Ike built the interstate highway system realizing that “economic incentives” would be from all the businesses surrounding the interchanges. Bullet trains would allow those of us who would love to travel but hate to fly the opportunity to travel. I would love to spread my sparse wealth around the country seeing sights and meeting new people. But I guess sparse wealth isn’t what is needed.
I prefer train travel to flying every time (and I love flying - though not the absurd security). Except, of course, for transoceanic trips. Bullet trains will keep America competitive, and we ignore them to our peril.
Gun nuts will point out that guns are supposed to be in checked baggage, travelers must gain permission to check guns 24 hours before travel, etc. Will this be the policy? Will Amtrak enforce it? I like Amtrak and I want to believe that passengers will not be “packin’.” I will repeat my argument: Right or wrong, our courts decided that individual gun ownership is constitutional. The issue now is: Where do guns belong? Everywhere is not the answer. The right to bear arms is a right of ownership; not a right to bear arms everywhere.
The economics of putting a high-speed train line in the Northeast Corridor are pretty good, considering the population and travel density. A real high-speed train would go from downtown Boston to Manhattan in an hour, and in another hour to DC. No taxis, no obscene pat-downs, nothing.
And all the people riding the shuttles now would take the train instead.
The toon has a point. I’m leaving forthe Gare Centrale in Montreal by train a few days before christmas. I checked the station on Google Earth and Wikipedia and it got me thinking.
It is true that if hijacked, trains can’t cause much trouble; you can’t run them into building; wthout tracks, they don’t go anywhere and tracks are controlled by people out of the train.
But there are no metal detectors or bomb-sniffing dogs in terminals. I could bring my pot pipe and pot in my carry-on luggage (but I won’t).
We think of planes because of 9/11, but let’s not forget that the London and Madrid attacks were both on trains. Up here, Montreal’s Gare Centrale is under a luxury hotel, the Reine Elizabeth and the CN railway is a national symbol. Same with the Montreal subway.
…And there is nothing that keeps a nut from bringing a bomb there.
a suicide-murder bomber can and usually does go anywhere….
Iran Prez Ahminidinejad claims he has 40,000 trained and ready to slip into the USA, and it has been reported that jihadists have been moving into central American nations and some of illegal border aliens have been terrorists.
That is the “terror” in Terrorism…to make ordinary people afraid of unidentified and dangerous strangers who may be terrorists….
if our authorities refuse to Profile terrorists, people need not only to be armed for defense, but to learn how to profile a terrorist themselves for their daily activities to be “safer”…
With all the panic, I think about folks sitting watching TV in their living rooms, shot and killed by gang gunfire when the “bangers” attack the wrong house. REAL terrorism occurs daily in the U.S.– and it has nothing to do with Islam or “foreigners”.
Honestly, Taxpayer, I think if Ahmadinejad wanted more than attention, he would jusxt send his guys, not make empty threats.
And by the way, TCL, I wrote “Gare Centrale” because I thought people on this site are smart enough to figure out it was a major train station in Montreal I was talking about. And “Reine Elizabeth” is the name of the hotel. I thought using the french names in a context where everyone can understand them make a little change, once in a while.
English is not my first anguage, I am not an american and I don’t want or have to act and speak like one. Doesn’t mean I hate any of you guys, though.
90 minutes is the magic number for travel on a train. The faster it goes inside 90 minutes gives it the max profitable.range.
Obama already went around the country and told people where he was going to build the new Trains.
If the Train can get you there, door-door, faster than your car
that would be super.
Now, all you need is enough volume to support departures every other hour.
But if you fail to construct economically, then it will be another AMTRAK.
By the way most customers of AMTRAK, like me, think it shout be allowed to die.
As the Toon indicates- In the West, Customers do provide their own Security. Terrorists won’t be a problem. Juan Williams and NpcR can profile all they want or don’t want.
Any one that even makes a ‘hijack’ joke will be ventilated.
That’s why we have the right to ‘bear arms’= self defense.
Terrorists do not consider Western Trains to be ‘soft’ targets and do leave them alone. Putting a car bomb next to people embracing the ‘Spirit of Peace’ is more their style.
Charles Brobst Premium Member over 13 years ago
We need bullet trains.
