Posted on 09/12/2005 2:34:17 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Even if every possible cause-effect relationship conceivable were factored in, then Murphy's law would dictate that a cause-effect realtionship that had not been conceived would appear, usually at the worst possible time...
This is described well in a book titled Connections by James Burke.
Nothing in the rest of the article redeemed it.
The truth of the matter is that if it were up to private companies, they'd put up their hard earned money to create toll roads. However, nobody ever wants to put up private money to build light rail. It's a boondoggle that can only be built with massive amounts of subsidies from people who will never ride it. And only after they underestimate the cost and overestimate ridership.
But look at all the union jobs it creates. Unions are the big problem for all railroads. When Amtrak was first started, after the continuing bailout of Penn Central, the unions negotiated a deal so that if any union worker were laid off by Amtrak that worker would get six years severence.
Incidentally, my first comment was intended as humor. Obviously, not very successful.
In a world without subsidies, it makes more sense to have a short-haul crew take the truck to a railhead, strap it onto a railcar, haul it by train to another railhead, and have another short-haul crew take the truck to its final destination.
In a pre-computer tracking & routing system (and with the mechanics available them), yes, this could take considerable time, compared to "fresh produce." But it's not hard to consider a system that assembles a train last-minute, with specific box-cars on specific carriers, adding and removing at stations along the way as the train wends its way around the country.
There isn't a perfect analogy to computer network communication protocols in this but I've seen and worked with stuff that comes close -- and at MUCH shorter delivery times than even high-speed trains.
If your solution to "TANSTAAFL" is limited to early 20th-century technology, the end result will no doubt look like early 20th century.
I enjoy trains. But a trip on Amtrak back around 1980 pretty much ensured that unless their rates come down considerably and their service up in proportion, I’ll put up with the annoyances of airplane travel.
It would be interesting to know how he fudged the numbers and redefined terms to conclude that highways are subsidized.
It would also be intersting to know how he or Ron Sims thinks $350 more per month (which is more than I spend currently on gasoline) is going to fly.
The problem, of course, is that you would have to take the rest of us there against our will. We would probably have an issue with that.
Then, of course, this isn't Norman Rockwell's America, either...you propose to greatly increase the commons. You won't want to ride the transportation or live in the high rise ghettos that will result.
This guy is just another lifestyle fascist.
It’s happening
And I wonder whom will resist? A rural ludite doesn’t sound do bad, the Mennonite and Amish don’t seem to have a bad idea
Thanks for posting this twelve years ago!!!
Bookmark
“Trains are the most cost-efficient mode of transport extant.”
Only if your time has no value.
L
Ping.
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