HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau
(2/n)
...the #food and #energy sectors).
As trickle-down clearly could never work, it is high time to finally level the playing field for the people.
A #WealthTax, a steep #CarbonTax, in particular for private trips to space, and an #ExcessProfitsTax / #WindfallProfitTax / #WindfallTax of at least 50% would go a long way to pay for a state-of-the-art #PublicTransport and #HealthSystem...
Badtux the Snarky Penguin
@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau The fact that a third world nation has an unsafe mass transit system is of supreme disinterest to me. The fact that the United States lacks a functional mass transit system in 99% of its cities -- by functional, I mean any address no more than 2 blocks from a stop, and buses/trains run every 15 minutes -- makes life excruciatingly difficult for those who can't drive cars for whatever reason.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau @badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau
(1/n)
Agreed.
I was trying to have an international perspective.
People complain about public transport in most places.
In fact, my feeling is that it is one of the goods where demand is by far greater than supply almost anywhere.
As I heard on the radio today, the richest one percent have accumulared two thirds of wealth-gains since before the Pandemic (e.g...
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau
2/3
...however, many would not manage more than walking to a bus station and back 600m/half a mile (and back) and then still go shopping downtown.
Also, someone merely having an injured foot would not make it out of the unfathomable undergrounds in the #CityOfLondon when the #escalators are out of order.
...
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau
3/3
...Oh, and if you are not #CrocodileDundee, taking an underground train in metropolises like #MexicoCity might prove too much adventure, in particular at night. 😉
So, all I am saying is that while #PublicTransport might be the best, often only solution in urban areas, it is not for a significant number of people.
Also, an e-bike, for many, is an even faster solution for short and medium distances if there are bike lanes.
Badtux the Snarky Penguin
@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau In short, your observations about the handicapped and public transit are totally divorced from the reality. Public transit is the most friendly form of transit for the handicapped, and that has been true for decades.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@badtux @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau
Interesting observation.
A longer time ago, I was managing a driving service for the handicapped. All of our clients would not have shared your opinion. In particular, as almost all would not have made it even to the next bus stop half a mile away by themselves.
The ones that might have made it would still mostly have preferred a cab/taxi.
Most of the people I know aged up to 80/85 who are not nursing-home residents still manage to drive...
1/2
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
While true, this commonplace #Green thinking ignores the needs of the many handicapped or frail elderly people or stressed-out parents with several younger kids who already feel guilty about spending too little time with their family.
Using public transport in off-peak times often doubles or triples travelling times + involves quite some walking.
Furthermore, in rural areas, #PublicTransport is mostly too rare and often too expensive due to low population density.
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