Well, California Governor Gavin Newsom has abandoned plans to build a high-speed railroad between Los Angeles and San Francisco. After spending billions of dollars in funds, much of it from the Federal government, the Governor said that the project should be shelved.
He cited that the project was too expensive.
- California Is Abandoning A Plan To Build A High-Speed Rail
- California Scraps Plan For LA-San Francisco High Speed
- Gov. Newsom Says No ‘Path’ for High-Speed Train
- CA Gov. Gavin Newsom Scales Back High-Speed Rail
Managerial elites, Of Two Minds - The sole output of America's managerial elite is self-serving hubris. The Deep State can't be fired, nor does it ever stand for election. As systems become more complex, the need for a professional class to manage the overwhelming complexity grows. "Stakeholders" multiply in endless profusion, dooming every project to a glacial process that increases the sums paid to manage the glacial process and pushes the final cost to the moon. The managerial elite always has one answer for every problem: give us more money. The system is broken, and the managerial elite will keep it broken because it serves their interests to keep it broken.
Some History
It all began ten years ago. Back then, President Obama called for a network of high-speed railroads to criss-cross the country “within 25 years”. The nation roared with glee and cheering his forward thinking.
Perspicacious = To be far-sighted in understanding things.
At that time, of course, the rest of the world had already implemented High Speed Rail. America was going to get involved in a game of “catch up”.
Only this time, progressive values and liberal management would lead the way.
His plan, began its’ implementation through California.
Of course, compared to the rest of the world, it’s pretty modest. The idea was to link the two largest cities in California together. This would occur by placing rail lines through the large entirely rural California valley. The top speed would be limited to 220 MPH, which is the global norm. The most ambitious plans would have 800 miles of rail line, paid in part by the Federal government and bonds issued by the (insolvent) California government.
Killing the High Speed rail program.
The decision to cancel this program was welcomed by Conservatives, and derailed by Liberals. Both for reasons related towards political considerations. However, in my mind, everyone loses.
What’s worse, rubbing salt in the wound, comes President Trump. He rightfully questioned the decision to kill the project. As a businessman, you do not casually start of kill things without study, and an analysis of the consequences. Obviously, there were concerns that the decision to kill the project were not carefully thought out.
Seriously. It is like going to a restaurant and expecting to pay $100 for the meal. You wait and you wait, and you wait. Finally, the waitress comes to the table. The bill is $2000. You get angry! Where is my food? Why has it taken so long? What the heck are the cooks doing? What do I have to show for all my time; for all my money? What? And the waitress looks at you condescendingly, and points to the toothpick that is on that table. "You have a toothpick", she says.
Thus, in summary, and rightfully so, President Trump demanded that California be fiscally responsible and return the Federal funds given to them.
- Trump demands CA return billions in high-speed rail money
- Trump demands California return high-speed rail funds
- Trump administration demands California return billions
California fights back and builds the High Speed rail… somewhat.
These were funds earmarked for the doomed program. However, the Governor rebuked him. He argued that no funds needed to be returned. He said the state would still build a portion of the system. It would build the section still under construction in the rural Central Valley.
You demand to see the Manager, or better yet, the owner of the restaurant. A few minutes, he comes out of his office. You interrupted him from playing the game of poker he had with the other workers. We wipes the beer off of his beard and takes a puff of his cigar. "Wadda ya want, bub?" You calmly, and clearly, state that you paid for a meal. And that you want the meal, and you want it at the price that is advertised on the menu. He snorts! "Sure, wadda ever ya say. That will be another $4000." You get angry, and suddenly all the workers in the restaurant come out and line up with the Manager. They start yelling at you. Calling you names like "deplorable", "uneducated hicks", and "racist". They carry on so much, that you eventually slither out of the restaurant. You cut your losses. You reason, at least you got a toothpick.
So, California is going to build the high-speed rail after all.
