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A comment on Distances you can travel on a European train in less than a day. Parent comment

Re:Distances you can travel on a European train in less than... by ekianjo on Saturday June 06, 2015 @08:14PM (#9672864)
> and we don't criticize it for costing upkeep and the billions it cost to build.

Why shouldn't we criticize it ? Ever read Bastiat ? The money you spend somewhere is money you don't spend somewhere else. Wouldn't that be better to spend those billions in better schools, better hospitals, better metros, etc ? The choices you made have long ramifications in time and billions do not come cheap.

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Re:Distances you can travel on a European train in less than... by zanny on Saturday June 06, 2015 @09:19PM (#9673023)
By we I mean average, not all. More in the "nobody criticizes it, even though there are plenty of reasons one could or should" less in the "nobody has a right to criticize a massive government spending project that has demonstrably warped society as a result".

I've gone through way too many debates on the costs and benefits of free public roads, and I've argued from both sides. Be critical - just don't be hypocritical (which a lot of people are when they make a false dichotomy between the value and feasibility of rail vs road).

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