Newsome too busy pandering to shareholder grifters to actually do anything that helps the working class
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He is. He vetoes any bill not friendly to shareholders. It is pretty sickening the stuff he vetoes.
Honestly if Newsome wasn’t such a corporate pissant the state would probably have less problems overall. Prime example is that he vetoed an RCV bill awhile back, the California Congress is actually pretty progressive and largely isn’t gridlocked the problem is Newsome is a California aristocrat and needs to be fed to the Joshua trees.
Typical neo-liberal then. Does Pelosi endorse him because they sound like birds of a feather.
He’s her nephew by marriage so lol yes
Jesus, it’s nepotism turtles all the way down isn’t it?
Whatever you think about China, you gotta give them some credit for their public transport. Right now, China’s total metro system length is almost equal to the rest of the world combined.
- China: 11003.004 km (6,855.591 mi)
- Rest of world: 12632.24 km (7,847.44 mi)
Furthermore, out of 12 longest metro systems in the world, 11 are in China. The remaining one is in Russia. Just crazy numbers.
This is probably unachievable in Western countries, since they expect the metro systems to make a profit, which makes no sense whatsoever. Some don’t, of course, and they, too, have respectable subway configurations.
i have many issues with the ethics and morals that comprise the current chinese dynasty. but they are extraordinarily rational when it comes to the great imperial forces of the world. it costs a government less, long term, to implement big public works projects. the technology for high speed rail will reduce traffic jams, reduce infrastructure maintenance costs, and boost the economy but it will take 30 years to bear fruit? china will do that because it’s cheaper.
meanwhile here everything is analyzed and implemented in 2 year increments. it’s unsustainable
Do you direct those same ethics and morals that you claim to have towards the US or not? Otherwise your point is useless.
NASA was a 200% return on investment when it was cut due to being “too expensive” by Nixon
Every single universal healthcare system is cheaper than the US model.
Then there’s the consistent cuts to education where investments return 200%-1000%…
…
FWIW I think both US and China are terribly flawed systems.
Ids like comparing the Mongolian empire and the Crusaders. They both sucked ass.
The good within a border never justifies the evil inherent in its maintenance, at least not in the long run.
Though both of your example are invaders so 🤷
Imperialistic was what I was going for, both of which are prime examples of their eras version. Don’t be fooled by pretty language China and the US are beth imperial powers and both deserve to be sent to the dustbin of history.
“hey, this guy said all empires suck but that of the empires china is the most well run. let me just assume he doesn’t criticize or try to dissolve the empire he directly suffers under”
This is probably unachievable in Western countries, since they expect the metro systems to make a profit, which makes no sense whatsoever.
It’s the difference between making profit
- Widening gulf between price and cost, then pocketing the difference
And value
- Widening the gulf between cost and utility, then increasing the overall value of the economic system
Businesses are absolutely profiting off Chinese HSR. They just aren’t the rail network operators. They’re the operator’s clients.
Incidentally, America does have comparable systems. We just do it for cars and planes, not trains
It is contrary to Elon Musk’s interests to build public transport. He wants it to be private and operated by him. See the robotaxi and all the bullshit with his tunnels which even at the diameter they bore could accommodate a proper mass transit system but don’t and never will.
The point of hyperloop and the boring company was to kill real public transport projects. He probably doesn’t care if those companies make money or not. As long as he can fuck up public transportation projects by claiming to a better alternative.
The USA effectively does not perform governance in the sense that is meant by liberal democracies of the last century. That’s just not what the USA does, and it doesn’t make sense to compare it to a government that exists to serve its citizens.
It makes sense in the regard to illustrate that the US. Is lagging behind most other countries. They talk a big game as if they are the best in the world when they’re 50-60 years behind everyone else. To show a comparison for a government that does exist to serve its citizens, as opposed to a government that only claims to serve its citizens.
You forgot the part where California decides to dump Elon and keep going on it’s own project, only for Trump to try and shut it down.
So we could build a coast to coast high speed rail line in a year if we really wanted to.
I doubt it. It took 5 years to build the first 515 km Shinkansen line, in Japan. A coast to coast railway is a major project. 1 year is not a reasonable timeframe. Infrastructure is slow to build.