By doing so, he could legally claim that he met the requirements that California build a High Speed rail line. It wouldn’t need to be very much rail. Not even a few hundred miles or so of rail. Five, ten or fifteen miles would be all that would be needed.
Everyone files back into the back room, and continues their game of poker. Another case of beer is brought in. No one notices the line of people at the front door waiting to be served and led to their tables.
His advisors suggested something a little more practical, though. So a little over a hundred miles will (some day… eventually) be built.
Everybody gets their cut…
Once the labor unions get their cuts, the environmentalists get their shares, the local labor bosses get to skim off some money, and the politicians in Sacramento each get another new mansion, can the tiny amount of rail line be built.
Look here! So wonderful!
This couple of miles of track would be enough to prove that the rail was built in “good faith”. (And not a scheme to siphon Federal funds into the pocket of various special interest groups.)
So, there! You evil non-progressive, you!
Progressive justification for the “new” High Speed rail.
Of course, the need for a High Speed rail to travel a distance that a person could drive in a little over an hour is rather silly. However, the Governor denied that it would be a “train to nowhere.”
He justified his plans stating that many people would want to abandon their cars for public transportation between Merced and Bakersfield. (Then use public transport, such as taxis and public buses, to get around in those cities.)
Of course, it is debatable whether he actually believes this statement personally. Were it to function he, and his family would never use it. They are members of the elite. They travel by private jet. They don’t travel by “cattle car” like the rest of us.
Though the administration bills the program as "high-speed rail," most U.S. projects won't reach the speeds seen in Europe and Asia. -Obama doles out money for High Speed Rail
He defended his decision on reasons of fiscal responsibility. (Of course he would. It “sounds good”, like the words “fresh”, “green”, and “healthy” does.)
California needed the money for it’s many social programs. It needed the money to support the influx of illegal migrants, and it needed the money to support the rising number of unemployed poor. California needed the money for yet another study on the endangered bo-bo-tiutsi fly, and the impact on plastic straws have on “global warming”.
Important things. Don’t ya know.
He would not give any of money back.
Not that he could mind you. Too many people accepted bribes. Too many studies" on the dangers of coffee and the need for LGBT education in Kindergarten needed to be funded. Where the heck do you all think all those crazy radical progressives get their money to live off of? Do you actually believe that they work in a company like a normal person would?
After spending over 77 Billion dollars, he said the state would not send any money back to the federal government. He did not want it to be spent by President Donald Trump.
China started planning and implementing High Speed rail back in the 1990’s. Today, High Speed rail transport in China is ubiquitous. It is “old news”. Eventually, in China, all rail will be replaced with High Speed Transport.
Construction has been underway for the last couple of years on a section of 220 miles of rail. This section consists of the system from Silicon Valley to the Central Valley, with expected passenger service in 2025. (Now, delayed until 2035.) The announcement to kill the plan has resulted in a much smaller stretch of rail being realized.
The fares were expected to average $89 per person per trip.
Which is about 2x (two times more expensive) than Chinese High-Speed rail, cover a mere tiny percentage of a fraction of the distance that Chinese rail covers, and start roughly 35 years later than when China built their first High Speed rail line.
Not that it matters. Just sayin'
All of this is silly.
In reality, this is not a technical issue, or even a fiscal issue. It is a political issue. It is a mechanism from which politicians, beholding to donors will be able to pay them back for the money that they lent to the progressive liberal democrats.
It is so very obvious, and so blatant, I will not insult the reader by showing pages and pages of justification. If you can’t see the reality, then, maybe you need to go back to school and learn some discernment skills. You know, like elementary school.
77 Billion Dollars and NOTHING to show for it!
The corruption in the USA, and California is so very bad, that 77 Billion dollars and 20 years can not complete a single spur line of high speed rail! Well, China started at the same time as California did.
Look where China is today…
Chinese High Speed Rail
Now, China just so happened to decide to implement High Speed rail at the same time that California did. The result is quite different. Why?
Well, let’s do some comparisons shall we.
