DISQUS

ryogam · 10 months ago

I'd rather see major investment in alternative energy. Let's build wind-mills and solar towers and water projects and put solar power cells on buildings everywhere, public and private. Let's do something so that if oil rises in price again we've got alternatives so that instead of spending money on oil we can spend it on new clothing for the kids (made in America, please!), or toys or a night on the town. Trains are good, too. But, damn, if your going to spend a trillion dollars, invest it for the future as well as use in in the present.

tbhull · 10 months ago

A national rail system would be nice. But first I think the feds will build a system of bank drive-thru like deposit tubes from DC to Wall Street so taxpayers dollars going for a bailout can get to Goldman Sachs faster.

caphillprof · 10 months ago

When a business becomes too big to fail, it should be nationalized, straight away.

Yank those salaries into the GS structure, break it into reasonable pieces and sell it off.

JayR · 10 months ago

Agreed. They're going to slow walk us into a depression unless they stop caring about what the GOP says. The GOP folks are insane. Who listens to crazy people?

Richard Vigurie was on Ed Schultz yesterday blathering on about the free market and how the reason we're in state we're in is because of government intervention. He sounded like a psychopath and that's exactly what they all are. Just because the GOP gets some of their crazies elected doesn't mean they need to be taken seriously.

tlsintx · 10 months ago

I'm with Judis...I hope to god Obama is just playing it close to the vest right now...I can't imagine he doesn't see how big our problems are...

could he just be roping the GOPer dopes right now? please please please.

johnny · 10 months ago

I totally agree about Amtrak. Going to NYC from DC, you can't get pre-assigned seating, so you have to wander from car to car until you find something. The line to the club car can often span across another car. Why can't we have drinks trollies like in Europe? Also, why do most industrialized nations have train or subway service to their major airports, but we have to rely on busses or cars. Have you ever gone to Dulles during rush hour? You really run the risk of being stuck in traffic on the bus and missing your plane.

Babeouf · 10 months ago

No that can't be right. These ideas involve social planning.
If American's start to plan their com modified social space
who will be left to worship the Golden Calf?

Bob · 10 months ago

I agree with your larger point, but please don't use Charles de Gaulle as a marvel of any sort of transportation engineering. It's a chaotic mess and started falling apart the moment it was opened.

John Aravosis · 10 months ago

Fair enough, I know about the roof problems. My point is that when you arrive at CDG, and leave CDG, it's beautiful. Arriving at Dulles is quite literally Soviet, if you've ever had the pleasure of landing in the Soviet Union (I have).

thingwarbler · 10 months ago

Uh, john, be careful what you wish for -- Obama's newfound friends and advisors in the GOP would be more than eager to talk him into another actual war, and given his track record so far, he'd listen, nod, and agree because it's such a post-partisan thing to do. Besides, just because those dirty fucking anti-war hippies were right the last time (and the time before that, and...) doesn't mean they have to be right every time, does it now?

wearing out my F key · 10 months ago

who needs the economic equivalent of war? we've already got two real wars to keep our economy hoppin'!

cowboyneok · 10 months ago

"Spending 40% of the stimulus plan on tax-pork to woo Republicans because someone arbitrarily decided that 80 votes was better than 50 or 60 is not change."

Exactly.

Steve_in_CNJ · 10 months ago

obama is exhibiting risk-averse behavior and i'm afraid it's coming form rubin, summers and geithner up there on the top floor of the transition building.

Krugman: "we seem to be facing two major economic gaps: the gap between the economy’s potential and its likely performance, and the gap between Mr. Obama’s stern economic rhetoric and his somewhat disappointing economic plan."

i just realized how ironic it is that all these free-market fundamentalists are suddenly afraid of being rash.

caphillprof · 10 months ago

A friend with longtime experience in local, DC city politics, has been likening Obama to several prominent past council members who ran inspiring campaigns but once, having secured election, were endless disappointments in governing. His argument is that performance is curtailed by a personality flaw that requires peace and calm above all else.

If this country is to survive, let alone prosper, there are political battles that need to be waged and won. Bipartisanship is an intellectual deceit. It takes two to be bipartisan and most on the other side of the aisle are only obstructionist.

We've had the GOP in control of all 3 branches of the federal government and yet the market, and the economy, has tanked. But most of these true believers cannot get over the free market, free trade mantra that has brought us to this disastrous result.

Mitch McConnell, anyone?

doggril · 10 months ago

High speed rail is a lovely idea--if Obama's goal is to affect the economy of 2020. And that would be if the project was fast-tracked. If, on the other hand, Obama wants to spend money right now, then he's doing just what he should be doing--targeting "shovel-ready" projects that can get going immediately. I don't really care if he has to bribe Republicans with tax refunds to get there. I hate that doing the right thing for the country is not enough motivation for Republicans to back his plan; but if that's the way they want to play, then, that's what he has to do.
Committing large amounts to begin to address the shameful backlog of deferred maintenance instead of focusing on tax breaks to manage the economy IS change.

