Our country was built on steam trains, which were horrifically inefficient, but they got the job done. Currently we’re built on cars, which too are inefficient but practical. These things gained ground because there was a way to commercialise them, to make people say “I can’t live without that”. The question is: how can that be done with things like ultralights and bullet trains and public air? Could we really let the roads overgrow and just fly or rail everywhere? It’s an enticing prospect, but I fear that such a vision of the future neglects the many people who just can’t afford to make the switch.

Oh, and the nitpick of the day:

“We are the descendents [sic] of chimps…”

We have a common ancestor with chimpanzees (and bonobos); we’re not descended from them.