General Discussion

swilton

(5,069 posts)

21. Excellent post

Thu May 14, 2015, 10:45 PM

May 2015

Both political parties have starved Amtrak. The only reason the Northeast has an Acela the so-called 'express' train is because (so I've heard) John Kerry takes it up to Massachusetts....

You are absolutely right about labeling the problem American exceptionism.....I would also characterize it as hubris in that we have the fatal flaw of being so infatuated with our individualism that we have sacrificed the greater good (human and non-human) for the mass culture driven greed and consumerism. Consumerism is best symbolized by the emphasis placed on the vanity of fossil fuel dependent automobiles to the extent we wage wars to protect (as George Bush senior labeled it) our American way of life (awol).

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To me, besides the tragic nature of the AMTRAK crash... [View all] MrScorpio May 2015 OP

I think the RW wants to make over this country into a replica of Detroit steve2470 May 2015 #1

As I've always said, my friend... MrScorpio May 2015 #5

here is what they want, I think steve2470 May 2015 #7

Neo-feudalism... MrScorpio May 2015 #10

future? minimum wage serf seems to me. pansypoo53219 May 2015 #19

honestly, I think the model is Soviet Union. One party rule by brute force. KittyWampus May 2015 #40

It derailed because it was going 100 mph in a place meant to tolerate 50 mph speeds. uppityperson May 2015 #2

I suspect the train was getting up to the speed it would be at past the curve. haele May 2015 #6

Another article posted here made the point... MrScorpio May 2015 #8

I agree that Amtrak's rails are not good enough, was trying to note that the problem wasn't uppityperson May 2015 #11

Although I used the train's speed as an example... MrScorpio May 2015 #14

PTP has to be in place by year end B2G May 2015 #41

To say that Amtrak is 'high speed' swilton May 2015 #18

What a great point. enough May 2015 #3

Of course. Rolando May 2015 #30

I don't think even the high speed trains House of Roberts May 2015 #4

that's what I wonder. Physics says doing curves at certain speeds just inherently risky. KittyWampus May 2015 #37

K&R 1,000,000 nt LiberalElite May 2015 #9

Just the other day a story about Chinese maglev trains going 1800 mph csziggy May 2015 #12

That train isn't operational and is just a concept. Agschmid May 2015 #33

Tell it Mr Scorpio. sheshe2 May 2015 #13

It was rounding a curve. elleng May 2015 #15

Actually, a lot in common with 2013 Spanish derailment JHB May 2015 #16

Yes very similar. Agschmid May 2015 #34

Japanese trains can derail at 72mph. PoliticAverse May 2015 #17

That derailment was a long time ago Art_from_Ark May 2015 #25

Goodness mike dub May 2015 #20

Excellent post swilton May 2015 #21

The wreck in Italy near Naples several years ago: excessive speed. THIS wreck also was FailureToCommunicate May 2015 #22

one word...SHINKANSEN. yuiyoshida May 2015 #23

Recommended. Two EXCEPTIONAL problems with the infrastructure: Ron Green May 2015 #24

Positive Train Control WAS in place. philosslayer May 2015 #36

You need to post this as a separate thread B2G May 2015 #42

Amsterdam to Breda in 38 minutes RoccoR5955 May 2015 #26

That is impressive... MrScorpio May 2015 #44

I understand what you mean by that RoccoR5955 May 2015 #45

Of course there can be accidents with any rail system LiberalLovinLug May 2015 #27

I love your signature line. KittyWampus May 2015 #39

Fixing our infrastructure is a fine idea, but FuzzyRabbit May 2015 #28

Amen. Excellent breakdown of the era- appalachiablue May 2015 #31

American Exceptionalism was murdered by Reaganomics project_bluebook May 2015 #29

But isn't infrastructure a matter of self-defense? RoccoR5955 May 2015 #32

A+ post! I agree 100%! Left coast liberal May 2015 #35

This stretch of track is slated for PTC enhancements B2G May 2015 #38

Great post, MrScorpio. Thanks. Scuba May 2015 #43

If a frog had wings it would not bump its ass seveneyes May 2015 #46