Steve_in_CNJ · 10 months ago

obama can turn this into a time of optimism instead of gloom. like JFK after the missile crisis and sputnik. the comparison between dulles and the USSR is a good reminder that the GOP is still fighting the cold war with a bloated military, stupid alliances and futile confrontations. that way is all gloom. he should talk to democrats instead.

cutepolishgirl · 10 months ago

From a purely selfish point of view- I would love to have high-speed rail along the eastern seaboard. I live in Virginia and would love to get to NYC or DC or Disney World(for the kids) in record time and not have to fly. But even this would take years to build. I do think the infrastructure plans are a good start, but I too would love to see spending in solar and wind technology. Also--Toyota is working on a solar car, and yet all the American cars this year are boasting mpg of 19 city/24 hwy. My Mitsubishi Outlander is 6.5 years old and has that same mileage. Why can't we force the auto guys to be extreme in their designs and technology?

tlsintx · 10 months ago

haha - yeah, wooooohoo!! 19 miles per gallon...way to go GM!

Ginger_FL · 10 months ago

Our 08' Toyota Yaris gets 41-44 mpg mixed city/hwy !!!
My 05' Ford Focus (similar size) gets 28-31 mpg.

This country needs a HUGE overhaul from recycling to transportation.

nicho · 10 months ago

Anyone who has traveled to any major European city knows that public transportation in the US is of Third-World quality. Apart from the Northeast Corridor on Amtrak, which still isn't all that great, rail traffic is a joke. And, only a handful of cities have any public transportation that even come close to European system. The New York subway system is extensive, but is akin to swimming in a sewer. DC is pretty good, but still requires a lot of walking. Chicago is limited. Boston is OK, but parts of it are ancient -- the Green Line is pretty much like a cartoon train. SF is OK, but not extensive enough for the areas where walking is a super challenge. And, that's pretty much it.

I was in Barcelona last year and could get anywhere in the city in less than 10 minutes for a Euro -- less if you buy a 10-ride ticket. I never waited more than 3 minutes for a train -- and it was clean and safe.

On one train I was on, a blind woman got on. She was accompanied by a transit worker in an orange vest. He brought her onto the train and stayed with her until her stop -- and then helped her out of the train and out of the station.

caphillprof · 10 months ago

AND they have national health care!

ihaveseenenough · 10 months ago

I agree 100% on the public transportation gap, but DeGaulle is a horrible example. The new section of the airport is indeed pretty, but landing and transferring there is one of the worst experiences one can have at the airport short of Heathrow or O'Hare. When I fly to Europe and have to connect I pay extra to connect at Brussels, Zurich, or Amsterdam. Pretty airports are nice but DeGaulle is a clusterf-ck in every other sense.

Ginger_FL · 10 months ago

Plus they have a mandatory 2 hour delay hold if you happen to be unwise enough to travel through there with PETS !!!!

Milli · 10 months ago

Excellent idea about high-speed rail, its long overdue. I meet many exchange students here who are disappointed with how hard it is to travel throughout this country quickly or easily, especially if they want to go off the beaten path. A serious overhaul of our transportation systems would help tourism and boost the economy.

EmGD · 10 months ago

It's almost faster to walk in this country then to take a train. The problem is that too many knobs in the Senate think that building a better rail system is right after 'switching America over to #3 pencils' on the list of priorities. Probably the only way to get a significant increase in funding for rail is to cram it into the stimulus. Someone tell Joe "Supertrain" Biden to tap Barry on the shoulder to remind him of that.

http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/

wearing out my F key · 10 months ago

it seems like airport aesthetics should be our lowest priority.

Joel · 10 months ago

The idea is public works projects and our airports could be one place to work on. Jeez.

Snaggletooth · 10 months ago

High speed rail is exactly what we need on so many fronts. If you put three rails running north to south and two rails running east to west covering the u.s. (like a grid) you could effectively cut a huge dent in gasoline consumption, reduce pollution and create jobs. If you had frequent service they could replace a lot of long haul truckers and move freight. Since you would still need short haul truckers you wouldn't lose any jobs, but you would decrease gasoline consumption and pollution. You would also create a whole lot of jobs for construction and maintenance of such a system.

Apikoros · 10 months ago

John,

Dulles has been butchered and I have to agree that it has descended to soviet levels of comfort, but the real prize is Hartsfield in Atlanta... think of it as the East German equivalent. You know, just like Moscow but without the style and flair.

Ginger_FL · 10 months ago

Having suffered through ATL many times....don't get me started on their GESTOPO "security" personal.....

Try flying with dogs through there sometime....
OH now that's an Experience !!!!!
NOT !!!

Papers please !!!!

RevDrBillyBob · 10 months ago

I went by high-speed train from Nagasaki to Toyko (their equivalent to the TGV) in less than a day, in comfort. But somehow the US "can't" build a high-speed rail system. It, uh, just "can't" . . . doncha see ?

