4 ms·

I'm at the point where I think that I'm okay with some inefficiency that at least gives the impression that the nation is trying to take care of its citizens.

I'm at the point where I think that I'm okay with some inefficiency that at least gives the impression that the nation is trying to take care of its citizens. Globalization and such have been very good at lowering prices and general increased productivity for most people, but I think its clear that its leaving behind a bunch of people who do not want to be forced into this global market, and get angry about it.

hedora 5y ago
They’re paying foreign firms an average of $1,000,000 per temporary job that pays $40K/year for 2-3 years. It isn’t so much protectionism as government mandated graft.
jeffbee 5y ago
The article is about how Buy American in the mid-20th century immiserated generations of Americans with bad transportation and long-term debt. Which aspect of that even gives the impression of caring for our citizens? In terms of transportation infrastructure the USA is behind countries like Kazakhstan and Morocco. We need all the help we can get from other countries. Indeed, the law we need is that we're forbidden to buy from ourselves, and nobody who has ever planned an American transportation system is permitted to do it again without at least 20 years of remedial experience abroad. We need Buy Not American.
- amjaeger 5y ago
  Do you have a source or a specific reason to comparing to Morocco? I was there in 2015. The trains were in pretty rough shape, on one of the trains the toilet was damaged and you could see the train tracks... I don't remember any other specifics, but overall the transportation was a bit rough. That being said, I don't know much about the quality of transportation in America outside of the east coast.
  - jeffbee 5y ago
    https://www.sncf.com/en/sncf-around-the-world/triumph-for-morocco-hs-line https://www.sncf.com/en/sncf-around-the-world/triumph-for-mo...
- teakettle42 5y ago
  > In terms of transportation infrastructure the USA is behind countries like Kazakhstan and Morocco. I admit I haven’t visited Morocco in 20 years, but based on what I witnessed traveling through the country, this seems incredibly unlikely. A few major, shiny, “prestige” infrastructure projects don’t represent the average state of their infrastructure.
  - jeffbee 5y ago
    I don't see why not. Rail links between principal cities are a very good approximation of "average infrastructure" in urban societies. You can go from Casablanca to Tangier in 2h10m. NY to Boston or Washington takes longer. The much shorter trip from Sacramento to San Jose, California, takes twice as long.
    - teakettle42 5y ago
      > urban societies Which Morocco is absolutely not. You seem to be viewing things through an extremely western urban viewpoint.
      - jeffbee 5y ago
        """Urbanization of rural areas and rural exodus are the main factors characterizing the demographic evolution in Morocco. Moroccan cities are expected to host 73.7% of the country's inhabitants by 2050 instead of 60.4% in 2014.""" About what other topics would you care to be mistaken?
        teakettle42 5y ago
        80% of the US population is urban. Europe’s percentage is even higher. You think Morocco hitting an estimated 73.7% by 2050 actually supports your position? It fascinating just how emotionally motivated your reasoning is, to the point that you’re absolutely certain of your position despite it arising from a place of gross ignorance.

hedora 5y ago

They’re paying foreign firms an average of $1,000,000 per temporary job that pays $40K/year for 2-3 years. It isn’t so much protectionism as government mandated graft.

jeffbee 5y ago

The article is about how Buy American in the mid-20th century immiserated generations of Americans with bad transportation and long-term debt. Which aspect of that even gives the impression of caring for our citizens? In terms of transportation infrastructure the USA is behind countries like Kazakhstan and Morocco. We need all the help we can get from other countries. Indeed, the law we need is that we're forbidden to buy from ourselves, and nobody who has ever planned an American transportation system is permitted to do it again without at least 20 years of remedial experience abroad. We need Buy Not American.

amjaeger 5y ago
Do you have a source or a specific reason to comparing to Morocco? I was there in 2015. The trains were in pretty rough shape, on one of the trains the toilet was damaged and you could see the train tracks... I don't remember any other specifics, but overall the transportation was a bit rough. That being said, I don't know much about the quality of transportation in America outside of the east coast.
- jeffbee 5y ago
  https://www.sncf.com/en/sncf-around-the-world/triumph-for-morocco-hs-line https://www.sncf.com/en/sncf-around-the-world/triumph-for-mo...
teakettle42 5y ago
> In terms of transportation infrastructure the USA is behind countries like Kazakhstan and Morocco. I admit I haven’t visited Morocco in 20 years, but based on what I witnessed traveling through the country, this seems incredibly unlikely. A few major, shiny, “prestige” infrastructure projects don’t represent the average state of their infrastructure.
- jeffbee 5y ago
  I don't see why not. Rail links between principal cities are a very good approximation of "average infrastructure" in urban societies. You can go from Casablanca to Tangier in 2h10m. NY to Boston or Washington takes longer. The much shorter trip from Sacramento to San Jose, California, takes twice as long.
  - teakettle42 5y ago
    > urban societies Which Morocco is absolutely not. You seem to be viewing things through an extremely western urban viewpoint.
    - jeffbee 5y ago
      """Urbanization of rural areas and rural exodus are the main factors characterizing the demographic evolution in Morocco. Moroccan cities are expected to host 73.7% of the country's inhabitants by 2050 instead of 60.4% in 2014.""" About what other topics would you care to be mistaken?
      - teakettle42 5y ago
        80% of the US population is urban. Europe’s percentage is even higher. You think Morocco hitting an estimated 73.7% by 2050 actually supports your position? It fascinating just how emotionally motivated your reasoning is, to the point that you’re absolutely certain of your position despite it arising from a place of gross ignorance.