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You're talking about a country that is the size of a large state. I really wish there were state initiatives to work on infrastructure that makes sense for thei

by Pigo 9y ago

You're talking about a country that is the size of a large state. I really wish there were state initiatives to work on infrastructure that makes sense for their territory and people.

bryanlarsen 9y ago
Once you adjust per capita (which I did when I said the rate of fatalities), most of the usual excuses fall away. Sweden has areas with similar population densities to NYC and to Alaska, a more diverse population than you'd expect, similar per capita income, etc.
- Pigo 9y ago
  The US is 22 times the size of Sweden. And you're not going to convince me that it's any where near as diverse, even with the new immigrants. I'm agreeing with you that I would love such an initiative, just that it only makes sense to carry it out at the state level. But I will say it's pretty arrogant to claim it's our situation is criminal. http://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/united-states/sweden http://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/unite...
- ashelmire 9y ago
  Sweden has about as many people as singular metro areas in the US (smaller than some). Talking about reducing road fatalities in Chicago would be a similar scale.
  - mcguire 9y ago
    About 15% of Swedes live in the Stockholm urban area, about the same proportion as Texas and Florida combined.
    - ashelmire 9y ago
      Texas and Florida combined have 5 times the population of Sweden, twice the area, and far more roadways. Solutions are more complicated in the US due to size, population, and broad political, economic, and geographic complexity. Stop trying to equate this tiny nation with one of the most populated and largest.
      - mcguire 9y ago
        That was my point. 15% of Sweden's population live in 1 (one) urban area. You can reasonably compare it to some individual states, but in that case you get similar results, too.
ceejayoz 9y ago
American road infrastructure is owned and controlled at the state/local level. The Feds don't even own the Interstate system, and the standards for it are set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
- Pigo 9y ago
  The original commenter was saying the US is criminally liable for not being as amazing as Sweden. So it sounded like they were saying the fed needs to swoop in and fix their mess. That's where I was coming from anyways.
  - ceejayoz 9y ago
    "Borderline criminal" tends to be a rhetorical way of saying "they should be ashamed". Even if it was literal, states can be liable, and as the primary folks in charge of road infrastructure, they'd be the targets.
dragonwriter 9y ago
> I really wish there were state initiatives to work on infrastructure that makes sense for their territory and people. That's, like, a huge part of what state governments do. Well, except perhaps the “makes sense” part, but that's largely do to the same political problems that affect federal governance, not some particular failure of the states.
revelation 9y ago
America has more fatal pedestrian crashes because everyone lives further apart? That's exactly the mindset. Nobody cares enough to change their routine even an iota, and it makes all these words ring rather hollow.

by Pigo 9y ago

You're talking about a country that is the size of a large state. I really wish there were state initiatives to work on infrastructure that makes sense for their territory and people.

bryanlarsen 9y ago

Once you adjust per capita (which I did when I said the rate of fatalities), most of the usual excuses fall away. Sweden has areas with similar population densities to NYC and to Alaska, a more diverse population than you'd expect, similar per capita income, etc.

Pigo 9y ago
The US is 22 times the size of Sweden. And you're not going to convince me that it's any where near as diverse, even with the new immigrants. I'm agreeing with you that I would love such an initiative, just that it only makes sense to carry it out at the state level. But I will say it's pretty arrogant to claim it's our situation is criminal. http://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/united-states/sweden http://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/unite...
ashelmire 9y ago
Sweden has about as many people as singular metro areas in the US (smaller than some). Talking about reducing road fatalities in Chicago would be a similar scale.
- mcguire 9y ago
  About 15% of Swedes live in the Stockholm urban area, about the same proportion as Texas and Florida combined.
  - ashelmire 9y ago
    Texas and Florida combined have 5 times the population of Sweden, twice the area, and far more roadways. Solutions are more complicated in the US due to size, population, and broad political, economic, and geographic complexity. Stop trying to equate this tiny nation with one of the most populated and largest.
    - mcguire 9y ago
      That was my point. 15% of Sweden's population live in 1 (one) urban area. You can reasonably compare it to some individual states, but in that case you get similar results, too.

ceejayoz 9y ago

American road infrastructure is owned and controlled at the state/local level. The Feds don't even own the Interstate system, and the standards for it are set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Pigo 9y ago
The original commenter was saying the US is criminally liable for not being as amazing as Sweden. So it sounded like they were saying the fed needs to swoop in and fix their mess. That's where I was coming from anyways.
- ceejayoz 9y ago
  "Borderline criminal" tends to be a rhetorical way of saying "they should be ashamed". Even if it was literal, states can be liable, and as the primary folks in charge of road infrastructure, they'd be the targets.

dragonwriter 9y ago

> I really wish there were state initiatives to work on infrastructure that makes sense for their territory and people. That's, like, a huge part of what state governments do. Well, except perhaps the “makes sense” part, but that's largely do to the same political problems that affect federal governance, not some particular failure of the states.

revelation 9y ago

America has more fatal pedestrian crashes because everyone lives further apart? That's exactly the mindset. Nobody cares enough to change their routine even an iota, and it makes all these words ring rather hollow.