Not so friendly reminder that musk specifically came up with, and pushed, for hyperloop knowing that it would never be made, as an effort to stop the development of highspeed rail in America and shift all political discussions of it because "something better is around the corner":
As I’ve written in my book, Musk admitted to his biographer Ashlee Vance that Hyperloop was all about trying to get legislators to cancel plans for high-speed rail in California—even though he had no plans to build it. Several years ago, Musk said that public transit was “a pain in the ass” where you were surrounded by strangers, including possible serial killers, to justify his opposition.
Also: 2024 update, the total length of China's high-speed rail tracks has now reached well over 45,000 km, or 28,000 miles, by the end of 2023.
They are additionally five years ahead of schedule and expect to double the total number within ten years. And, before someone inevitably complains about "how expensive it is", they are turning over a net-profit of over $600M USD a year.
The US Government refers to you as a tenant in your own home that you 'own'. This is so they can take over it with imminent domain whenever they feel like it. Stop pretending we actually have property rights in the US, they can take anything from you at any time, it is US Law.
addition: You are less free than you think you are. We are far from the freest country on earth. Funny how Norway, a fairly socialist leaning country is the Freest on the Freedom Index. They also have one of highest rates of billionaires... USA is somewhere around 30th
We are being misled. Capitalism leads to corporatism. It is a time bomb of an economic system which requires 3% compound growth infinitely. that is a pipe-dream, not socialism
"It's really legalised robbery by law enforcement"
From a Last Week Tonight piece about civil forfeiture
https://youtu.be/3kEpZWGgJks?si=st2CafF71zFh9YCg
Yes! That episode reinforced my notion that we do not have true property rights in the USA
John Oliver has so much passion for justice, and so much energy. I love how he talks about stuff no one is talking about too, 'fringe' subjects that matter