It took 5 years of construction to open the south east TGV line, 7 years to complete it.
It took 24 years to construct I-90 from coast to coast, and that’s with most of the east coast segments being preexisting toll roads.
All major Infrastructure projects are slow. Your timeline is not realistic.
It is entirely about the political will. If they had it they could do it. We certainly have the resources and skills.
It’s why China is going to win. The west is fighting itself and only planning 4 years in advance. And can’t puss off the voters or we won’t get in again. Then it switches sides and everything gets torn down.
Where China just does it and can plan long term. At this point I don’t k kw which system is better. Used to think democracy but it just seems to crumble and honestly most people don’t care enough that they are easily controlled.
Democracy is being forced to vote for democrats or else we gets the republicans again? Sure.
Electoral Reform Videos
First Past The Post voting (What most states use now)
Videos on alternative electoral systems
The west is fighting itself and only planning 1/4 years in advance.
FIFY
piss off voters
Do you think voters hate cheap, fast, convenient travel? Do you think they’d just hate freedom healthcare too?
Every system is imperfect when taken to its natural conclusion, that’s why most rich countries are moving towards social democracies in which capitalism is generally restrained, but that’s a fairly new thing in its own right, and what’s to say capitalism won’t corrode them in time? Very little, grand scheme of thing. This is why the founding fathers talked about a rolling revolution, needing each generation to see clearly as threats would be constant. Instead we watch Netflix while our decisions are made for us in halls we will likely never walk. Unfortunately I think we are in for the suffering phase, Hindus say we’re already in kali yuga, which is the FAFO end of the whole cosmic cycle, hopefully towards the very end if you believe in such things. Personally I think we’re just fucked.
that’s why most rich countries are moving towards social democracies in which capitalism is generally restrained
???
What planet do you live on? This is literally the opposite of what’s happening.
But but Job Creators!
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China: “We’re revolutionizing mass transit for 1.4B people”
America: “Okay, but they still have a lot of problems”
And are you going to mention all the problems in the US now too? It’s not all fine and dandy here. China has plenty of problems just like any state. No one said otherwise.
MLS make world account to spread China good message ? Lol
Is that what they were doing with this post? I mean, it’s good to look to as an example for doing infrastructure and civil engineering right.
Its a shame that absolutely nothing in human history is simply good. We cant say “wow x did y right!” Because x also has an abysmal human rights policy, or did some war crimes 100 years ago or whatever.
Suddenly its not about x, its about z, and youre a piece of shit for thinking x ever did anything good when they also did something bad.
That’s a pretty strong case of whataboutism. Nobody said that anything was fine and dandy in China. Only that they planned to build a high speed rail and they did it, while the US repeatedly fails at the same thing.
It’s only whataboutism if it’s defense of a non-western country.
No, it’s whatabputism if it has nothing to do with the original argument.
So they are Schrodinger’s country, simultaneously don’t let news out while everyone knows of their internal problems? It sounds like all you know is US propaganda
I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.
A lot of their youth have tech jobs but are also unemployed? Do you mean under employed as in they don’t get full hours or something.
Is not comparing all internal issues of China and us. But you can’t deny they don’t have a plan and stick to it
Are you really saying you want an authoritarian to make the trains run on time?
Don’t you think that’s a little unoriginal?
You don’t have to have the authoritarianism, China is simply doing the most cost effective way of providing public transit for as many people as possible.
They are only able to do it because their authoritarian regime… It’s easy to do mass public works when you flay anyone that resists…
How can I implement this in my third world country?
We truly need something different than the corrupt democracy we have here.
It’s the government of the people, for the people, by the people, but the people is stupid lazy and easily corrupted
They are only able to do it because their authoritarian regime
Ridiculous. Not even gonna waste my time. 0/10 apply yourself
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Authoritarian is when Elon Musk doesn’t have the freedom to choose whether you build HSR or not.
