Gas Prices: Americans in deep water

Americans are in deep water with no escape over high gas prices.

America was building trains, the answer to both high gas prices and saving the environment. Oh, and getting there faster.

But the Tea Party has stalled the building of new trains, even though train ridership continues to set records.  Aside: so how can they stop Gen Y from riding trains? 

In the 2008 gas price crisis, people took to light rail and trains and big plans were made to build more light rail and trains.  Light rail is still being planned and built, although on a much smaller scale. But few if any new train lines are being planned or built due to Republican opposition.

So that leaves suburban based car loving Americans in the 2012 gas crisis with no options, except of course to vote out the anti-train politicians and start planning and building trains again.  Which will happen - - not soon enough.

Comments

[D. P. Lubic]

The "auto nation" is still in trouble:

http://bonddad.blogspot.com/2012/02/weekly-indicators-oil-choke-collar-re.html

http://bonddad.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-decline-in-gasoline-demand-doesnt.html

From one of the links:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-07/mass-transit-ridership/51720984/1

Well, Time finally is seeing what we’ve been seeing for years:

http://moneyland.time.com/2011/12/08/fewer-teenagers-have-drivers-licenses-because-of-gas-prices-and-the-internet/

Comments from California and a high-speed rail site:

http://www.cahsrblog.com/2012/02/gas-prices-continue-to-rise-threatening-economic-recovery/#comments

[D. P. Lubic]

"Aside: so how can they stop Gen Y from riding trains?"

That's simple--kill the trains:

http://www.cahsrblog.com/2012/02/house-republicans-vote-to-defund-mass-transit-in-america/

http://www.cahsrblog.com/2012/02/whats-behind-hsrs-recent-political-struggles/

I hope we have the time. . .