First off, let me be clear that NOT every line is high-speed rail. This is a work in process. Secondly, it it also be clear that China is an enormous nation and right now the High Speed rail only connects major population centers.
Today, these are the active High-speed rail lines…
Here is a typical Chinese bullet train. (I just cannot show you any United States bullet trains because they haven’t even been constructed yet. Though there are some nice colorful mock-ups. See above.)
Oh, and I must add that the cardboard, wood and fiberglass (hollow) mock up of the California high speed rail COST MORE than an actual high-speed locomotive by many millions of dollars. Consider that will ya!
Inside a Chinese bullet train
Bullet trains are all over China. There is an enormous network of them. They are very comfortable to ride in, and their cost is reasonable. Notice how calm the ride is. Note the water in the bottle.
And…
America’s Plan for a Progressive Future
Under Obama, and other progressive leadership in the seaboard corridors, they had (and still have) a very progressive vision for America. In their vision, the states would be discarded in favor of a new America of “regions”.
- States would become obsolete, and over time, discarded.
- Administration regions would replace independent states.
- High Speed Rail would connect the administrative centers.
Control would be centralized in the mega-cities on both the East and the West. Thus, High-Speed trains would cart people through the barren “waste lands” between the “two important” regions of the United States.
As shown in this map from the New York Times…
Ah, but the corruption prevents the ideal.
That looks so nice, but it’s never gonna happen. It implies that enough money will be available to manage and manufacture the progressive utopia.
As soon as Obama came to office he started throwing money at this. And, like high-absorbancy disposable dish towels, the money evaporated.
Just check out the amazing amount of corruption. Check out this map from the US government. Where did the money go? Eh?
Comparisons of High Speed Rail
I looked at various sites on the internet, and it’s a hoot how everyone tries to justify the superiority of Amtrak compared to China’s bullet trains. They imply that China’s bullet trains are nothing to be proud of.
It’s funny, but sad too. You know, the first step in recognizing you have a problem is to face up to it, and announce that you have a problem. (12 step program for those of you who don’t know the reference.)
They do one on one comparisons and come to the conclusion that they are similar. What a laugh. The trains are similar. How can you possibly come to that conclusion?
The one article (linked above) starts off straight forward enough…
But then it starts to show a bunch of photos how they are really just pretty similar, aside from the price, and speed. As if the train stations are identical. (Have you been to an Amtrak train station lately? Talk about a run-down 1960’s era ghetto.)
Really?
Here’s a screen capture from the article listed above.
What’s what the article says.
Then, it shows this following picture…
Is that the only difference? A hat?
Really? Are you so dumb founded blind in political correctness not to notice the differences right in front of your face?
In China, the stewardesses are all female. They are all attractive, and rated in beauty, physical appearance, and weight. They are all under 35 years of age. They are trained to be demure and act very respectfully.
In America on Amtrak, there are no age, appearance, weight or gender requirements. The attendants can be polite or not, fat or not, ugly or not, burly or not. In the progressive reality that is America today that is the reality. But don’t deny what is right in front of your eyes just for the sake of political correctness.
Chinese High Speed Train Appearances
This is what the interior of one looks like…
And here’s the view outside…
Oh, and while I am at it, here is what the over all appearance and image that the Chinese bullet trains have in China and around the world.
In contrast Amtrak is viewed as sluggish, antiquated, and brutish. Check out the video and then go ride on Amtrak to see what I am talking about.
Train Stations
Here’s a quick comparison in train stations.
First, we check out Amtrak’s stations. The photo below is a historical station known as Sandpoint. Now, don’t get the wrong idea.
I do happen to love history and American rail has had so many absolutely awesome train stations. What about the one on Allegheny avenue in Pittsburgh, or the massive complex in Detroit? Ah, but they are all gone now.
All that remains are little quonset hut kind of affairs. You know the kind used to give the impression of progressive advancement by tearing down the old. Sad.
Here’s the current interior of the Amtrak rail station in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. It looks like the rest of the world has passed it by. It’s really, really sad.
