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Response from Senator (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/politicalhumor@lemmy.ml
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"Thank you for your thoughts on this matter, I didn't read them. Here is a boilerplate statement espousing all the great things about this bill that you specifically criticized in your message to me. Please don't reach out again."

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[–] 41 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Everyone insists that writing your representatives works, but neglect to tell you that there's a million other things that keep them from getting things done.

My dad is a member of the local town council. I ask him about maybe making safe sidewalks so his grandkids can visit without needing to drive, he just shrugs and says it will take years to do. His experience in government has really recalibrated what I think government is capable of.

If a local government can't get a hundred yards of sidewalk paved when one of the leaders is pushing for it, how long would it take the federal government to build high speed rail?

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  • [–] 20 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Over a decade. It’s a massive infrastructure project. I’m not demanding to ride high speed rail in 2025, I’m demanding it to have started by then knowing full and well that the design portion will take several years for a rush job. Bridges aren’t quick either, nor are dams. But governments build them because they have to start sometime.

    We needed to start this process 20 years ago. We desperately need to start now. At no point will we stop needing to start asap, it just will get more and more dire that we do.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago

    If a local government can’t get a hundred yards of sidewalk paved when one of the leaders is pushing for it, how long would it take the federal government to build high speed rail?

    Honolulu started planning theirs in the 1960's, finally got funding in 2005, started construction in 2011 (planned to finish in 2020), went over budget, changed plans to shorted the route, and finally opened the first stations a couple months ago. Their current estimate is that it wont be done until 2031. So to answer your question, it can take at least 26 years once you get funding.

    https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hart-history-hawaii-rail-project-when-finished-budget/

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I'll share a different story then. Over the past several years, I've participated in a movement to get bus rapid transit lanes which is moving forward. I started as a citizen advocate, then represented the bus company (as an advocate) through several phases of studies, then led a community engagement team in which I personally talked to over a thousand local residents and gave more than a dozen presentations to the community and stakeholders. I've sparred with NIMBYs and congresspersons alike. And now the project is moving forward and will dedicate over a third of a major roadway exclusively to bus service.

    Cynicism is crack for slacktivists and keyboard warriors.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    Exactly my point. It took one person working that hard for free for months or maybe years to get that done, dragging the government kicking and screaming into a good idea.

    That wouldn’t be necessary if our government wasn’t broken.

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