“But the Chinese are going to forge ahead to eventually have more high speed rails than the rest of the world combined.”
Yes we know; and the British and the French kept their national pride with their Concorde for many years too. Are we to feel sad we did not join them?
I don't believe I was implying that. However, I don't believe the problems that crop up over China's high speed rail construction means they are doomed to failure in the long term. Its good that these issues come up early on as China is likely to have triple to quadruple the amount of high speed rail lines today.
And I not implying the US should join China in this pursuit. What road America goes down towards transportation infrustructure is America's business. But to suggest China's problems is proof that high speed rail is a bad idea is weak. If the argument is population density, etc., then that's different. But suggesting high speed rail is bad for the US because the author wrongly concludes it is bad for China.....well, that's not much of an argument.