Posted on 10/11/2008 11:59:20 AM PDT by KingJaja
Click on the link to view the Beijing to Tianjin High Speed Rail link
The Chinese are really up to something.
I also agree that all of the infrastructure development is nothing less than a good thing for the Chinese people. And for the vast majority of the 1.3 billion people, it’s still a miserable existence for a human being. Nothing more than a man made attempt at utopia.
One of the misgivings about China's infrastructure construction is this idea that China is trying to build a utopia. That couldn't be further from the truth. We take for granted the level of conveniences we have here and China is merely trying to do the same.
What if America went through a war in which 3/4 of here airports were destroyed. And instead of flying across the continent for $500 it costs $10,000. Wouldn't you want your country to rebuild the airports as quickly as possible until the capacity of the airports were such that flights can be $500 again?
It's the same concept in China. Despite the airports built in China so far, it isn't enough to provide everyone a chance to travel by air. And it would cost several months wages. But with more airports, it could come down to a reasonable price. Same with trains, freeways, housing etc. As more are built, a greater percentage of the population will have access to them.
So, no utopia, just addressing a pragmatic need of any country that wants to develop.
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