Re:US takes 'richest nation on earth' crown from Switzerland
by rayiner on Thursday September 19, 2019 @10:19PM
(#21022737)
Americans could live in a city where they walk, cycle, or ride a tram to work. For the most part, they don’t want to. They used to have such cities, but they ripped up the tram lines and put in freeways. (Part of that is because most of the US is quite unpleasant to walk or cycle in from a weather point of view. The average high in Amsterdam, a famous cycling city, tops out at 72 degrees. In Atlanta, it’s 80+ from May through September.)
Re:US takes 'richest nation on earth' crown from Switzerland
by TheCoelacanth on Friday September 20, 2019 @12:23PM
(#21028399)
1950s technocrats didn't want to. Ripping up trams and putting in freeways was usually done in spite of public protest.
Re:US takes 'richest nation on earth' crown from Switzerland
by lonelappde on Friday September 20, 2019 @12:49AM
(#21023412)
Oh, you're right, I'll just go and install a tram line now.
Re:US takes 'richest nation on earth' crown from Switzerland
by pvaldes on Thursday September 19, 2019 @11:01PM
(#21022942)
Napoleon had the same problem with his soldiers, and solved it with lots of sycamores. Atlanta could put some temporary structures to give shadow also.
Re:US takes 'richest nation on earth' crown from Switzerland
by tmb on Friday September 20, 2019 @12:45AM
(#21023397)
Napoleon never set foot within a thousand kilometers of a similar climate, the closest he came was in exile.
The humidity is the main attraction to the show and cares little for shade, peachtree, sycamore or otherwise.
Yes. But my point is that not all consumption can be considered equal in terms of the wellbeing and quality of life that it provides.
For example, if I was spending $5000 per year on car payments and fuel for my commute to work, that's a lot of 'consumption'. But it isn't something that makes me happy or feel fulfilled.
On the other hand, suppose I live in a city where I can walk, cycle, or ride a tram to work. My quality of life might be equal or better - yet I'm consuming $5000 less.