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The US is overall and per capita one of the wealthiest in the world even compared to our developed country peers, yet many of these other countries are able to leverage that wealth into far stronger mass transit systems (and social welfare in general) than the US's. These aren't just countries with a strong socialist bent and high taxes (much of Europe), but also countries that are incredibly capitalistic and free market (much of East Asia).
What are the best practices you think we are missing in the US (and I understand there might be several ways to go about making things work better)?
Where/when do you think we diverged from many of these other countries?
Well, for one Asia doesn't view mass transit as a form of welfare unlike in the US and to a lesser degree Europe. It's typically operated for-profit either privately or by a governmental agency. That means they don't need massive amounts of tax payer dollars since transit pays for it self mostly. Often there are public-private partnerships to develop infrastructure, but the private nature ensures that stupid projects are kept to a minimal. If it doesn't make sense to develop transit to an area in Asia, they just don't develop transit. There's none of the "minimum level of service" welfare mentality we have here.
Taxes are a second consideration. The average tax burden in America is 29.7% (that includes, state, local, sales, both halves of social security) on income. Denmark the average tax burden is 38.9%, Norway 36.8% (and they have a lot of oil wealth), Spain 39.6%, Sweden 42.7%. South Korea is 20%.
I don't think a quality public transit system is possible without a high degree of walkability. They go hand in hand. Whether taking subway, light rail or bus you will be doing a fair of amount of walking. Since the train or bus can't drop you off on the doorstep of your destination. Unless your destination happens to be right in front of the bus stop or something. Barring that you must walk the last part of your destination, typically a block or two. But with few exceptions North American cities are too spread out to comfortably walk. So when taking public transit you gotta do a lot more walking, maybe four or five blocks. Which is too far to comfortably walk. So people prefer to drive. We can see how public transit doesn't function very well in low-density sprawl. What's the solution? I don't know if there is one. Unless you want to bulldoze everything and start over.
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A lot of it has to do with the attitude of Americans. They only seem to care about themselves, there isn't as much of a communal spirit. That's why the car will always win over public transit.
A lot of it has to do with the attitude of Americans. They only seem to care about themselves, there isn't as much of a communal spirit. That's why the car will always win over public transit.
How much time have you spent in the US? Does "communal spriti" mean you have to ride on pubic transportation?
We must be Communists--America has plentiful socialized roads!
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