns that land. And they will fight tooth and nail to keep it

[Azurius]

Also depends on terrain a bit. The more even the terrain the cheaper it will be.

And 90% of the US isn't flat

Not gud then. However, construction and maintenance costs for roads will use automatically increase somewhat. So when it comes to terrain there is nothing you can really do about it. Either accept the slightly increased costs or leave it be.

[Methodological Individualism]

Does the train have a CD player?

I do. Actually, a smartphone and laptop. The train has the table and electrical outlets. Oh, and WiFi.

Oh, and with the business class upgrade (which is still cheaper than gas, parking, and wear/tear) there's complementary (yes, yes, "complementary" ) coffee and pastry (in the morning) or wine and munchies (in the evening).

And legroom. And restrooms. Whenever I want. Without stopping.

And I don't have to drive.

Brilliant.

Heated seats...? Air conditioning?

Heated and cooled cabin, yes.

(don't mean the butts of previous commuters)

Dirty proles, having the nerve to sit places.

I understand they insist on touching doorknobs too

[Ifreann]

That's the point.

The cost of laying 100 miles of track over open ground is nearly nothing. It's when the track is laid in urban areas that the cost increases.

No it's not. Somebody owns that land. And they will fight tooth and nail to keep it

Eminent domain is a thing.

[Thermodolia]

I don't think you understand anything about the US. Land is costly

I am just talking abstract construction costs. How much the land costs would vary massively depending on where it was purchased and who it was purchased from. Anyway if your system prevents you from laying a 100 mile track from one town to another then your system has a serious problem.

I'm not going to shit all over the constitution and property rights just so I can build 100 miles of track

[Azurius]

That's the point.

The cost of laying 100 miles of track over open ground is nearly nothing. It's when the track is laid in urban areas that the cost increases.

Those 100 miles of track in the middle of nowhere have to be maintained as well, and they don't get the benefit of getting priority, nor will they ever approach the capacity of urban areas.

Reminds me that... Maglev rail networks hardly need any maintenance. Maglevs however of course like any car or train need regular maintenance. The rail network however hardly needs any thanks to zero friction.

[The East Marches II]

when was the last time the american people stopped the american government from doing something it wanted to do?

I take it you don't read on road expansion projects being blocked often do you?

My state has a particularly embarrassing example. We have literally half a highway into the city, couldn't be finished because the land owners sold to devs instead of the government. Uncle Sugar ran into new sprouted up towns which then won legal battles.

[Thermodolia]

No it's not. Somebody owns that land. And they will fight tooth and nail to keep it

Eminent domain is a thing.

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

[Questers]

We have literally half a highway into the city, couldn't be finished because the land owners sold to devs instead of the government. Uncle Sugar ran into new sprouted up towns which then won legal battles.

LOL

[Sovaal]

Those 100 miles of track in the middle of nowhere have to be maintained as well, and they don't get the benefit of getting priority, nor will they ever approach the capacity of urban areas.

Reminds me that... Maglev rail networks hardly need any maintenance. Maglevs however of course like any car or train need regular maintenance. The rail network however hardly needs any thanks to zero friction.

Still need the sales of tickets to cover the cost of trains and cars. I can see the use of a high speed system connecting cities together like how planes do, but as a country spanning public system? Nah.

[Thermodolia]

We have literally half a highway into the city, couldn't be finished because the land owners sold to devs instead of the government. Uncle Sugar ran into new sprouted up towns which then won legal battles.

LOL

What? That people have rights and can't be deported like animals?

[Dooom35796821595]

Eminent domain is a thing.

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

So another thing the USA can't do right, add it to the list. The very, very long list.

[Azurius]

Reminds me that... Maglev rail networks hardly need any maintenance. Maglevs however of course like any car or train need regular maintenance. The rail network however hardly needs any thanks to zero friction.

Still need the sales of tickets to cover the cost of trains and cars. I can see the use of a high speed system connecting cities together like how planes do, but as a country spanning public system? Nah.

Definitely not for rural areas... However for urban centers it makes a lot of sense. Would also ease up some traffic congestion so that peeps would get around better with their cars again.

[Sovaal]

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

So another thing the USA can't do right, add it to the list. The very, very long list.

Can do what right?

[Questers]

my right to get my way whenever I want regardless of how many important things are destroyed or inconvenienced

[Dooom35796821595]

So another thing the USA can't do right, add it to the list. The very, very long list.

Can do what right?

Eminent domain.

[The East Marches II]

LOL

What? That people have rights and can't be deported like animals?

The Government should have bought all the land along the route before building tbh. This is why we can't have nice things.

[Ifreann]

Eminent domain is a thing.

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

And on other occasions it hasn't.

[Thermodolia]

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

So another thing the USA can't do right, add it to the list. The very, very long list.

Property rights are sacrosanct. Also every government action should be able to be contested in court. Otherwise you aren't a very democratic society but a borderline authoritarian dictatorship

[Methodological Individualism]

Can be fought in court. And is a complicated legal process. Eminent Domain has been overturned by the court

So another thing the USA can't do right, add it to the list. The very, very long list.

If only eminent domain was only ever used for actual public works and services, and never for corrupt kickbacks to corporations and real estate interests owned by the politicians utilizing eminent domain.

Checks on power are so fucking obnoxious. You know, until they're not.

Eminent domain should be a thing, and it should be extremely expensive in time and lucre for those seeking to use it.

[Questers]

What? That people have rights and can't be deported like animals?

The Government should have bought all the land along the route before building tbh. This is why we can't have nice things.

No other first world country, in which quality of life is approximately the same as the US, has this problem in quite such intensity.

The American Republic should be more like the Roman Republic it wanted to emulate and adopt practices of countries it has occupied when they are better. Then it might last a thousand years.

[Thermodolia]

my right to get my way whenever I want regardless of how many important things are destroyed or inconvenienced

Ya that's not a right.

[Sovaal]

Can do what right?

Eminent domain.

By having it be challenged in court?

Anyway, doesn't seem relevant.