“During the cold war, the anticommunist ideological framework could transform any data about existing communist societies into hostile evidence. If the Soviets refused to negotiate a point, they were intransigent and belligerent; if they appeared willing to make concessions, this was but a skillful ploy to put us off our guard. By opposing arms limitations, they would have demonstrated their aggressive intent; but when in fact they supported most armament treaties, it was because they were mendacious and manipulative. If the churches in the USSR were empty, this demonstrated that religion was suppressed; but if the churches were full, this meant the people were rejecting the regime’s atheistic ideology. If the workers went on strike (as happened on infrequent occasions), this was evidence of their alienation from the collectivist system; if they didn’t go on strike, this was because they were intimidated and lacked freedom. A scarcity of consumer goods demonstrated the failure of the economic system; an improvement in consumer supplies meant only that the leaders were attempting to placate a restive population and so maintain a firmer hold over them. If communists in the United States played an important role struggling for the rights of workers, the poor, African-Americans, women, and others, this was only their guileful way of gathering support among disfranchised groups and gaining power for themselves. How one gained power by fighting for the rights of powerless groups was never explained. What we are dealing with is a nonfalsifiable orthodoxy, so assiduously marketed by the ruling interests that it affected people across the entire political spectrum.”
Michael Parenti
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China: We are building out infrastructure because it is good for our people.
The US: Auuuurrrggghh! WHoSe GoNnA PaY FoR ThiS!? WheN CaN I ExPecT a PROFIT!?
China: we are building out infrastructure because it is good for the people
Lemmitors: no, that’s actually because they’re very authoritarian, building public infrastructure for public use is exactly what evil dictators do
Reasonable people: no, it’s because it’s good for their people and economy, but that has no bearing on whether the country is authoritarian or not.
China Good and China Bad are equally annoying opinions to me.
I’d still choose to live in China over the USA any day though haha
All countries are authoritarian, by definition
Indeed, but it is a spectrum.
I’m a socialist. The “Chinese characteristics” of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is a bit of a euphemism in my opinion. China is not socialist. It may have once tried to be on that path, but unless you count not having a real union movement and not having the ability to run for government unless pre-approved as democratic, then to me that’s a stronger level of authoritarianism than some other places.
Capitalism can never be truly democratic, and China is a capitalist country, but again, there is a spectrum of how democratic a country is, and it can be argued it is more authoritarian than other places. You cannot agitate for reform openly in China, just as the in US. These are RELATIVELY more authoritarian countries.
I’ll stick by my “China Good” and “China Bad” are equally annoying statements, statement.
There’s a lot great about China, and a lot that’s greater about it compared to other places, but people need to stop claiming it’s the bees knees just because it’s not the USA, or claims to be socialist.
Indeed, but it is a spectrum.
It’s never used in a way that suggests it’s anything but a binary. You yourself said “that has no bearing on whether the country is authoritarian or not.” Which is clearly not describing a binary.
Reasonable people: no, it’s because it’s good for their people and economy, but that has no bearing on whether the country is relatively more authoritarian than other countries or not.
China Good and China Bad are equally annoying opinions to me.
I’d still choose to live in China over the USA any day though haha
Happy?
But At wHaT CoST?
US: We need to make 500 more billionaires, and we could probably do both the same time, but why risk it.
This was the most infuriating bullshit. Why is anyone listening to Musk? He’s there to line his pockets, that’s it.
I’m gonna be “that guy” for a bit and say that I was never into him even back when everyone loved him.
People fall for the con man that only has “concepts of plans”, the con man with actual “plans” is literally invisible to them let alone a blind spot.
He’s there to line his pockets, that’s it.
Well, that and widespread promotion of fascism, misogyny, homophobia, and white supremacy.
Musk has nothing to do with the woes of the California High Speed Rail project. He’s just commenting from the peanut gallery and getting picked up by the news. He admitted hyperloop was never a serious proposal and it never factored into the actual decision making process for the project.
The reason the project is so delayed is because of democracy. It’s a long distance route so it crosses many different county lines and properties along the way. Each of those counties have their own municipal governments involved and there are lots of private property holders along the way too. Couple that with the public consultations, the bidding for all the contracts, the environmental assessments (which are the bane of every construction project in California), and the high cost of labour for workers in California (and USA generally).
