It’s a state-level NIMBY and red tape problem. Ezra Klein, Matty Iglesias and Noah Smith all write about this.

Requires political will and use of eminent domain. Eisenhower built the highway system—while fighting Korean War. 

Authoritarianism is a useful form of government if you want to build train tracks and not have local input.

These conversations always discount that the US has the largest rail network in the world.

We prioritize freight, not people.

Probably the right choice. 

People can fly.

Everyone is from somewhere. Cofounder and CEO of Pinata. https://www.pinata.cloud/

Exactly.

And, even within that, the majority of the rail would be on the eastern edge of the US, just like with China.

China doesn't have highspeed rail connecting out to the western edges.

NYC to LA connected by highspeed rail would never make sense.

Working on Farcaster and Warpcast. Longer thoughts at https://dwr.email