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I did a road trip through Europe a few years back, and when we passed from Romania (coming from Cluj) to Hungary, the road immediately got _comically_ bad. As w

by fhd2 2y ago

I did a road trip through Europe a few years back, and when we passed from Romania (coming from Cluj) to Hungary, the road immediately got _comically_ bad. As we got closer to Budapest things seemed to improve, but wow, I vividly remember this. I'd be curious to learn whether it's a lack of maintenance (Hungary generally seemed well maintained except for the roads though) or something else.

haunter 2y ago
Lack of maintenance and it’s a generally corrupt country. Stealing is not a crime (especially from public funds) but an act of bravery. There are no consequences. My theory that construction companies here work as a cartel. For them making good roads is not a business > less projects later. So keeping up the status quo with low quality is a better business, there is always something to fix and repair and also more opportunity to steal public money.
- hulitu 2y ago
  > Lack of maintenance and it’s a generally corrupt country. Stealing is not a crime (especially from public funds) but an act of bravery. There are no consequences. Welcome to EU. Is there any EU country where this is not a fact ?
  - fhd2 2y ago
    I'm in Germany, and while I'm sure we have some corruption (I believe every country has at least a little bit), I'm not aware of it as a systemic problem. With our previous (and how it's looking, next) government there was a scandal around masks in Covid times, and a few others I think. But nothing to the point of causing major disrepair of infrastructure. Our rail infrastructure is famously in need of maintenance, but from all I know that's more a matter of stupidity than malice (Hanlon's Razor and all that). While some might just denounce it as bureaucracy, we do have a lot of regulation, oversight and checks and balances. Which causes it's own issues (like having to pick the cheapest suppliers from an extended process). But I believe there are some EU countries where corruption in itself is a problem.
    - xenonite 2y ago
      well as you name the rail infrastructure: it was sold out and left to despair since the 1970s. This was clearly lobbying from the automotive industry. Similarly in the USA, tramlines where teared down in many cities.
OptionOfT 2y ago
I lived in Belgium, close to the Dutch border. When you take the E314 East, it is insane how the quality of the road improves once you cross the Meuse/Maas into the Netherlands. The asphalt becomes so smooth and quiet. No potholes. Until it rains. Then the rain seems to stay on top of it. Meaning a lot more fine water mist being produced by cars driving over it.

by fhd2 2y ago

haunter 2y ago

Lack of maintenance and it’s a generally corrupt country. Stealing is not a crime (especially from public funds) but an act of bravery. There are no consequences. My theory that construction companies here work as a cartel. For them making good roads is not a business > less projects later. So keeping up the status quo with low quality is a better business, there is always something to fix and repair and also more opportunity to steal public money.

hulitu 2y ago
> Lack of maintenance and it’s a generally corrupt country. Stealing is not a crime (especially from public funds) but an act of bravery. There are no consequences. Welcome to EU. Is there any EU country where this is not a fact ?
- fhd2 2y ago
  I'm in Germany, and while I'm sure we have some corruption (I believe every country has at least a little bit), I'm not aware of it as a systemic problem. With our previous (and how it's looking, next) government there was a scandal around masks in Covid times, and a few others I think. But nothing to the point of causing major disrepair of infrastructure. Our rail infrastructure is famously in need of maintenance, but from all I know that's more a matter of stupidity than malice (Hanlon's Razor and all that). While some might just denounce it as bureaucracy, we do have a lot of regulation, oversight and checks and balances. Which causes it's own issues (like having to pick the cheapest suppliers from an extended process). But I believe there are some EU countries where corruption in itself is a problem.
  - xenonite 2y ago
    well as you name the rail infrastructure: it was sold out and left to despair since the 1970s. This was clearly lobbying from the automotive industry. Similarly in the USA, tramlines where teared down in many cities.

OptionOfT 2y ago

I lived in Belgium, close to the Dutch border. When you take the E314 East, it is insane how the quality of the road improves once you cross the Meuse/Maas into the Netherlands. The asphalt becomes so smooth and quiet. No potholes. Until it rains. Then the rain seems to stay on top of it. Meaning a lot more fine water mist being produced by cars driving over it.