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Have you ever traveled outside of America? (Not to Canada or Mexico) (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 days ago by lunatique@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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If you don't know less than 50% of Americans have a passport. The ones who don't, I really see the limitation in their thinking. They never saw that most of the world is in fact freer than them, has a better system in place for their people, and doesn't have some of the major problems that America has. I'm currently in a country where over 90% of items are made in that country. America (made in China) can't comprehend this efficiency. P.S. I'm American

The thing that gets me though is how dangerous many Americans say other parts of the world is without having ever been there lol. I travel and I'll tell you America is the MOST dangerous country outside of warzones. Yes even more dangerous that Arab countries for women. Lol I know that propaganda is in a lot of Americans minds.

OK so who's actually been outside the country and can talk geopolitics and actually know from experience what they are talking about?

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[–] lunatique@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago (5 children)

They destroyed the railroad networks because they tried to force people to buy cars lol only America could do something that short sighted

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

It is a lot more complicated than that.

Most early 20th century mass transit networks were private businesses subject to government regulation. Most of the government regulation focused on controlling fares, so there was a lot of deferred maintenance. This was made worse as some mass transit systems were built to be a loss leader to support selling real estate.

Several mass transit networks went bankrupt due to the combination of fares not covering expenses and reduced demand due to completion with cars. Most American cities weren't equipped to take on subsiding or taking over mass transit, so they let the existing networks die.

[–] lunatique@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Fair point about the nuance but this was a dumb mistake the government should have put development into them and expanded now they are regretting it. They think the solution to traffic was going to be Musk boring tunnels for Tesla's. It's like they forgot railroads exist

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It was a dumb mistake, but it was a dumb mistake that had broader political support than the narrative that "car companies destroyed mass transit" suggests. It is important to recognize how a broad base of support was created in order to fight it in its current interations.

And I completely agree that Musk tunnels are a shit technology and that actual trains need to be built. I just think it requires understanding how politics functions rather than just accepting a corporate bogeyman.

[–] lunatique@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

GM did play a very large role in it though so you can say both but it def was pushed by the car industry to dismantle

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