US state of the union in a nutshell

[ionelv]

One can’t describe any better 2025 USA than this short standup clip about Amtrak (by someone born in a ex-communist country). And don’t bring up excuses like population density (which does not apply on Northeastern train routes) or the amazing air travel alternatives (which makes one take shoes off on every takeoff, line up like cattle for a silly security kabuki dance and packs all in steerage with zero elbow and knee room and hands out 1/2 oz pretzels and one can of soda as free refreshments). #1 my foot. How the mighty have fallen.

LE: I forgot to mention that 2025 USA requires that one needs to be careful about what she says or writes (especially on social media) and if they have been indiscrete in the last few years, they might have to spend a few hours scrubbing their social media posts or bring a burner instead of personal phone on US trips lest they risk a nasty encounter with the brown shirts at the border. For the few of us that were born behind the Iron Curtain, there is definitely a very bitter sense of deja vu along with the realization that the pendulum of autocracy swings unimpeded even in those places where its inhabitants sincerely believe that their country is a beacon of democracy while their dear leader is sucking up to and colluding with the top autocrats in the world, has stacked its top court already and is working hard to muzzle any last ember of its much vaunted “free” (corporate) press.

Comments

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> For the few of us that were born behind the Iron Curtain, there is definitely a very bitter sense of deja vu <<

... for the confirmation, ugly as it is. Most people think I am exaggerating.

Re: Thank you!

[ionelv]

I lived in the US from 1990 until just after Dubya's reelection, but just after 9/11 would be one of the first turning points towards autocracy: the ratcheting of jingoism and us vs them in everything including internal politics, the increased vilification of brown people. This was slow rolling until subprime and Sandy Hook happened and the hate and conspiracy shit quickened and metastasized into the current hysterical MAGA zombification. The only way this will end is by either removal via surgery/chemo or with the host's death.

[ioplokon]

You know the dire state of passenger rail in the US is willful because the freight system is actually quite good (except maintenance, but the baseline infrastructure is really impressive - like a reverse Japan, who put all their rail energy into passenger...)

And yes... I'm really worried by a US that starts engaging in Russian-style propaganda and shit stirring. I don't think people here (Canada) are ready for how much shit is going to come from there to undermine our government + create chaos.

[ionelv]

The freight system works as designed, but is not faster than passenger. For example, most of the Northeast Corridor is owned by either Amtrak or govt entities, passenger traffic gets priority and is still slow. Canadian rail is not much different. The average speed for the fastest intercity Canadian train (Toronto-Montreal) is 112 kmh while the Acela has 141kmh (NY-DC) or 135kmh (Boston-Providence). North American trains are pathetic compared to European, Japanese or Chinese fast trains (250kmh or higher) for long distance trains. BTW, Mexico's intercity rail network completely collapsed decades ago.

As to US propaganda and shit-stirring, and its impact on Canada, is even worse: it has already penetrated the minds of many Canadians and most likely will rear its ugly head either during the next fed election or the one after when PP and his ilk will get to rule. Just you wait.

[ioplokon]

Right, yeah. I didn't mean freight is faster, just that it's more fit for purpose than US passenger rail (or Canadian freight or passenger, lol)

And yeah, it is worrying. I think there is still time to fight back, but well, I don't really have a choice, do I?

[ionelv]

I think we're now talking about entirely different things: my gripe about US passenger rail is that it's shitty even where it barely overlaps with freight, so talking about freight is a kind of a red herring.

As to Canada's slide into MAGAffication, the sad part is that it's not yet at its peak: think of a pendulum that roughly swings from left to right (and viceversa). Carney is right of Trudeau and the ONLY reason he is prime minister and not PP, is that Trump won in November. I don't think we have seen the last of PP and we will only see his true agenda AFTER he wins the election. My only wish is that he does not get a parliamentary majority when he wins, so he will have to temper his wildest wishes (like terminating the federal financial support for the CBC, which will have long term consequences that most Canadians probably don't even realize, especially those that don't care about it).

[ioplokon]

Yeah, I think we are talking past each other on rail. I more meant that it's not like the US is unable to do decent rail bc of geography or whatever (which people sometimes argue), but rather chooses not to invest long term in passenger rail & speed.

And yeah. I do think PP is a worse candidate than a lot of other people who fill that role, but I'm not sure the Liberals can defy gravity forever. I agree that a strong legislative branch is really crucial going forward, both to check Poilièvre & to kind of continually make the argument that we do live in a society and that government does things. (I'm reading Pierre Trudeau right now & his argument is that the state is not an ogre that devours children and destroys crucifixes but rather the instrument by means of which society provides things for itself... I don't think you need to agree with that model exactly, but there needs to be some positive vision of government that isn't just feudalism and personal favor - or senseless wrecking, which seems to be all PP is good for).

[ionelv]

Your clarification about rail is exactly the difference between our viewpoints: I am talking about the current reality of US rail and you are talking about the unrealized potential it has (or the choice not to develop it). Let's sum it up:
* real high speed rail has existed in Europe and Japan since the 60s and even China has it for over 20 years now (interestingly, all regions of the world that were lifted from very low points by considerable US treasury and/or American blood)
* US passenger rail is a joke in comparison and all its future potential is and has been mostly vapourware for decades
* intercity travel via high-speed rail (mostly electrified) is vastly superior to any other mode of travel from a comfort, safety and environmental POV, although air travel safety is comparable with high-speed rail.

I will concede that having high-speed rail does seem like an unimportant thing to hark on in the greater scheme of things (especially for those that don't have it), but in my opinion it is a litmus test that separates the best of human civilization from the retarded insular declining anglosphere civilizations that make do with short-term corporate-driven billionaire-shaped profit-centric choices, and that is only the tip of the iceberg that hides other ugly things under the waterline: mind-numbing inward-pointed internalized jingoistic propaganda, and a crumbling infrastructure and social net (e.g. healthcare, pensions, education, mass media) that has created a growing underclass that keeps marshalling the best interests of its vampiric overlords for the price of some cheap stale bread and the pro sports or fast cars going in circles circus.

That is not to say that the same dynamics don't exist outside the anglosphere, but they pale in comparison when one looks at the speed with which the greatest democratic experiment in the world (that saved the world democracy more than once) is transforming itself into an autocracy (and the expected domino effect of the delayed copycat downfall of its anglo siblings).

LE: I must admit that seeing the US on the receiving end of a Marshall Plan in a decade or so, will be some fine historical irony and long overdue karma as well.

[ioplokon]

I'm also a big supporter of high speed rail & pretty much agree with your view (eg: being able to build and maintain it indicates you have the administrative and skilled work capacity to do long-term projects - seeing Britain totally lose this ability has been pretty tragic - they'd already bought the land for HS2 before it was canceled which is just complete vandalism...). I'm really hoping the Toronto-Quebec line actually gets built for romantic reasons but also because it would be a sign Canada is still able to function as like... a normal country.

and the expected domino effect of the delayed copycat downfall of its anglo siblings
So you're saying Quebec will save us? :p

[ionelv]

Quebec already saved us from our anglo cheap selves already as recently as this federal election because without QC, PP would have had a majority in Parliament. https://ionelv.dreamwidth.org/160586.html?thread=72522#cmt72522

[ioplokon]

Oui. J'en suis reconnaissant. ♥