2 ms·

The “if only there were more public transit” stuff is a weak argument and a waste of breath. I’m not saying folks shouldn’t continue wasting their breath, it’s

The “if only there were more public transit” stuff is a weak argument and a waste of breath. I’m not saying folks shouldn’t continue wasting their breath, it’s an important issue to push. But the issue with public transit is we can’t figure out how to build and operate it and once it’s built it often goes unused making it unsustainable. Further not everyone wants to live in a studio apartment in a dense urban core, no matter how much you sneer at them. They just think you’re an asshole and hops in their suburban and drive to Starbucks. Probably the right solution, and the one being worked on, is to find different battery chemistries. People seem fixated on lithium, but even lithium is a N generation chemistry. (I’m too lazy at 6am to research the value of N, sorry) I know sodium batteries are advancing, iron as well, along with other chemistries that haven’t grabbed headlines yet. With the amount of money at stake, investment and research will happen. Predicting what we are building batteries out of in 20 years seems foolish at this point (note, I think a lot of lithium miners are about to be left holding a bag full of hype)

defrost 4y ago
Public transit works and works well, as proved Q.E.D. in many, many, many cities and countries about the globe. The problem in central north america is the Nacirema are a weak minded easy fooled people who have fallen for 50+ years of Koch propaganda and for the most part not even noticed as it happened. https://grist.org/article/the-koch-brothers-hate-public-transit-but-they-cant-always-stop-projects-in-their-tracks/ https://grist.org/article/the-koch-brothers-hate-public-tran... https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/290/ https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/290/
- fnordpiglet 4y ago
  I didn’t say it didn’t. But, take high speed rail in the US. Even where political will exists, we fail to execute. In seattle we have rail and bus, but they’re largely empty. I spent a decade taking the subway in Nyc, arguable one of the better transit systems, and a primary reason I left was I found it soul crushing to use it every day. First, I don’t like crowds and hated feeling uncomfortable multiple times a day for a few hours every single day. Second, getting anywhere not in my corridor was a multi hour affair (round trip). Third, getting anywhere was at least 45 minutes one way. Fourth, it was almost impossible to leave the city and visit nature. I may be weak minded and easily fooled, but my direct experiences made my weak mind want to own a car and gtfo of a public transit first urban core. I don’t hate the environment, I don’t think everyone should drive Suburbans. But I also think there’s a saddle point, and technology for batteries isn’t done yet. I also suspect the “everyone who disagrees with my world view is a weak minded easily fooled idiot who can’t form their own opinions are are indoctrinated by a dark conspiracy” line isn’t endearing the public transit first folks to anyone but their echo chamber.
  - defrost 4y ago
    Take my comment as the helicopter view of someone outside the USofA who has travelled in and out since the 1980s. Don't take the "easily lead weak minded" description as a personal slur directed at you, more as a summation of the 50 years since the Koch brothers went aggressively full anti climate change pro fossil fuel after the 1970s recognition of there being a problem. My only goal here is for more people to be aware of a constant pattern in the recent history of US social infrastructure debate; towns, cities, communities move toward public transport as an idea (or wish to spend to improve what they have), poll for opinions, find support in excess of %50, often in the 60 and 70th percentiles, and then ... ... various Koch think tanks start spending millions to change open, to push the "public transport == socialism == communism" notion, to pump up the fantasy ideal of car == individual freedom == american flag, etc. They've covered the spectrum, funded oposition politicians, started community action groups for freedom, amplified crime related to public transport fgures, fostered notions of poor trash take the bus, all the tricks. They've turned opinion, killed public transport development, and all to the end of selling more gas to a large individual mass rather than less to more efficient means of moving people in bulk. I have no intention nor desire to endear myself to you, and it's your country so make the decisions you do, but at least be aware of your own history and the means by which you've been lead by the nose - it's a plain fact that's clear to all with perspective from outside.

defrost 4y ago

Public transit works and works well, as proved Q.E.D. in many, many, many cities and countries about the globe. The problem in central north america is the Nacirema are a weak minded easy fooled people who have fallen for 50+ years of Koch propaganda and for the most part not even noticed as it happened. https://grist.org/article/the-koch-brothers-hate-public-transit-but-they-cant-always-stop-projects-in-their-tracks/ https://grist.org/article/the-koch-brothers-hate-public-tran... https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/290/ https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/290/

fnordpiglet 4y ago
I didn’t say it didn’t. But, take high speed rail in the US. Even where political will exists, we fail to execute. In seattle we have rail and bus, but they’re largely empty. I spent a decade taking the subway in Nyc, arguable one of the better transit systems, and a primary reason I left was I found it soul crushing to use it every day. First, I don’t like crowds and hated feeling uncomfortable multiple times a day for a few hours every single day. Second, getting anywhere not in my corridor was a multi hour affair (round trip). Third, getting anywhere was at least 45 minutes one way. Fourth, it was almost impossible to leave the city and visit nature. I may be weak minded and easily fooled, but my direct experiences made my weak mind want to own a car and gtfo of a public transit first urban core. I don’t hate the environment, I don’t think everyone should drive Suburbans. But I also think there’s a saddle point, and technology for batteries isn’t done yet. I also suspect the “everyone who disagrees with my world view is a weak minded easily fooled idiot who can’t form their own opinions are are indoctrinated by a dark conspiracy” line isn’t endearing the public transit first folks to anyone but their echo chamber.
- defrost 4y ago
  Take my comment as the helicopter view of someone outside the USofA who has travelled in and out since the 1980s. Don't take the "easily lead weak minded" description as a personal slur directed at you, more as a summation of the 50 years since the Koch brothers went aggressively full anti climate change pro fossil fuel after the 1970s recognition of there being a problem. My only goal here is for more people to be aware of a constant pattern in the recent history of US social infrastructure debate; towns, cities, communities move toward public transport as an idea (or wish to spend to improve what they have), poll for opinions, find support in excess of %50, often in the 60 and 70th percentiles, and then ... ... various Koch think tanks start spending millions to change open, to push the "public transport == socialism == communism" notion, to pump up the fantasy ideal of car == individual freedom == american flag, etc. They've covered the spectrum, funded oposition politicians, started community action groups for freedom, amplified crime related to public transport fgures, fostered notions of poor trash take the bus, all the tricks. They've turned opinion, killed public transport development, and all to the end of selling more gas to a large individual mass rather than less to more efficient means of moving people in bulk. I have no intention nor desire to endear myself to you, and it's your country so make the decisions you do, but at least be aware of your own history and the means by which you've been lead by the nose - it's a plain fact that's clear to all with perspective from outside.