Crabbyrino Premium Member over 13 years ago
Ike built the interstate highway system realizing that “economic incentives” would be from all the businesses surrounding the interchanges. Bullet trains would allow those of us who would love to travel but hate to fly the opportunity to travel. I would love to spread my sparse wealth around the country seeing sights and meeting new people. But I guess sparse wealth isn’t what is needed.
mckelja over 13 years ago
Love the twiddling fingers.
cdward over 13 years ago
I prefer train travel to flying every time (and I love flying - though not the absurd security). Except, of course, for transoceanic trips. Bullet trains will keep America competitive, and we ignore them to our peril.
vhouse0 over 13 years ago
Gun nuts will point out that guns are supposed to be in checked baggage, travelers must gain permission to check guns 24 hours before travel, etc. Will this be the policy? Will Amtrak enforce it? I like Amtrak and I want to believe that passengers will not be “packin’.” I will repeat my argument: Right or wrong, our courts decided that individual gun ownership is constitutional. The issue now is: Where do guns belong? Everywhere is not the answer. The right to bear arms is a right of ownership; not a right to bear arms everywhere.
beenthere41 over 13 years ago
Why the right to bear arms? When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. And a gun in the hand is worth two cops on the phone.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 13 years ago
well, if stupid terrorists didn’t know about lax security on trains, they do now
Justice22 over 13 years ago
“Now, will conservatives start liking trains?”
I doubt it for trains would help the poorer of our Great Society to travel.
I really like train travel in Europe. You meet the nicest Americans there.
Motivemagus over 13 years ago
The economics of putting a high-speed train line in the Northeast Corridor are pretty good, considering the population and travel density. A real high-speed train would go from downtown Boston to Manhattan in an hour, and in another hour to DC. No taxis, no obscene pat-downs, nothing. And all the people riding the shuttles now would take the train instead.
Justice22 over 13 years ago
^ From my experience when I was in the service and traveling across country, long haul busing is like taking days out of your life.
CorosiveFrog Premium Member over 13 years ago
The toon has a point. I’m leaving forthe Gare Centrale in Montreal by train a few days before christmas. I checked the station on Google Earth and Wikipedia and it got me thinking.
It is true that if hijacked, trains can’t cause much trouble; you can’t run them into building; wthout tracks, they don’t go anywhere and tracks are controlled by people out of the train.
But there are no metal detectors or bomb-sniffing dogs in terminals. I could bring my pot pipe and pot in my carry-on luggage (but I won’t).
We think of planes because of 9/11, but let’s not forget that the London and Madrid attacks were both on trains. Up here, Montreal’s Gare Centrale is under a luxury hotel, the Reine Elizabeth and the CN railway is a national symbol. Same with the Montreal subway.
…And there is nothing that keeps a nut from bringing a bomb there.
Jaedabee Premium Member over 13 years ago
@pavlov - Perhaps a “Train Czar.” *
disgustedtaxpayer over 13 years ago
a suicide-murder bomber can and usually does go anywhere….
Iran Prez Ahminidinejad claims he has 40,000 trained and ready to slip into the USA, and it has been reported that jihadists have been moving into central American nations and some of illegal border aliens have been terrorists.
That is the “terror” in Terrorism…to make ordinary people afraid of unidentified and dangerous strangers who may be terrorists….
if our authorities refuse to Profile terrorists, people need not only to be armed for defense, but to learn how to profile a terrorist themselves for their daily activities to be “safer”…
Dtroutma over 13 years ago
With all the panic, I think about folks sitting watching TV in their living rooms, shot and killed by gang gunfire when the “bangers” attack the wrong house. REAL terrorism occurs daily in the U.S.– and it has nothing to do with Islam or “foreigners”.
Odon Premium Member over 13 years ago
Much easier for terrorist’s to hijack some gasoline tankers and meet downtown.
CorosiveFrog Premium Member over 13 years ago
Honestly, Taxpayer, I think if Ahmadinejad wanted more than attention, he would jusxt send his guys, not make empty threats.
And by the way, TCL, I wrote “Gare Centrale” because I thought people on this site are smart enough to figure out it was a major train station in Montreal I was talking about. And “Reine Elizabeth” is the name of the hotel. I thought using the french names in a context where everyone can understand them make a little change, once in a while.
English is not my first anguage, I am not an american and I don’t want or have to act and speak like one. Doesn’t mean I hate any of you guys, though.
Fuzzy Thinker Premium Member over 13 years ago
90 minutes is the magic number for travel on a train. The faster it goes inside 90 minutes gives it the max profitable.range. Obama already went around the country and told people where he was going to build the new Trains. If the Train can get you there, door-door, faster than your car that would be super. Now, all you need is enough volume to support departures every other hour. But if you fail to construct economically, then it will be another AMTRAK. By the way most customers of AMTRAK, like me, think it shout be allowed to die.
Fuzzy Thinker Premium Member over 13 years ago
As the Toon indicates- In the West, Customers do provide their own Security. Terrorists won’t be a problem. Juan Williams and NpcR can profile all they want or don’t want.
Any one that even makes a ‘hijack’ joke will be ventilated. That’s why we have the right to ‘bear arms’= self defense. Terrorists do not consider Western Trains to be ‘soft’ targets and do leave them alone. Putting a car bomb next to people embracing the ‘Spirit of Peace’ is more their style.