[GonzoGOP]

I have to admit that I love the station architecture. Bright and open with the trains right out on center stage, not shoved into a dark basement like they are at Union Station here in Chicago. The Chinese measure their success by the things they build, and they are justly proud of their feats of engineering. Where we turn out ethnic studies graduates they turn out electrical engineers.

I worry most about adversaries that are builders. The fanatics burn out, you can outlast them like we did with the Russians. The thieves destroy themselves. But the builders grow stronger with every day that goes by.

[driftdiver]

I wonder how long those wonders they are building will stand. The big damn is already having problems. You know the one that displaced a few million people.

[OldDeckHand]

"Where we turn out ethnic studies graduates they turn out electrical engineers. "

I read that they graduate more engineers per year, than we graduate total total students in all US post secondary disciplines, combined

Granted, I'm not sure they have the highest quality engineers graduating from their schools. In fact, I'm quite sure that they still send their best and brightest to the US for their studies, but still - that statistic is sobering, or it should be.

The point you make about "builders" is a good one. What adds insult to injury is that they're building those trains with our consumer dollars, while our manufacturing base is eroding. I'm not a protectionist, and MUCH of the US manufacturing failings may be laid directly at the feet of organized labor, but we should be demanding free trade bilaterally. If our markets are open to them, there's should be to us, without exception or limitation.

[jaydubya2]

Union Station Chicago is fairly plan in comparison. I visited Cincinnati's Union Station, now Museum Center, And it's quit a remarkable example of America's achievements. Would have loved to have seen it in it's heyday.

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