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Government cannot "invest", because government is not motivated by the rational evaluation which guides those whose own money is at risk.
Government merely steals from the private-sector taxpayer and "redistributes" the loot to the politically-connected.
I'd prefer to mak my own decisions, thanks. And I know where the "public-spirited" can take their unrealistic ideas and desires for the fruits of other peoples' real productivity.
That redistributing the government does is called investing, every highway project you see is a government investment, every small business loan given out by the government is an investment, heck even the companies that get rich off military contracts is an investment simply because of how much technology they push and develop. Oh and you are still welcome to make your own decisions as well and do your own investing because taxes are the lowest they have ever been for our country, so please do go out and invest your money, our economy would love that.
Maglev is another fantasy composed of one part conventional railroading and three parts environmentalist dreams. Twenty-five years ago, when it was first proposed, the "supercooling" technology. which was then a "hot" idea, was expected to vastly reduce the cost of the large volumes of power needed for magnetic levitation; to my knowledge, relatively little progress has been made on this front.
That's the case with much of the fantasy peddled by environmental dreamers to a gulllible, non-technically competent public. Meanwhile, conventional, albeit not-very-glamorous technology continues to evolve in the real world. Top speeds are being raised from 80 MPH to 110 MPH in Illinois, Michigan and California, have alredy been raised in Pennsylvania, are 135 MPH in New Jersey, and 150 MPH in Rhode Island, but only on those portions of the line where they are feasible. And the cost of new right-of way is prohibitively high.
This is what always happens when teenybopper-oriented fantasy meets adult-oriented economic realism.
1) First east-west railway in 19th century was more "dreams" then any new technology at present can be. It was also very risky. With the aid of computer simulation, today's technological risks are reduced to minimum. Basically, the old trial and error process is eliminated.
2) When the first subway tunnel was dug under NYC east river, water immediately flooded the tunnel. They had to go back to the drawing board several times. The whole idea of an under-ground train was very "pie in the sky". Many people would never take a train... to hell. It was very scary and the whole project was an open question. The empire state building -who would occupy the 80th floor all the way in the sky? The first under the ocean cable between London and the US - a really crazy idea. Today, after 100+ years we take all these for granted, but imagine living in the 19th century...
3) Maglev - sure, it consumes enormous amount of electric power, but that can be provided with nuclear reactors. And maybe its not the best solution. Maybe there is something else. But the American public is not in the mood for anything.
4) Can you explain how, in spite all difficulties, other countries take the risk? Japan's economy is lagging since the 1990s. Why would France and UK dig a tunnel? You can always take a boat! After all, it is the common practice since Roman times...
We "invested" in Amtrak in the early 1970's. It was supposed quickly become self-supporting after the initial 'investment.' It never did. It still costs the taxpayer about $35 every time a passenger boards an Amtrak train. I don't know of many 'investments' that work like that.
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We "invested" in Amtrak in the early 1970's. It was supposed quickly become self-supporting after the initial 'investment.' It never did. It still costs the taxpayer about $35 every time a passenger boards an Amtrak train. I don't know of many 'investments' that work like that.
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That was the 1970s, times are changing, we are not going to be a nation of SUV driving corporate loving suburbanites for much longer. Trains have become more profitable, and the number of riders on Amtrak is rising. This is not just about weather the investment will pay off in 2 years, this is about how it WILL pay off in the next 30 as we become a more urban and mass transit oriented society. This trend has already been going on for some time now as individuals choose to live in the city, new urban-ism gains popularity, and people care about the environment, and realize the advantages of having no car. This is not just about the money. If the government is going to spend trillions each year, lets put it into good and permanent use.
That was the 1970s, times are changing, we are not going to be a nation of SUV driving corporate loving suburbanites for much longer. Trains have become more profitable, and the number of riders on Amtrak is rising. This is not just about weather the investment will pay off in 2 years, this is about how it WILL pay off in the next 30 as we become a more urban and mass transit oriented society. This trend has already been going on for some time now as individuals choose to live in the city, new urban-ism gains popularity, and people care about the environment, and realize the advantages of having no car. This is not just about the money. If the government is going to spend trillions each year, lets put it into good and permanent use.
American consumers and railroads disagree with your assesment.
Thats what you have already said (Stop being a parrot). The American consumer has began to change his of her mind. Just look at the popularity of new urban-ism, or the gentrification of the average American consumer.
Also, before you repeat that one more time, go ahead and actually look at the info graphic a few pages back, showing that the average American consumer now agrees.
Well not exactly. It was the 1970's, 80's,90's and all the way up to today. It's always "next year" when Amtrak is supposed to become self-supporting. Amtrak recently made news with its concessions operation. Their $9.50 cheesberger (reportedly barely edible) costs $16.15 to produce.
If the government is going to spend trillions each year, lets put it into good and permanent use.
As defined by a self-proclaimed "Liberal", but actually quite Fascistic clique who have convinced themselves that they alone know what's best for everybody.
The freight rail industry, like the auto industry, has been quasi-nationalized. It turns enough of a profit to attract some institutional investing and occasional speculative play, but will likely never turn back into a "blue chip".
The passenger and commuter operations have been turned over to Amtrak and regional "operating authorities" which keep the physical plant in good repair (with the help of occasional subsidies), but will never turn a consistent profit. Amtrak's long distance trains operate near capacity -- for the three months out of the year when gushy, impressionable suburbanites -- the kind you hear constantly running their mouths on Public Radio -- blather away about an "undiscovered vacation travel bargain". For the other nine months, they run at 20% to 50% of capacity; nowhere near enough to justify new equipment.
That's how it always works when the discipline of the private sector is overruled by self-righteous political fiat.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 12-01-2012 at 03:27 PM..
Perfect as long as the financing is private? Has much been done about that part in this country yet? With the prices stated from Milan to Italy one has to wonder what it would be to go to say, Berlin from Rome.
That redistributing the government does is called investing, every highway project you see is a government investment, every small business loan given out by the government is an investment, heck even the companies that get rich off military contracts is an investment simply because of how much technology they push and develop. Oh and you are still welcome to make your own decisions as well and do your own investing because taxes are the lowest they have ever been for our country, so please do go out and invest your money, our economy would love that.
I would be glad to invest money in a privately controlled effort but doing it through government tends to be nothing but waste in that very few bureaucrats ever really know what is going on. What you and Obama call investing isn't really investment but then when one lives far enough left he usually can't see the light.
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