Wow, that jokes never gets funny, no matter how many times it's used. There's actually much truth about how Senator Gore helped with the processes of "creating the internet." And much like his father, who helped push through the Interstate Highway system, all is forgotten and covered up by the right-wing echo chamber and even lefties--or pseudo-lefties--going after Gore, Carter, and Clinton, whether they realize it or not, with repeats or variations of the lies and aspersions created in some demented Rushian or Jones or Fox monkey room.

And this is part of the reason we've had to endure the Bushes and now he who should not be named for all these "alleged" elections and the unfortunate 4 to 8 years that come afterwards. I won't be as unkind to suggest that you STFU, but I will recommend you learn some history and truth before spouting off more bumper sticker statements that only succeed in undermining the very ideas and goals this site is trying to accomplish.

on the List of Common Misconceptions page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions

Al Gore never said that he "invented" the Internet. What Gore actually said was, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet", in reference to his political work towards developing the Internet for widespread public use. Gore was the original drafter of the High Performance Computing and Communication Act of 1991, which provided significant funding for supercomputing centers, and this in turn led to upgrades of a major part of the already-existing early 1990s Internet backbone, the NSFNet, and development of NCSA Mosaic, the browser that popularized the World Wide Web. (See also Al Gore and information technology.)

Glad that post got deleted. Why so-called Democrats keep post RW memes, I'll never know.

Everyone who posted for your help and additions.

Much appreciated.

PK

made in china

First it isn't like people here had a choice. Blaming ordinary people for the actions of corporations seems a bit misplaced.

Secondly, China has developed its own huge middle class. They are fueling economic growth not just from exports but also from a vast and growing internal market. Global corporations aren't just looking to China for manufacturing services, they are now looking at it as a major growth opportunity for consumers goods.

In addition China is investing in its people and its infrastructure on a scale that is stunning to anyone who has recently visited.

Than the US has people

Except we didn't use it like they used thier $$ to build for the people

meanwhile cons are content with AMTRAK and century old technology.

Gotta do it real slow as the boiler regulations were gutted to make this new technology viable. A real shovel-ready infrastructure program. This is also a double header in that the movie industry wants to be able to do those Westerns where there's a chase along some boxcars right before the tunnel. And hey, who doesn't like the sound of those whistles in the distance?

... since USA is only spending about double up compared to Denmark - relatively, and we have nearly same GDP, but USA has more than 50 times more people. BUT combined that is still way to much military.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/president-obama-and-the-defense-budget-a-factoid-that-falls-short/2012/01/11/gIQADl2qrP_blog.html

the tracks that these trains run on are incredibly smooth, specially designed....Yes...OF COURSE WE COULD DO THIS.... BUT it would cost a lot of money......in China and Japan, lots of people travel by train...long distances...

Here, we fly or drive...long distances....The federal government would have to spend tens of millions to upgrade track and equipment in order to carry out such a program...perhaps 2 or 3 hundred million..to make this possible..I would be willing to pay more taxes to do this, but would most in this country be willing to do so?..

One very positive result would be far less auto pollution.............but what about gas stations? auto manufacturers ? or car dealers, or auto repair shops?................
How would they feel about the need to own fewer cars?......repeat...fewer, not more cars??

trains are horrible in the US.
I've loved trains in Europe.

A TGV test train set the record for the fastest wheeled train, reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on 3 April 2007.

Meanwhile we poke along here at 60-70 mph on Amtrak.

between DC and NYC. Perhaps 10 years ago I rode the non acela train from DC to NYC and had a hand held gps with me. It routinely hit 110 - 120 mph.

The rest of the country though does have slow trains especially in places of low population density. China has about 4.5 x the population density of the US.

Amtrak estimates that to upgrade the NE corridor for high speed rail (essentially DC to Boston) would cost roughly $150 billion.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/03/opinions/smart-high-speed-trains-america/index.html

Given the very localized benefits, it seems unlikely that something like that would be funded at the federal level.

If you are suggesting longer routes (say, a coast to coast high speed train) then I think your estimates are suddenly going to be in the low trillions.

it's really neat. Can't wait to see the new, improved version. And then, there's AMTRACK. Enough said.

What a fun ride that would be!

I would be happy to see money from the defense budget and corporate welfare re-allocated to make this happen. As long as the the defense and oil industries own our politicians it never will.

I took the high-speed train in France and it was great! Even the regular trains were a nice way to travel.

I love trains - hate cars and airplanes. I still use Amtrak in the Northeast corridor and the Downeaster to go to Maine and prefer it to other forms of travel (you can plug in your laptop and cell phone and they have free Wi-fi!). It's such a pleasant, relaxing way to travel.

so we have enuff to power our pokey cars.

thanks to citizens united and our corrupt political system.

Until we stop the political corruption at every level, and stop propping up outdated methods, nothing will ever change or improve. Integrated mass transit systems are very complex and require precision coordination at every level to keep everything moving on time. People won't be eager to move to mass transit systems unless they are affordable, safe and reliable, but also comfortable and offering attractive amenities that they could not get by sticking with their cars.

We all know some who come complain defensively here about how nothing will ever change didn't vote Democrat or at all, among the 40% of the electorate who didn't.

Well, this time the dreadful consequences are coming home to many, here and out there. Some will never change, but we don't have to have all their votes, nice as that would be. A mere 10% increase in turnout will turn everything around. So maybe next time. If not then, later, when the cuts to the middle class bone have wounded even deeper. Nothing is "never" or "forever."

Btw, Hillary were president and Democrats controlling the Senate, we'd already be launched on their 5-year plan to rebuild and advance our infrastructure, with ultimately literally hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs created. High-speed rail, which too many on the far right see as part of a Satanic, fascist, commie, Jewish one world order, whatever, plot to destroy our nation, was not on the list for this term.

Anybody who here have a loved one who could have used one of those good jobs with good pay and benefits? Next election.

unless we get rid of Republicans

The fastest Amtrak can get me there is on the Cresent.

It takes 18 hours.

18 fucking hours compared to 4 1/2 hours.

And we are supposed to be the advanced nation. What a joke !!

getting to and from airports, check ins etc. just sit back and use a computer or phone. I like watching the countryside from a train.

were efficient and comfortable.
I still love old movies with trains, like North by Northwest .. that was 58 years ago. Trains in the US have gone down terribly since then.

between old model and new model. I'm assuming this was replacing old infrastructure with new, not really an effort to improve much speed. Nevertheless, China has something we don't yet have - bullet trains.