High Speed Rail: An Idea all Americans can Support

Parisanship has been rotting the core of the American political system for decades now; with most American voters seeing all issues through either a Democratic filter or a Republican filter.

If you're a Republican, you can't support any new taxes or spending--no matter what the cause. 

If you're a Democrat, George W. Bush was the anti-Christ and all Repbulicans want to do is fatten their already bulging wallets by cutting taxes.

There is no in between, right?

Well how about an idea like dramatically increasing America's committment to developing a high speed rail network?  Can't we all support something like that?

Any American who's ever spent time in Europe has no doubt wondered, "Why the fuck don't we have trains like this back home?"  

It's extremelly aggravating: America, first in so many things (nuclear bombs, health care research and development, agriculture, technology, etc.) is a fucking third world country when it comes to rail transit!

France's spectacular TGV high speed trains--which can travel at speeds of over 200 mph, first came on line in 1981!  

The question must be asked, why?  Why has America fallen so far behind in this critical technolgy?  Wouldn't it be good for decreasing pollution and reducing greenhouse gasses?  Doesn't rail travel reduce traffic and relive the burden on our nation's roads and bridges?  

Doesn't less reliance on cars and trucks mean being America being less reliant on countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela and thus a stronger American foreign policy?

What:  it might hurt Ford, Chrysler, GM, or Delta?  It might piss off Hugo Chavez?  Exxon might get upset?  Give me a break.

The history as to why rail travel has been thwarted, underfunded, and indeed derailed in America is a long and sordid one.  In the early 20th century automotive tycoons like Henry Ford saw to it that politicians were bought off and railroad passenger companies put out of business.  

Recently, as this article points out, it's been the airline companies that have bought off America's politicians to thwart passenger rail development.

It's difficult to find one singular negative to America investing to dramatically ramp up our high speed rail network.  This is a case study in something that is not and should not be looked at through a partisanship lense.  

American high speed rail is not a Democratic issue.  It is not a Republican issue.  

It's an American issue that every single American can and should get behind.  Now let's get to work.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM YOU SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SPEED PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE IN THE USA!!!!