Obama: Lets's Build the World's Slowest High-Speed Rail!

President Obama pledged in his State of the Union speech last month to seek funding for development of high-speed rail. This week we've learned some details: "U.S. plans to inject $53 billion into passenger rail"

PHILADELPHIA — Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced an ambitious $53 billion U.S. program to build new high-speed rail networks and make existing ones faster over the next six years. ...

"This is about seizing the future," he said, making the announcement at Philadelphia's busy 30th Street station with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The United States should follow the example of Japan and China and build high-speed rail, Biden said. "If we do not, you tell me how America is going to be able to lead the world in the 21st century," he said.

Holy steam engine, Batman! America's actual position on the world stage depends on building a railroad! In my mind's eye:

President Obama, on the red phone: Kim Jong, I have three carrier groups off your shores and and an armored US Army corps arriving in South Korea. This is my ultimatum: give up your atomic weapons program, or else!

Kim: Do you have high speed rail in your capitalist, exploiting, oppressive country?

Obama (long pause): Um, uh, well, Republicans in Congress, uh, George W. Bush's fault, er, lobbyists, and um, uh, earmarks ... well, ahem, no, we don't.

Kim: Then you cannot lead the world in the 21st century and there is no reason for me to heed your empty ultimatum. The French, on the other hand, have Le Tren Grand Vitesse and therefore terrify me. But America, I simply dismiss.

Obama: But I have three carrier groups and an Army ... .

Kim: [Dial tone]

But back to the train-apple of Joe Biden's eye. In another article we learn:

According to the plan laid out Tuesday by Biden, the first step of the six-year plan would be to invest $8 billion to develop or improve three types of interconnected corridors:

Core express corridors would form the backbone of the national high-speed rail system, with electrified trains traveling on dedicated tracks at speeds of 125 to 250 m.p.h or higher.

Regional corridors would lay the foundation for future high-speed service, with trains traveling between 90 to 125 m.p.h.

Emerging corridors would provide travelers with access to the larger national high-speed network and travel at as much as 90 m.p.h.

This will make the American "high speed" rail system the slowest in the world. Consider this video produced by advocates of HS rail in California. Listen for the speeds attained by foreign trains.



Why does VP Biden think that having the slowest high speed rail will enable America to lead the world in the 21st century?