America has to regain a Vision. Our Airports and Train systems are the "Caboose" relative to international achievements. This illustrates American lack of Vision and our political systems ineffectiveness in achieving big goals.
Obama Seeks High-Speed Rail System Across U.S.
WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday highlighted his ambition for the development of high-speed passenger rail lines in at least 10 regions, expressing confidence in the future of train travel even as he acknowledged that the American rail network, compared with the rest of the world’s, remains a caboose.
President Obama, with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., on Thursday announced a push to transform American rail travel.
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With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering, Mr. Obama said at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, shortly before leaving for a trip to Mexico and then Trinidad and Tobago.
“What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century,” he said, “a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”
And he added, “There’s no reason why we can’t do this.”
A Chinese high-speed train broke a world record Friday for fastest unmodified commercial train, reaching speeds of up to 481.1 kph (298.9 mph), state media reported.
According to China's official Xinhua news agency, the new-generation CRH380 moved as fast as a low-cruising jet-plane during a trial run on what will become the country's rail line between Beijing and Shanghai.
The previous world record was set by China in September, when a train on a Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed line hit a speed of 416.6 kilometers per hour, Xinhua said.
...USofA infrastructure is indeed crumbling
ReplyDelete...we are a nation past its prime...the Banksters with the help of the Congress Criters are looting what is left of the Nations treasure...we are a debtor nation...we are at the mercy of our creditors...
...we have lost our way...
Fundamentally American priorities are independence over collective goals as exemplified by GrandOldParty philosophical goals of minimal government and taxes.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to do a comparative study to understand how other countries tax corporate/individuals and support infrastructure projects. Germany would be a good place to start. A site I found provides good info I just need some time to read a bit of it.
Example for Germany:
http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Global/Local%20Assets/Documents/Tax/Intl%20Tax%20and%20Business%20Guides/2010/dtt_tax_highlight_2010_Germany.pdf
Corporate Rate – The corporate rate is 15%. The municipal trade tax typically ranges between 14% and 17%. The effective corporate rate (including the solidarity surcharge and trade tax) typically ranges between 30% and 33%.
Surtax – A 5.5% solidarity surcharge is levied on the income tax or corporate income tax.
Alternative minimum tax – No
Personal Rates – Rates are progressive up to 45%; a solidarity surcharge of 5.5% (resulting in a top rate of 47.5%) and a church tax of 9% (Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg 8%) are levied on the income tax.
Interesting term SOLIDARITY TAX.
Also Germany has a Value Added Tax VAT.
Which probably applies to Gas pricing.
V alue added tax:
Taxable transactions – VAT is levied on the sale of goods and the provision of services.
Rates – The standard rate is 19%, with a reduced rate of 7% applying to specified transactions. Certain transactions are exempt.
Point being there seems to be a German national "solidarity" of common urban design and infrastructure investment. There is also a national heritage of industrial and architectural design and engineering.
This brings us back to the US national model of unbridled capitalism leading to Corporatocracy based on every man for himself.
Ayn Rand (AKA Alisa Rosenbaum) ideals, Objectivism, advocated laissez-faire Capitalism.
In economics, laissez-faire (English pronunciation: /ˌlɛseɪˈfɛər/ ( listen), French: [lɛsefɛʁ] ( listen)) describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies.
The phrase laissez-faire is French and literally means "let do", but it broadly implies "let it be", or "leave it alone."
We are experiencing the cost of deregulation and greed or looting as you said with National Vision.
I ment :
ReplyDeleteWe are experiencing the cost of deregulation and greed or looting as you said with "NO" (or use the popular political term "COMPROMISED") National Vision.
europe is an old dying nanny state...it will be preserved as one big living outdoor theme park...for Chinese tourists
ReplyDeletehowever, that does not mean the collectivist decision making in european countries is not wise - let's start with energy policy. France gets something like 80% of it's electricity from nukes (perfect for your high speed rail and a several decade change out of our personal transportation fleet to electric cars)
problem is, it is not the way of amercan culture of individualism (unless you are a TBTF bankster)...a sports analogy - Ryder Cup - US sends the greatest individual golfers in the world - Europe sends a good bunch, but, none as great individually, yet the euros kick US Teams ass - because they are used to collective "good" and the American individualist cannot work as a collective team - starts with the European school system, probably at home as well
Ayn Rand advocated personal independence and responsibility bridled by integrity!
ReplyDeleteIntegrity/honesty has been compromised by moral relativism and alas there is no system that can overcome dishonesty and thievery.
My need for speed has been completely satiated by owning this:
http://www.autofans.us/images/Chevrolet/2009%20Chevy%20Corvette%20Z06%201.jpg
that'll do it J-Lo...
ReplyDeletewe had a week or so of Ayn Rand...
...in the cloud filter under philosophy and/or libertarianism...some interesting old tv interviews with her can be found...