And, I don’t like it one bit.
Now, let’s look at the train stations that you would encounter were you to board a train in China. This is from the 3nd tier city Tianjin. It’s third tier, ya all! It’s just a little Po-dunk city.
Ask yourself how, and why can China do this, but much bigger, and better USA cannot? Maybe fighting eight simultaneous wars and spending 65% of welfare benefits on illegal aliens has something to do with it. Eh?
Maybe. But I also like to think that part of it is because China is a meritocracy.
Here is Amtrak rail. This is what passes for American High Speed rail today. You know, as someone who can compare different ways of doing things, it is just so obvious the crime, decadence and corruption at Amtrak is just horrible.
For all the money being thrown at Amtrak, this is the best America can do? Really?
America has so much to be proud of, yet we have let our achievements grow fallow, and our leadership become corrupt. We, our parents, and our grandparents are all responsible for the sad, sad state of affairs in America today.
Chinese Stewardess Training
In China, it is very important to maintain a very positive image. This is reflective of the company, the brand and the service that one provides. Thus, there is a very rigorous selection process to become a stewardess on a Chinese train, and a long and involved training program.
Here is a video showing how the stewardess are trained to walk.
And, here are how they are trained to act and greet people…
Of course, the criteria in the United States is quite different.
The American rail system is controlled by Amtrak and it is a government funded agency. As such, it is very progressive, and very “modern” and “diverse”. You won’t find attractive women, or training on how to behave at Amtrak. Instead you will find other criteria that is “more important” being used.
Some other criteria…
These other criteria are things that you cannot speak about, but everyone knows about.
You know, like how certain famous people got their children into Harvard and Yale, or like how some cute starlets got their start in Hollywood by visiting a couch.
It is like how you have to show some cleavage to get the Pennsylvania department of transportation to fill the pot-hole in front of your house, or how the Mexican dishwasher gets paid for washing pots and pans. That is how things are really done in America today. If you haven’t experienced this, then you haven’t really experienced the America that the “rest of us” has to endure.
Eh? Maybe you have a silver spoon in your mouth. Or a Starbucks coffee. It’s the same thing really.
Reality. You know, like the child molester teacher that lives down the street, or the potholes in the road that never get fixed, or the “extra” “fees” that you have to pay the gal behind the window to get some attention to your issue.
Ah, all so very progressive.
Just like things used to be done in the Soviet Union under Stalin, or how things were done in China under Mr. Mao. So equal. So diverse. So progressive.
“The toilets in your car are not working anymore. Please, use the ones of the car in front of you. Do not enter the sleeper cars. I repeat…” The day has barely started when we hear the announcement. I am exhausted after a sleepless night on a half-reclined chair." -Roaming about on Amtrak
Just how far did America go down the drain?
It’s hard to vocalize. I like to think that the best years of Amtrak were in the 1930’s. It was a time that I did not experience. All that I could picture were the faded images of massive locomotives, and advertisements of luxury travel inside old Life and National Geographic magazines.
I’m pretty saddened by it, actually.
1:30pm: We are stopped and the power disappears with a buzzzzz. No AC, no lights, no nothing. Soon, it becomes quite hot. The electricity has had hiccups before (ask Mark who has to re-set our router each time), but never this long. Apparently, one of our engines has a problem. The power returns, the passengers sigh; the train is still motionless. -Roaming about on Amtrak
7:25pm: The train stops in Cleburne, TX to offload the passengers going to Oklahoma who take a bus from here, because they missed their connection in Fort Worth. We sit at this station for half an hour and don’t know why. This is becoming infuriating! No information, just a grumbling crowd. The way Amtrak “solves” problems is the epitome of inefficiency. On all accounts. -Roaming about on Amtrak
Like most passengers on the Texas Eagle that day (and, believe it or not, but all the trains we took were fully booked), we are tempted to say “Never Again”! Long-distance train journeys have a certain appeal. Each one is an adventure. The ones on Amtrak even more so, it appears. What we have learned first-hand is that all the rumors about Amtrak are true. The company is ran very inefficiently and nobody seems to care about multiple-hour delays, reroutings or change of itineraries/schedules except for the passengers. It was an experience, but we are not jumping to do it again. Beware: anyone traveling on Amtrak’s long distance trains should have lots of time, and no connections! -Roaming about on Amtrak Let me tell you Liesbet that train looks absolutely first class compared to our train and trip overnight from New York to New Orleans. What a nightmare trip!! Let me guess why the trains are so bad going down south. Disgusting!! The train was on freight lines so was very bumpy and very uncomfortable. We did book first class, the guy laughed when we asked where that was. Yes, we were stood out like a sore thumb on the train!! - globalhousesitterX2
High Speed Rail elsewhere
The rest of the world uses High Speed rail. It’s a mature technology, and provides benefit to the people who live in the nations that have it.
