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The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

latimes.com

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Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#131

Post by refurb »

Retric wrote: post #124
refurb wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medicare Part D is actually an example of a good social program, even for those on the right side of the spectrum. The only thing the gov't does is define the parameters of the benfits and then has private insurers bid on providing benefits. It's come in well under budget projections and seniors are generally happy with how they can shop around for the right plan for them. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it a prett…

Part D costs twice as much as it would if run like Medicare. So, no it's a boondoggle worse than the Big Dig which had some difficult problems to solve beyond making campaign donors richer.

costs twice as much as it would if run like Medicare

Not sure what you mean, Part D is Medicare.

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#132

Post by 205guy »

trome wrote: post #78
205guy wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The French already said they could build the California high speed train for half the current estimate, or something like that. As mentioned in other comments, it's the popular opinion and government fragmentation in the US that makes this impossible. In France, the train builders and operators are nationalized (roughly) and the central government is much more powerful (not in terms of absolute power but rather in pu…

Sure, if we restricted eminent domain litigation and returned environmental impact statements to being under 75 pages (as they are legally required to be already) we could build rail much cheaper, but Trump has not said jack in regard to getting that cleaned up.

It's more than just that, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirigisme

Edited to add: there are many ways for government and economies to function.

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#133

Post by ido »

DrScump wrote: post #123
ido wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

California is less densliy populated than a lot of quite pleasant, developed countries. Not just the dense Japan and the UK (which are actually quite nice too) but also France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and even the bucolic Austria. There is plenty of room even without population transfers to neighboring states.

"Room" isn't the limiting factor. Water is much more limiting.

Israel has 4 times the population density of California. The water shortage is because California is growing fruits and nuts for the whole country, not because of the population living there.

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#134

Post by Retric »

refurb wrote: post #131
Retric wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part D costs twice as much as it would if run like Medicare. So, no it's a boondoggle worse than the Big Dig which had some difficult problems to solve beyond making campaign donors richer.

costs twice as much as it would if run like Medicare Not sure what you mean, Part D is Medicare.

Part A is through the government, part D uses private insurance.

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#136

Post by 7952 »

tstactplsignore wrote: post #120
tl wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A career politician who had lost the primary in 2008 proved that money and connections aren't everything.

Right... because the billionaire who is friends with dozens of billionaires, media owners and personalities, and rich politicians- who represents the interests of these monied connections- won the presidency? Trump is the definition of "money and connections"- all he has that and a particularly low-brow form of salesmanship. The only things this election proved is that things like truth and tact don't count for nearl…

I think most elections are won of the basis of charisma. It is just hard to see the appeal when you find the candidate so unpleasent.

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#137

Post by refurb »

Retric wrote: post #134
refurb wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

costs twice as much as it would if run like Medicare Not sure what you mean, Part D is Medicare.

Part A is through the government, part D uses private insurance.

Well Part A is going broke while Part D is under budget, so...

Re: The hunt for dollars to build the $64B bullet train

#138

Post by dmoy »

trome wrote: post #80
yummyfajitas wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So let's import Chinese and Indians and have them build it. If American labor can't get the job done, let's not use it. The goal is getting train service rather than funneling money to unions, right?

We actually did this with the Chinese and Irish immigrants [1], and some rail lines would kill off workers to avoid paying them once a rail line was complete. That being said, American labor isn't the issue, Chinese already cost $4/hr and importing them costs quite a bit, whereas the labor market stateside is pretty soft in that segment. It likely would not make sense unless your good with mass executions to cut cost…

To clarify: (average) construction labor in Beijing, I wouldn't be surprised if it was cheaper outside of Beijing (but I also don't know)
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