I've found that looking at USA as a middle-income country with extremely wealthy regions helps me better understand our country. The supposed wealth doesn't see

I've found that looking at USA as a middle-income country with extremely wealthy regions helps me better understand our country. The supposed wealth doesn't seem relevant in the hollowed out towns between the coasts. It's generally not being sent or spent there in any meaningful way. Much of the actual wealth is in the northeast corridor, where the Acela is improving the quality of their product, and in California, where Southern CA and the Bay Area both have fairly nice regional trains that go as fast as the right of way will let them. I think we've done OK connecting places that matter, and as flying continues to enshittify and people will choose rail for comfort.