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Both private sector and public sector (central planning) business activities have their share of corrupt individuals, but the fundamental difference is that central planning has a self-interest of growing the empire of the central planners, coupled with the force of law. So when it comes to projects such as HSR, the issue is not so much whether the private sector or the public sector would be the least corrupt. The issue is that if there is no genuine public need for HSR, the private sector will
[quote user="henry6"] Ok. Scenerio: Air pollution is out of control, very dangerous situation exists in your area. All land has been used up by industry and homes. Two reasons you can't build new or expand your highway system for autos or trucks. Airports cannot be enlarged in any way for the same reasons, but passenger demand is up. There are no navigable rivers or canals nearby. Railroad technology is further ahead than what is being used, tracks and rights of way are underutilized
[quote user="henry6"] Bucyrus, that is almost the exact conditions that exist in the Northeast! NJ can't build anymore roads; the NY Metropolitan area has poor air quality, clogged roads, jammed airports, no place to build more but plenty of underutilized rail ROW's. Its like that virtually from Portland, ME to Norfolk, VA! The scenerio is too real. But more to my other point. Nothing has ever been accepted by the public which hasn't been "sold" to them through a well
[quote user="BNSFwatcher"] Date: 20 Nov 2019 Memo from: BNSF Railway To: J. B. Hunt Transportation Cc: Schnieder Transportation, United Parcel Service Dear Ms. Hunt; in response to your inquiry, we must say "Yes!" Your trailers and containers will arrive on-time, provided the wind blows and the sun shines. Thank you for your faith in 'renewable' energy. Matt Rose, CEO, BNSF Railway [/quote] What Rose will tell J.B. Hunt is that the trailers will be on time, but the bill
[quote user="henry6"] Very little has ever happened without a planned or unplanned indoctrinization. We have smoked for years even though we know it will kill us because it was made so attractive by marketing, for instance. People bought war bonds and savings bonds because they were marketed as much as being the patriotic thing as they were a good buy. Read what I have written above about how things happen. We don't just wake up one morning and decide we want or need something...from
[quote user="henry6"] I give up...I no longer have time to ride this merry-go-round of rhetoric. [/quote] Henry, Don’t get off now. We are finally getting right down to the core of your argument. Why don’t you tell us how your theory of marketing indoctrination applies to the HSR?
Well there is a school of thought that contends that getting people out of their cars and planes, and into HSR will help the environment by reducing the carbon footprint. However, a subdivision of that school believes that high speed component of HSR is extravagant, unnecessary, and undesirable because the high speed creates too much CO2 compared to normal speed passenger rail. So perhaps society’s need for high speed is just one of those marketing indoctrinations that we need to change.
[quote user="schlimm"] [quote user="henry6"]I am not totally sure that the market will find the correct answer though.[/quote] I am not sure the "market" is the only way to find answers to allocation nor is it always the best or most appropriate way. Many times it is, but there are some/many sectors where capitalism - decisions based on profit/return on investment - may not be the best mechanism. [/quote] That is the core of the debate about HSR. Probably the most obvious
[quote user="jclass"] Why would electrification and HSR be seriously considered to be part of the new purpose (other than for use as a political bargaining chip)? I don't see where either would increase political support for those pushing sustainability. Railroads in the general public's perception are a liability. [/quote] I am not sure I understand your question. What I call the new purpose is basically the new reason to electrify, and that new reason is for the achievement of
[quote user="rrnut282"]Using reductions in CO2 production to justify electrification of railroading is a paper lion. Barring government mandate (most likely unfunded to make it worse) electrification will have to stand on its own merits.[/quote] Regardless of what anybody believes about the effects of CO2, congress intends to take action to reduce it, based on the belief that it is a big problem. These are the probable scenarios leading to near universal rail electrification: 1) A private
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