This leverages a lot of modern political ideas to attempt to understand the past. The streetcar networks got through the war dilapidated from low maintenance be

This leverages a lot of modern political ideas to attempt to understand the past. The streetcar networks got through the war dilapidated from low maintenance because workers and materials were needed for the war effort. People hated the streetcars for being rough and uncomfortable, freezing in cold weather, broiling in heat, forcing all classes and types to squeeze together. The general feeling was that cars and buses on big roads were the future. Why rebuild a decaying streetcar network that no one loved when people preferred roads? Passing this off as conspiracy back in the day would probably get you accused of Communist sympathies.