re: YouTube - Driving Is Ruining Our Lives

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You make some good points. And I’m not against public transit or good city planning. I’m just against being forced to live in a concrete jungle by the government.

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Well good urban planning should account for the 'concrete jungle' aspect. Building streets with spaces for trees that can provide shade cools that area by 20 degrees verses streets which provide no shade. There are many different approaches you could take with respect to green spaces. I know you are invoking this more broadly to make a point about government involvement, but already the land use of the US as it stands has significant government involvement, which policy decisions from the 30's and 40's still relevant today.

The layout of streets, zoning, land use, housing policy, etc., have favored one form of transport at the expense of every other form of transport, and that policy was government-mediated.

Trying to undo some of the ill-effects of that will also require government intervention, but I think what people miss was how well-constructed American cities were at the turn of the century. City Museum in St. Louis had some examples of the stonework from the turn of the century, taken from now demolished buildings across the Midwest, which was amazing. The detail and craftmanship was gorgeous and it was once the case that the majority of buildings in an area had that same attention to detail.

Now the way we build is determined primarily by cost, and we get far worse looking aesthetics and mostly easily replaceable buildings, none of which have character at all.

I'd love to return to that American standard, as the cost differences, in the long run, aren't often meaningful if the way people interact with the space gives them something from that interaction, if that makes sense. If you build a beautiful park that contains things people can use and in doing so make your area more livable, you directly affect the way people interact with their environments. A better way is possible, and ironically, this position is the more 'conservative' position, as it isn't pretending the standards put in place during the pre-war and post-war eras have to be everlasting.

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How do you think we ended up with roads everywhere? Imminent domain by the government to build more roads. Government gave you the concrete jungles...

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I understand you are passionate about this issue, but you seem to have a very narrow view here. One YouTube video shouldn’t form the entire basis of your personal religion.

In your great state less than 10% of road construction/maintenance is paid for by gas tax.

Found a pic that varies from what I posted above, but is reflective.

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In your great state less than 10% of road construction/maintenance is paid for by gas tax.

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Probably true. Because much infrastructure is funded by the federal govt to benefit native communities. Most of its not necessary.

We have no roads into Juneau. Just boats and planes.

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Public infrastructure isn't exclusive. It's not an either/or scenario.

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Public infrastructure exists in this country.

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As I said in the beginning of the thread, as long as it’s voluntary, build all the trains and subways and whatever you want in your cities

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Does the OP ever ride the city bus? Seems like a nice way to get to work every day, and can virtue signal incessantly.

Public transportation in America is such a pleasant experience.

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Do you have a source? I am curious to see the stats and data on this.

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Trains are efficient in delivering goods in bulk to a hub, but from that hub you need trucks to deliver out to smaller locations. You can’t use a train to deliver 50 cases of produce to the piggly wiggly in bumfrick, Ms

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but it is an extremely poor use of tax dollars.

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Yeah, pretty much any public expenditure will result in less than efficient products. That applies to all areas. Not sure why the roads bother you.

I'm fine with dirt roads.

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More would rather not pay additional taxes on a poor investment.

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I wholeheartedly agree, which is why I hate Government for the most part because everything it funds is inefficient.

My big political event in my lifetime was the Road project in JNU.

I was against it, but they government cannot run the public transportation system well enough to keep it operating.

Now I pray they build the road.