Everyone has it. Except the United States.
Don’t believe me, well then take a look at these maps here. Here’s Europe.
And how about tiny South Korea…
Japanese High Speed Rail…
And, here’s Australia’s High Speed rail network (in construction)…
Here is the high speed rail in Brazil. It connects the largest cities for low cost, and fast transport for it’s citizens.
Here’s the high speed rail network for Italy…
Even tiny Java has high speed rail. What is America’s malfunction? Eh?
Russia is in a class by itself
Russia has had rail for as long as the United States. However, they have worked out various agreements with the Chinese, and are now upgrading their trans-Siberian route to be High Speed Rail. And what an upgrade it is.
I mean, well I really admire Chinese High Speed rail, but OMG the Russians have taken it to the next step! And you can find out about their “budget” travel HERE.
Here’s a map of what it looks like.
And here are some cross sections of the various cars. I particularly like the first class cabins. Maybe I can pretend to be James Bond and travel West with a Femme Fatale. Eh?
A femme fatale is a stock character of a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art. -Wikipedia
The Golden Eagle is your luxurious hotel-on-wheels. Unpack just the once and settle into your well- appointed and comfortable en-suite cabin as you begin this voyage of a lifetime. One of your cabin attendants, available at all times, will be on hand to look after all of your needs. The Golden Eagle, comprising three categories of cabins, featuring state-of-the-art amenities, and all offering en-suite facilities, is the only private train of its kind operating in this part of the world. Our newly introduced Imperial Suites are the most spacious cabins on the Golden Eagle, and on any train in Russia. The Gold and Silver Class accommodation has been cleverly designed to maximise the available space as cabins covert from a sitting area by day into a comfortable sleeping accommodation by night. On the occasions where we travel by day, your cabins provides a calm, personal space in which to read, enjoy a DVD or simply watch the landscape unfold through the large picture window and the facility to adjust the air-conditioning for your own personal comfort. All three classes of cabin benefit from an evening turndown service and the services of a cabin attendant who is on call 24 hours a day. Our onboard cabin attendants are highly regarded by our guests for their impeccable service. In each cabin you will also find an excellent selection of L’Occitane shower gels and shampoos, complemented by premium bath robes, slippers and a hairdryer. -The Trans-Siberian Travel Company
Causes and Commentary
America is out of pace with the rest of the world in regards to high-speed, modern mass transit. America relies on personal automobiles, the airlines, and an antiquated railroad system that is corrupt and bureaucratic.
There are many reasons why America is unable to have high speed rail. The primary ones are politics, and corruption associated with politics.
In America, criminal enterprise that siphons enormous taxpayer funds into various “programs” has been institutionalized and made legal. These moneys are no longer available to American taxpayers for programs that support their life, their community, or their future.
They are siphoned away for “other” purposes.
An Intolerable Situation.
Personally, I find this situation intolerable, as I have a personal love and affinity for AMERICAN rail. As a boy, I used to walk the railroad tracks that wound in and out of the hills of Western Pennsylvania. I used to explore the tunnels and old rail side communities. I used to stand in awe to those enormous engines that hauled the coal from the depths of the earth.
