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No. I want one single public transit system. I don't want 345 separate systems (WMATA, GUTS, blue shuttle, Fairfax County Connector, DASH etc etc) to deal with their local needs and compete with each other, and worse, create barriers between themselves. Merge them all, and make the system efficient for everybody, in stead of just efficient for their current subsidiaries.

We wouldn't be awash in an unprecedented economic crisis were it not for the fact that money was speculated on building exurban mega suburbs 50 miles from anything. How do you think this country would have developed had excess infrastructure cost been permanently factored into expansion projects?

Well, that's because the wrong politicians took the wrong decisions on what infrastructure to build. Don't look at me. I'm not from here. But it is an issue everywhere, also accross the big pond. Politicians are less and less concerned with long term issues, and fall more and more for short term gains.

Semantics

No. If those dumbasses in Congress hadn't fixed the gas tax at 18c/gallon, but set it at some percentage, the infrastructure funds would have grown, and the infrastructure bank account would not be empty. In that case, we would now be able to build some really cool infrastructure in stead of having to use all stimulus money on overdue repairs. Furthermore, the tax would have encouraged more fuel efficiency.

I do agree with your last paragraph. Unfortunately, this is the country where big is better, and where the sky is the limit. Americans often forget how deeply these things are ingrained in your culture. There's downsides. But also a lot of upsides. It is, for instance, the reason why you guys were on the moon first, and not the Ruskies, or the French. It's also the reason why Velcro is now a household item.

by Jasper on Mar 10, 2009 3:13 pm • link • report