Amtrak crash shows the high cost of ignoring infrastructure

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

Seems the route was lacking modern safety features...

seems more like the route was lacking an engineer with a brain.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

seems more like the route was lacking an engineer with a brain.

Which is just one of the many things that those safety features are designed to compensate for.

[-relo- 105]

And this...

But sure, let's pretend that this almost criminal negligence of this country's infrastructure pushed and perpetrated by the Teahadists is not an issue. People are dying for crying out loud.

sorry dude. the moron pushing the train at twice the posted speed limit is to blame. But, you keep on reciting the typical ameriphobe libturd nonsense

[lostinblue 1,989]

Which is just one of the many things that those safety features are designed to compensate for.

So you put your seat belt on and go twice the speed limit on the highway in Florida . ????? When the officer pulls you over do you point out ... I had my seat belt on I'm good .

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

And this...

But sure, let's pretend that this almost criminal negligence of this country's infrastructure pushed and perpetrated by the Teahadists is not an issue. People are dying for crying out loud.

This happened in the UK back in 2000/01 - the country's rail network shut down so that the government could do 5 years' worth of track maintenance in a month.

Naturally, none of this had to do with privatisation or that the system for running the railways was so complex. Or that the private contractor that held the contract for track maintenance just hadn't bothered to do the work.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Oil and the auto manufacturers.

In the turn of the 20th century, Los Angeles had a decent network of street cars. The city had plans to expand and turn their network into a virtual overground system to rival the subways of other cities. LA has wide boulevards that spread out for miles and the perfect topography for a tram system. Then GM bought the street cars and shut down their service. The city was committed to the automobile in ways it'd never recover.

You do the math.

Why doesn't the US have a modern rail network?

Edited May 14, 2015 by JohnR!

[-relo- 105]

Oil.

omg

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oil and the auto manufacturers.

In the turn of the 20th century, Los Angeles had a decent network of street cars. The city had plans to expand and turn their network into a virtual overground system to rival the subways of other cities. LA has wide boulevards that spread out for miles and the perfect topography for a tram system. Then GM bought the street cars and shut down their service. The city was committed to the automobile in ways it'd never recover.

You do the math.

As we are starting to discover, that choice was based on a false economy.

[JohnR! 5,495]

In this case, times were different and the oil industry needed to get rid of all the gasoline it had. In addition the 2 1/2 Amendment guarantees every American the right to an automobile.

As we are starting to discover, that choice was based on a false economy.

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lets try a pic to assist the math equations.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

sorry dude. the moron pushing the train at twice the posted speed limit is to blame. But, you keep on reciting the typical ameriphobe libturd nonsense

So you put your seat belt on and go twice the speed limit on the highway in Florida . ????? When the officer pulls you over do you point out ... I had my seat belt on I'm good .

This goes for both of you.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Just about all modes of transportation are subjected to ever more safety features to counterbalance human error. It's really, really simple to understand. For most, anyways.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Mr. Big Dog

[GandD 5,966]

Removed one "non-family friendly" image.

[-relo- 105]

Not exactly. Just about all modes of transportation are subjected to ever more safety features to counterbalance human error. It's really, really simple to understand. For most, anyways.

you seem to fail to understand or choose to deny the fact that budgets are voted on by all elected officials. yes. its really that simple.

Removed one "non-family friendly" image.

whats more family friendly than cartoons?...lol. i'm sorry.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

you seem to fail to understand or choose to deny the fact that budgets are voted on by all elected officials. yes. its really that simple.

You know who holds the federal purse, yes? Now, remind me again who's been running the House for the last several Congresses?

I'll give you a clue: think orange.