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The Penguin of Eviletchedpixels@mastodon.social
Sep 16, 2026, 2:51 PM
Thought for the day
The US will be very shortly paying the same per year in debt intetest as China spent building the largest high speed rail network in the world.
So when you wonder why you don't have nice trains remember it's because the US sold rich people bonds instead of taxing them.
PS: if you are wondering why US petrol and diesel prices are so high it's because it's apparently more important to export fuel at peak prices than add export restrictions and keep in country prices down.
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Replies

Feohfeoh@oldbytes.space
Sep 16, 2026, 2:57 PM
@etchedpixels There is SO MUCH to say around the utter neurosis America has when it comes to anything like public infrastructure.
People can't even agree that paying for basic services like road maintenance, public schools, police and fire is a good idea, much less something like a.public transit system.
It's disgusting, and the degree to which America and Americans have fully accepted car culture as The Way Things Are And Always Will Be is a deep sadness I don't think I'll ever be able to get away from.
The irony runs thick and deep because with folks living longer and healthier lives, EVERYONE is going to spend quite a number of years of life past the point where even a fully abled person can drive.
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Kinene⭐🐻c_merriweather@social.linux.pizza
Sep 16, 2026, 4:44 PM
@feoh @etchedpixels It applies to "public anything", and comes down to racism. If the programs/projects benefit everyone, that includes "those people" (non-whites). And "we can't have that happen."
There is a book that explains this: "Dying of Whiteness."
Everything is affected by the US's inherent racism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_of_Whiteness
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Feohfeoh@oldbytes.space
Sep 16, 2026, 4:57 PM
@c_merriweather @etchedpixels Absolutely true but it's race + class.
At least here in Boston, a LOT of the disdain for public transit comes down to "Only poors ride the bus".
(Don't get me wrong, this city is PLENTY racist too, just... Our evil is like a multi-faceted gem. :\ )
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clewclew@ecoevo.social
Sep 16, 2026, 9:44 PM
And a mysterious number of people feel like maintenance and operations is for losers. Not just doing the work, but even thinking about it.
That’s probably partly the classism again, although I think consumerism too.
@feoh @c_merriweather @etchedpixels
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