Ginger_FL · 10 months ago

Having lived in the UK for 4 years....I MISS being able to take the TRAIN to the airport or take the TUBE into london from the countryside.

Oh and don't even get me started on all the CHEAP flights I was able to take all over Europe !!!

And people wonder why the airlines are doing down the tubes in the US....cause they SUCK, the routes SUCK and they overcharge for non-existant service !!!

ChrisSF · 10 months ago

How about the architectural marvel that is the Madrid Airport? We arrived there on vacation a couple of years back not having any idea what to expect, and it was just jaw-dropping. Compare that to a 3-hour layover in the United terminal at O'Hare, where your best option generally is to take your McDonald's (the best food available) and find a nice spot on the floor to enjoy it.

Another Chris · 10 months ago

Chris you are right on about Madrid. I flew in recently and took the high-speed train to Sevilla. A joyous trip.

On the subject of OHare, however, I think you're off the mark. It ain't Madrid, but it is pretty good. There are certainly many more food choices than simply McD's (although you have to remember their world HQ is in Oakbrook, so it -- like United -- is a hometown business). You want a shitty, "bus station" caliber Chicago airport? That'd be Midway.

CMcC · 10 months ago

You write: "We need the economic equivalent of war, the economic equivalent of putting a man on the moon. Spending 40% of the stimulus plan on tax-pork to woo Republicans...is not change."

How about energy? If we can't get out in front of the transition from fossil fuels to something sustainable and affordable, nothing else will matter much in terms of remaining a great nation.

Agree with your point about Republicans. Tax cuts will be wasted on trinkets from China (by Joe Sixpack) and skyboxes at arenas (by the wealthy). We need investments in the future.

Balt_O_Matt · 10 months ago

We just flew out of Delta's terminal at JFK. I was struck by how AWFUL it was. It reminded me of NY's Penn Station, actually--low ceilings, dirty floors. There weren't enough chairs for people, so tons of folks were just sitting on the floor. Come ON, 'murka! Atrocious.

Alexis · 10 months ago

Again on CGD: The Air France Terminal is pretty. The international terminal/ghetto/concrete donut is not. I can tell you don't fly United to Paris.

NMRon · 10 months ago

As someone who's been to Soviet Russia, I agree completely. Under republican leadership, the US has marched resolutely into the past.

Harper · 10 months ago

"Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris is a 21st century marvel."

Well, show pictures of Terminal 1 why don't you, where most international flights (Asia, Africa and US land). It's a sh*t hole.

Phil · 10 months ago

Anything would have been an improvement over Orly. American was flying into that decrepit airport until about 2000.

emjayay · 10 months ago

We've spent decades spending as much as the whole rest of the world on military instead of on ourselves. It's like putting money in the bank, or not. Plus blowing lots more money on energy when we could have been conserving. Year after year the effect builds up. We could have been spending half that on infastructure and energy saving measures. Infastructure to make things work better, energy saving to save more money for the other stuff. Year after year, decade after decade. So here we are.......in a really really deep hole.

emjayay · 10 months ago

Hey, you people have a problem with Eero Saarinen, one of the founding fathers of Starchitecture? Actually of course among other things all the security stuff has been a problem for lots of airports not designed for it, like Dulles. Besides, after 47 years, haven't they figured out a way to get Metro or something to Dulles? (Is it there yet? Probably not. Anyone know when?) Besides, isn't the very ironically renamed Reagan National devoid of any architecture at all and a lot worse? (Does anyone in DC actually call it that? Hope not.)

SPG · 10 months ago

Fly into Copenhagen sometime. Hardwood floors, nice furniture to sit in. It's like a well made and more stylish version of IKEA with a train that gets you downtown in about 10 minutes. The only catch is that it is exxxxxxpensive!

DBJ · 10 months ago

You are soo right. What worries me is that Obama's folks seem so timid. And we know Congress doesn't have any visionaries.

How could we have so many of the wrong people in office at such a crucial time?

Now is the time to put money into new technology, new advanced infrastructure and investments into modernizing outdated parts of our country. But instead we're talking about building bridges and roads and funding pet projects (like baseball stadiums).

Are they really going to squander this opportunity with a plan to put $25 more into my paycheck every two weeks? That's basically "chump change you can believe in."

Will · 10 months ago

Oh, please! Don't get me started on Charles de Gaulle airport! I will grant, maybe, that it's design is a marvel (though I seem to recall that part of a terminal collapsed a few years ago), but everything else about it sucks. Lousy passenger waiting areas, expensive services, nasty taxi drivers, rotten baggage handling, lengthy bus transfers from one terminal to another. I fly through de Gaulle a couple of times a year, and dread it.

Greg · 10 months ago

I really love the new Terminal A at Detroit's airport. Gorgeous. I fly a lot and when I have to make a connection, that's my favorite airport. A nicer terminal than any I've seen inside or outside the US.