All of this comes long after the US had engaged in the process of outsourcing manufacturing and importing (in the form of undocumented workers and other low-skilled migrants) its construction workforce. This has left the US very badly equipped to handle large construction projects even after finally approving them. The US is a very different country, skill- and education-wise, from the New Deal era of the 1930s.
The reason the project is so delayed is because of democracy.
Next four largest high speed rail networks are in Spain, Japan, France, and Germany… which might not be perfect democracies, but are certainly far from the worst.
Democracy isn’t the problem, and you certainly don’t need to be a dictatorship to get things done.
It’s our court system specifically. Anyone can sue for anything, and litigation is used to solve the problem. It takes forever and billions are wasted on lawyers. That’s a big reason. Also the fuck-you-I-got-mine culture (NIMBYs) that use the courts disingenuinly.
A good listen that explains a lot of the reasons is The Big Dig, about Bostons huge infrastructure debacle.
I read an interesting report about high speed rail development in Europe. It was comparing Spain and UK a lot. Spain has the biggest high speed network in Europe (second biggest in the world after China) and UK failed to build a single line after the costs reached $100B and project was scaled down. Spain is also building its network at lowest cost in Europe. According to the report the main reasons for that are:
- consistent political backing: all parties support rail development so over the last couple of decades the entire process was optimized
- consistent support on all levels of administration: central and local governments support rail so the plans don’t change all the time. proper planning can be done
- mature public-private cooperation: over the years government and private companies learned to work together to build quickly and cheaply while maintaining quality
What is happening in UK and USA is that high speed rail is a for-profit project for private companies. Government promises them $20B and they start building. If they finish the money dries up so they never finish. When they spend everything government gives them more money. They can’t cancel the project because thousands of people work on it so they just limit the scope making it less and less useful. In the end the rail doesn’t even reach the cities it was supposed to, less people can use it, everything stops being economically viable and the whole thing collapses.
Basically in Spain private companies make profit as long as building railways makes economical sense. In US/UK they make money for as long as government can fund them. Building anything is not the goal.
You can also look at Japan, where railroad isn’t even the main moneymaker for the companies that operate them (pretty sure some even run at a loss). Instead, it’s the hubs that those railroads create (ie all the real state connected to the stations which is owned by the railroad companies and can be rented out to businesses).
In essence, railroads shouldn’t be built because they’re profitable. They should be built because they’re a basic necessity for unifying a country/region. The profit comes from the increased mobility and the new hubs and opportunity that mobility can create. But most politicians are too short-sighted for this.
The Western business mindset isn’t compatible with this approach. If you have a business that has 2 portions and only one is profitable you split it and dump the unprofitable part. If the government forces you to do both you just cut costs from the unprofitable train making everything shitty for everyone.
The Asian cultural Zeitgeist has more focus on stewardship so if someone gives you a responsibility (public transit) and a privilege (commercial hubs) you understand that the great power comes with the great responsibility. You’re still a capitalist and get rich as fuck, but society benefits too.
Yes, railroads are rarely profitable. It’s usually a investment which you recover in the form of greater mobility and economic opportunities it brings. What happens in US/UK is that after years of pumping money into the project and cutting scope in desperate attempts to finish it it becomes impossible to recover it in any form because it simply doesn’t move enough people. Government sees it as a failure and is reluctant to invest in other projects. Without continuity private companies can’t plan long term and focus only on one project trying to get as much money out of it as possible. And the cycle continues…
Another issue is the car-centric culture of the US and the fact that rail and any other form of public transportation directly impedes upon the car companies’ profits (including building sidewalks). This means that any project has to fight an uphill battle against corporate lobbyists or avoid simply being bought out and disbanded like what happened to the various highspeed rail companies in the 2000s.
France is another interesting one to take a look at. I watched a video awhile ago on the history of highspeed rail in France, and if I remember correctly, while they’re culturally closer to the US and the UK, highspeed rail has a history as a point of competitive national pride for the French and so they’re culturally favorable to it because they’ve held the title for the fastest trains in the world a couple of times.
Even the malls are run with the same philosophy; they will allow rest areas, child-care, and other stores that either pay less rent or no rent which support the entity overall.
Omg underground mall persona 5 reference