My first train ride was to university and I traveled the “red eye” from Erie, PA to Syracuse NY. I fell in love with rail from that moment on.
I loved everything about it.
I loved the stewards in the dining car with their white starched uniforms, to the big burly train conductor and his cheery announcements. I loved watching the countryside go by, and having a 5am breakfast of coffee and toast in the dining car.
I lament this loss, and this post is my anger that corrupt people have taken something so wonderful, so fantastic, and turned it in to what it is today. Today it is nothing more than a failed business model staffed with the bland and the politically acceptable.
It is my hope; my prayer that other lovers of AMERICAN rail will wake up and wrest the rail industry from the corrupt politicians back to the people where it belongs.
Article was posted on FR 26MAY19
This article was posted (well, the first three or so paragraphs, anyways) on the conservative website Free Republic on 26MAY19. The post is HERE, and some selected comments (from people who obviously didn’t read the article).
Here’s some of the best comments.
I used to work for this company that had a contract with a large corporation and I used to have to go in to the large Corporate Offices occasionally and I would go in early to grab a little breakfast in their cafeteria. That’s what I noticed that everybody who was on the “early work schedule” would get there early and then leisurely eat a breakfast and be up with their desks just before the normal 8 to 5 people showed up. Pretty sneaky, because the early workers left early… but didn’t put in a full day…that’s when I learned that having an early staff is probably inviting a little cheating into the workplace.
As a Ferroequinologist (railroad fan), I’m going to say, we can but let private companies do it. Virgin Trains is expanding Brightline from West Palm to Orlando…and onto Tampa…
Conclusion
So, to answer the question; “Why can’t America have High Speed Rail transportation?”, if you set aside all the rationalizations and justifications, there is but one conclusive answer.
In some ways, extreme populism actually is a symptom of this institutional failure, and this brings me to my last point. Due to our lack of a functioning institutional system, we are no longer able to undertake great, long-term projects, or to address seriously deep structural problems in our system in the long term. We suffer from a kind of “tyranny of myopia.” We are incapable of operating as a country on anything resembling a serious and long-term time horizon. -American Greatness
America does not have the ABILITY to create modern public transportation.
I have not been to Niagara Falls in close to 30 years even though I live 80 miles from there. I have driven by it many times over the years but it was one of those things that since I had been there repeatedly as a kid, I saw no need to go there again.
Well, my kids are now 10 & 12 years and it was time to take them to see it.
The city of Niagara Falls is a total dump. It might as well be Detroit, Newark NJ, The level of devastation is identical. It might as well be the third world.
Then, there is the New York State Park around the American Falls. Like every park in New York state, it is a complete embarrassment. This park should be a showplace, and yet it is a total shithole. I was stunned at the complete lack of maintenance the shoddy landscaping and the overall poor condition of the park as a whole.
Obviously, the state has the money to squander on illegal aliens but the parks are a complete mess and an embarrassment.
The Canadian side park was well kept and was an attractive and enjoyable place to be. The city of Niagara Falls, Ontario as a whole is not the welfare basketcase that Niagara Falls NY is.
Andrew Cuomo, Louise Slaughter (now dead), and every other NY democRAT ('Nadless I'm looking at you) should be ashamed of themselves for turning this place into a disgrace.
-Vanity Post
Some Updates
A joint venture of Milan-based contractor Salini Impregilo and its U.S. subsidiary Lane Construction Corp. have won a $14-billion design-build contract for the planned high-speed rail project to connect Dallas and Houston, with a total estimated cost of some $20 billion. Salini-Lane will provide civil and infrastructure scope for the project, which includes design and construction of all 131 viaduct sections and 130 embankment sections along the 240-mile route, installation of the track system, and construction of all buildings and services that will house maintenance and other equipment.
Not going to be made by Americans or American companies, though. Also the scope is going to be rather modest. 240 miles for $20 billion dollars.
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