What next? How do we build a better America?

[Nicefella]

Thanks. I’m not trying to be condescending or patronizing. I’ve seen how this usually ends with presidents - even the ones who actually moved the corrupt albatrosses in DC a foot or two.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

With more trillions.

Once we stop wasting money on highways, they’ll be plenty to spend on building out the rail network.

 

[Politruk]

Once we stop wasting money on highways, they’ll be plenty to spend on building out the rail network.

A more energy-efficient mode of long-distance travel does not begin to address the real problem, which is local commuting, local automobile-dependency. We need to eliminate bedroom communities and strip malls. We need to retrofit our communities, towns, cities and neighborhoods along New Urbanist lines.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

A more energy-efficient mode of long-distance travel does not begin to address the real problem, which is local commuting, local automobile-dependency. We need to eliminate bedroom communities and strip malls. We need to retrofit our communities, towns, cities and neighborhoods along New Urbanist lines.

Agreed. We can build more local rail and bike lanes while also building long-haul high-speed rail. Stop spending money on freeways, stop providing drivers with free parking. Car dependency will wither and die if we stop subsidizing it.

 

[Rightguide]

Assuming that Donald Trump is prevented from seizing power, what should our top priorities be as a nation?

As evidenced from some of my other posts on this board, there are two things I think would immediately make America a much better place:

1. Legalize abortion
2. Build a national high-speed rail network

Use this thread to say what you think America should do after we don't have to spend all our energy fighting Donald Trump. Please keep it positive. Don't worry about politics. This is an aspirational wish list.

Stupid priorities. How about inflation, border security, and crime, for openers.

 

[Nicefella]

Once we stop wasting money on highways, they’ll be plenty to spend on building out the rail network.

You realize that the rail network will take two decades

 

[HumpDayHoratio]

Agreed. We can build more local rail and bike lanes while also building long-haul high-speed rail. Stop spending money on freeways, stop providing drivers with free parking. Car dependency will wither and die if we stop subsidizing it.

Agreed. We can build more local rail and bike lanes while also building long-haul high-speed rail. Stop spending money on freeways, stop providing drivers with free parking. Car dependency will wither and die if we stop subsidizing it.

This will not happen.

The HSR in California overran costs by billions. That’s Billion with a B. I think the whole project was scrapped or curtailed. Any Cali bubbas can clarify.*

*EDIT- I looked it up…still being built. One decade behind schedule. Only 1/4 built. Billions in overruns…

All of what you posted sounds nice. It’s a nice utopian vision. The economics just don’t work though. Example…

What does a current Amtrak tix cost from NY to LA? I had to Use Yuma…310 to Yuma

Here is a United flight, NY to PHX: NY-PHX

The actual prices are comparable. The TIME is not.

Rail had its heyday. It effectively ended with the Jet Age.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

You realize that the rail network will take two decades

So we better get started now!

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

Stupid priorities. How about inflation, border security, and crime, for openers.

Inflation, border security and crime are all under control. We don’t need to fix things that aren’t broken.

 

[HumpDayHoratio]

You realize that the rail network will take two decades

The one in California is Already ONE decade behind and they’re only 1/4 of the way done. Not finished…still being worked on! Only three more decades to go!

 

[MajorRewrite]

The one in California is Already ONE decade behind and they’re only 1/4 of the way done. Not finished…still being worked on! Only three more decades to go!

Most first world nations have high speed rail.

MAGA: “It’S iMPosSibLe!!!!!!”

 

[Philthy_Phil]

Deport the Americans.

 

[rgraham666]

Balkanizing the country ain't gonna help.

Never helped the Balkans, either -- they would have been better off under one empire, whether it were Ottoman or Austrian.

It wasn't the balkanizing that caused the problem. It was the method, violence. A 'pissed-on fish' divorce.

That's why I said 'amicable'. If all parties sat down and said, "We're done. Who gets what? And let's not get greedy" It would avoid the 'pissed-fish' stage and keep things from getting to that point.

 

[Nicefella]

Inflation, border security and crime are all under control. We don’t need to fix things that aren’t broken.

I want to smoke what you’re smoking

 

[rgraham666]

I want to smoke what you’re smoking

I wonder why he lists 'crime' as a problem. Spreading disinformation from an enemy nation is a crime and he does it all the time.

Oh wait. I forgot. The attitude of the authoritarians and barbarians masquerading as conservatives is always, "It's okay for me but not for thee."

 

[HumpDayHoratio]

Most first world nations have high speed rail.

MAGA: “It’S iMPosSibLe!!!!!!”

“First” world nations are the size of Illinois at best. They’re not over 3k…not even close. France is 18 times smaller than the U.S. Germany is 28 times smaller. Easy to do when you’re small and subsidized.

 

[Nicefella]

“First” world nations are the size of Illinois at best. They’re not over 3k…not even close. France is 18 times smaller than the U.S. Germany is 28 times smaller. Easy to do when you’re small and subsidized.

Exactly. And France and Germany are not perfect. They have tons of other problems that look a lot like America at a much smaller scale because they are smaller.

 

[DeluxAuto]

Award for stupidest comment of the day

There's a lot of day left. Don't rule out him saying something even stupider.

 

[Politruk]

Stupid priorities. How about inflation, border security, and crime, for openers.

Crime is down nationwide, inflation is down, immigration is a non-problem.

 

[Nicefella]

Most first world nations have high speed rail.

MAGA: “It’S iMPosSibLe!!!!!!”

There is nothing MAGA about that common sense assertion. Use your noodle instead for feeding us the slop that you hear from others that are trying to fool you.

 

[Sct73]

Building the middle class would be a great start. Also keep church and state separate

 

[SimonDoom]

This will not happen.

The HSR in California overran costs by billions. That’s Billion with a B. I think the whole project was scrapped or curtailed. Any Cali bubbas can clarify.*

*EDIT- I looked it up…still being built. One decade behind schedule. Only 1/4 built. Billions in overruns…

All of what you posted sounds nice. It’s a nice utopian vision. The economics just don’t work though. Example…

What does a current Amtrak tix cost from NY to LA? I had to Use Yuma…310 to Yuma

Here is a United flight, NY to PHX: NY-PHX

The actual prices are comparable. The TIME is not.

Rail had its heyday. It effectively ended with the Jet Age.

HSR in California has not been scrapped. It's just going very slowly, costs way over budget, and funding hard to come by.

 

[Nicefella]

Award for stupidest comment of the day

I think it makes better sense to day that the federal government has no place in regulating abortion. States do and RvW was just waiting to get overturned. Everyone in the room knew it and anticipated its eventual demise.

Everyone - Except obviously the intellectual heavyweights in this lit space.

 

[HumpDayHoratio]

There is nothing MAGA about that common sense assertion. Use your noodle instead for feeding us the slop that you hear from others that are trying to fool you.

They are so far gone in certain lines of thinking (HSR and climate issues in general) that they can’t even see the hard facts and data in front of them. If California can’t even put a HSR boondoggle into practice then how do they expect 47 more individual states to follow suit?

Besides. Why build a $135 Billion HSR line, when you can take a SouthWest 737 from San Fran to LA for $104?

 

[HumpDayHoratio]

HSR in California has not been scrapped. It's just going very slowly, costs way over budget, and funding hard to come by.

Go back and reread…I edited it.