A high-speed rail from L.A. to Las Vegas? China says it's partnering with U.S. to build (maintenance, train)

[k81689]

Go for it, as long as there is no Tax, no Bonds, no Loans, no Votes... invloving CA residents.

[DriveNotCommute]

Originally Posted by corydon

TSA has never been problematic to me....
But maybe your memory is worse than mine... Plaind did get kidnapped, and just a few weeks ago two marines stopped a terrorist on a high speed train.

Cross country on a high speed train is going to last a day, that is if it doesn't stop. And last but not least, most people do not live near a train station, and between the cities it aint busy on the roads.

The TSA has been problematic to a lot of non-terrorists, and they didn't even have to be problematic to be unpleasant. The idea that the law abiding citizens are the ones dutifully giving up some freedom of travel for security is an unfortunate one. I'm not unrealistic enough to claim that the TSA are wholly unnecessary but without a doubt those checkpoints serve as a barrier to free travel.

As for my memory being worse, I have to disagree and will counter that maybe it's just that your perspective is off. Let's leave aside that it was specifically an airman and an Oregon NG who managed to disarm the terrorist, with the airman taking the brunt of the injuries.

The terrorist on the train was one incident out of many tens of thousands of train trips on that route over 15 years. If we applied your standard for safety to, say, the 1995 Oklahoma bombing incident then Oklahoma City should have installed permanent police checkpoints at all of their major streets and freeways entering the city. The city example is absurd to us, why should a short L.A. to Vegas train ride be any different?

We're just talking about Los Angeles to Vegas so there's no relevance in bringing up the time it takes for a cross-country trip here. But running with your thought, I would take a HSR cross-country if it were available, maybe even going out of my way to lengthen the trip and spend a night or two in what is normally flyover country that I would've otherwise passed up. Sample the local food, maybe discover some foods and spices that I could resupply through the Internet after getting home. Walk around the town to see some museums and libraries, if the cities have enough planning capability and thought to turn those station towns into a walkable showcase for their communities and/or entire states.

[Des-Lab]

Originally Posted by DriveNotCommute

The TSA has been problematic to a lot of non-terrorists, and they didn't even have to be problematic to be unpleasant. The idea that the law abiding citizens are the ones dutifully giving up some freedom of travel for security is an unfortunate one. I'm not unrealistic enough to claim that the TSA are wholly unnecessary but without a doubt those checkpoints serve as a barrier to free travel.

This.

It's no secret to any sane person that the TSA is an agency that was hastily thrown together as a knee jerk reaction to a one-time catastrophic incident. And now exists solely for show and to give the perceived illusion of safety; where their tactics are great for looks but serve little more than as a futile attempt to thwart an attack that has both already happened and could not possibly happen again. That is precisely the problem with American thinking in general: it's always reactive to the last incident and never forward thinking PRO-active. And no. I also don't believe for a second that restricting the concourses to ticketed passengers only, Billy club shakedowns, four hour check ins, and layer after layer of X-rays serve any practical, constructive purpose aside from political theater and enriching the corporations that designed and implemented those tactics. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have ANY security. But I don't believe that this onerous and pointless system we have is making us any safer either. 9/11 happened in spite of security, not because of it. The TSA is precisely the reason I don't fly anywhere anymore. It's just not worth the hassle or being treated as a would-be terrorist by default.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Des-Lab

This.

It's no secret to any sane person that the TSA is an agency that was hastily thrown together as a knee jerk reaction to a one-time catastrophic incident. And now exists solely for show and to give the perceived illusion of safety; where their tactics are great for looks but serve little more than as a futile attempt to thwart an attack that has both already happened and could not possibly happen again. That is precisely the problem with American thinking in general: it's always reactive to the last incident and never forward thinking PRO-active. And no. I also don't believe for a second that restricting the concourses to ticketed passengers only, Billy club shakedowns, four hour check ins, and layer after layer of X-rays serve any practical, constructive purpose aside from political theater and enriching the corporations that designed and implemented those tactics. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have ANY security. But I don't believe that this onerous and pointless system we have is making us any safer either. 9/11 happened in spite of security, not because of it. The TSA is precisely the reason I don't fly anywhere anymore. It's just not worth the hassle or being treated as a would-be terrorist by default.

Yep, I used to fly several times a year. Now it will be maybe 1 flight a year or less. In the last 6 years I have flown once (To Australia) , will once this year (Las Vegas) and maybe once next year (To Europe). The whole thing with the TSA and airlines making it harder and more expensive, like baggage charges, is a big turn off.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Des-Lab

This.

It's no secret to any sane person that the TSA is an agency that was hastily thrown together as a knee jerk reaction to a one-time catastrophic incident. And now exists solely for show and to give the perceived illusion of safety; where their tactics are great for looks but serve little more than as a futile attempt to thwart an attack that has both already happened and could not possibly happen again. That is precisely the problem with American thinking in general: it's always reactive to the last incident and never forward thinking PRO-active. And no. I also don't believe for a second that restricting the concourses to ticketed passengers only, Billy club shakedowns, four hour check ins, and layer after layer of X-rays serve any practical, constructive purpose aside from political theater and enriching the corporations that designed and implemented those tactics. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have ANY security. But I don't believe that this onerous and pointless system we have is making us any safer either. 9/11 happened in spite of security, not because of it. The TSA is precisely the reason I don't fly anywhere anymore. It's just not worth the hassle or being treated as a would-be terrorist by default.

What a sad tale....Its really not a big deal.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by genjy

China, and Eastern Asian countries in general, has a lot and a lot of experience building trains and stations. No real issue here other than money and politics.

A HSR to Las Vegas is a great idea, but not crazy about that Victorville terminus. It should go down the hill (high-speed or not) all the way to at least Pomona (Metrolink connection) if not DTLA.

They should not even bother then. NOBODY in the LA area is going to drive to Victorville to take a train to Las Vegas.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

Yes, they do have a lot of experience laying track and building stations, but what they don't have experience with is following with the strictest environmental, permitting, and land development laws on the planet. The lawyers will stop this dead in its tracks... har ... har, (pun not intended until I realized I had punned you all).

They also don't have the best quality steel, etc. Have people already forgotten the problems with the new Bay Bridge, the cheap bolts, etc.? Do you really want another Chinese-manufactured boondoggle? Lives and public safety depend on quality materials, people.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

They also don't have the best quality steel, etc. Have people already forgotten the problems with the new Bay Bridge, the cheap bolts, etc.? Do you really want another Chinese-manufactured boondoggle? Lives and public safety depend on quality materials, people.

I sure don't! Put the money toward desalination plants, cleaning up Santa Susana Field Lab, and Salton Sea!!!

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

I sure don't! Put the money toward desalination plants, cleaning up Santa Susana Field Lab, and Salton Sea!!!

Humm,

Wonder why they do not want to invest in the High Speed train the State wants?

Maybe they know it is a deep hole to throw money in with no chance of it ever paying its way?

[PDD]

Pretty sure China could build HS rail a lot cheaper than US can.

50,000 Chinese laborers working for $5.00 a day is much cheaper than 5,000 Americans working for $400 a day.

If you can't send work to China bring Chinese labor here. Cheaper and faster, It's the American way.