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NutmegYankee

(16,177 posts)
71. I agree with you on rail and broadband.
Fri Nov 16, 2012, 08:37 PM
Nov 2012

I was focusing on power and underground utilities. Hell, most of the homes in my village don't have public water. They use wells for water and rely on heating oil deliveries for heat.

when austerity eats their ass, bring them back and let me hear them laugh. HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #1
They'll probably fix their problems before we fix ours because they believe in science MightyMopar Nov 2012 #2
don't bet on that. Many european nations have histories HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #3
Oh, reeellly? Seerieslly? Pleez, tell us more! This is hugh! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #10
Ok...for starters Germany, Italy, USSR, HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #16
So all of those Germans femrap Nov 2012 #63
Sure, Eastern European countries that you list...but what about the Western European CTyankee Nov 2012 #74
Ah yes, those odd trajectories. Like Germany's rise to 3rd largest exporter in the world Doremus Nov 2012 #77
gee there's a lot of that going around. most glaringly, the tendency to pursue HiPointDem Nov 2012 #54
They also believe in taxing the rich - n/t coalition_unwilling Nov 2012 #141
Won't be able to afford to. RC Nov 2012 #5
You can hear me laughing at you right now. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #9
Well said. Sekhmets Daughter Nov 2012 #53
That is one hell of an indictment. But quite apt. - n/t coalition_unwilling Nov 2012 #142
So austerity is going to cause them to dig up their power lines and junk their trains for Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2012 #31
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! frylock Nov 2012 #76
The American solution is the prune or remove the trees. LiberalEsto Nov 2012 #4
The stuff of comedy routines...hilarious, if it weren't so dangerous. Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #28
Overgrown trees also fall on houses, people, etc. jp11 Nov 2012 #46
We had one of those in my neighborhood a few days ago! In the middle of the morning (after the CTyankee Nov 2012 #159
If Americans weren't so damn provincial they might get a clue that Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #6
It's what you don't see that's critical. Gregorian Nov 2012 #7
Actually, that has already happened. A tblue37 Nov 2012 #32
I remember an article in Scientific American years ago where some hotshot in... TreasonousBastard Nov 2012 #133
I once saw a documentary about the autobahns GCP Nov 2012 #154
There was a TV show called "America's Inspector" or something like that - CrispyQ Nov 2012 #145
Those silly Europeans. What do they know? Damn Socialists!!! Cali_Democrat Nov 2012 #8
I find it pretty embarrassing tblue Nov 2012 #11
They ought to go to Russia which makes up a big part of Europe Kaleva Nov 2012 #12
I suspect the writer was speaking of Western Europe's infrastructure. Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #15
And he probably wasn't thinking of Spain, Portugal and parts of Italy like Sicily. Kaleva Nov 2012 #20
I suspect that even the southern, historically more impoverished regions of those countries Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #30
Have you been to Albania? Or Serbia? Just to name a few.... GetRidOfThem Nov 2012 #97
Word! +1,000! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #108
Great to hear that the rest of Europe is doing that for Serbia and Albania. pampango Nov 2012 #147
Some of the fastest internet on the planet is in eastern Europe, putting even the west to shame. MichaelMcGuire Nov 2012 #153
Its the "Romneyization" of the utilities.... Laxman Nov 2012 #13
This past 4th of femrap Nov 2012 #70
They're called "derechos." kurtzapril4 Nov 2012 #96
I left out the 'er'.... femrap Nov 2012 #104
Wish I had a link, but am anecdote will have to suffice - 30,000 utility workers, mostly Flatulo Nov 2012 #99
Ha ha Americans are so dumb and it looks like a third world country! demhottie Nov 2012 #14
Europe's highspeed rail system did not exist in the postwar 1950s. Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #21
key word *systematically*. Because they're disinvesting in the US & sucking out HiPointDem Nov 2012 #23
Precisely, the US tax system is a disincentive Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #39
It also incentives the activities of vulture funds, according to david stockman. which means the HiPointDem Nov 2012 #41
And both political parties are equally guilty of the plunder. Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #44
no doubt at all. incentivizing the plunder. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #55
And when I was in Denmark, I saw ads for broadband fiberglass Internet for the equivalent of Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2012 #33
France, where I live, has been shown to have the best Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #42
It's the result of private sector 'free market' economies, instead of govt run economies of scale. ancianita Nov 2012 #50
But, the initial investment in "deep" infrastructure, which Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #57
Went all crickets on you right? n/t GoneOffShore Nov 2012 #107
Still waiting! LOL! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #109
Would you be femrap Nov 2012 #73
Femrap, I sympathize totally with your feelings about Western Europe... Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #98
I've never femrap Nov 2012 #100
You sound like a lady after my own heart...I always Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #106
I caught the end of femrap Nov 2012 #129
I left the US to live in Europe in the late 70s. A couple of years earlier, Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #135
Ah, to live in France! I've visited several times, and think it has everything! WinkyDink Nov 2012 #85
I understand why you loved it, WinkyDink. The quality Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #103
That's OK, we have other ways. we just declare war on the people, with the same HiPointDem Nov 2012 #24
and who can forget Germany's huge solar energy initiative back in 1951? frylock Nov 2012 #83
Another contestant for the dumbest post of the year. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #116
Is this Sexist Pig Week? demhottie Nov 2012 #124
Got nothing to do with you being a woman, just your writing stupid things. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #127
My point about US infrastructure being behind European infrastructure due to WWII demhottie Nov 2012 #128
You seem to think that I was aware that you are a woman, I wasn't. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #131
You called me dumb and said I should be watching the Real Housewives because you're a sexist pig demhottie Nov 2012 #134
If you are really an attorney then you know the difference between writing Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #136
Exactly what I thought demhottie Nov 2012 #140
I'm so happy that you were not disappointed. If you go looking for offense, Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #146
No, it's worse than that; it's shockingly ignorant Spider Jerusalem Nov 2012 #138
who owns utilities in German? grasswire Nov 2012 #17
mostly publicly owned eom amborin Nov 2012 #26
Germany also benefitted from substantial rebuilding in the 50's. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #18
the 50s were 60 years ago. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #25
And the US Subways and bridges are even older. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #29
not where i live, they're not. nor in the country as a whole. the average age of a HiPointDem Nov 2012 #34
The article was discussing New York and the Northeast. nt NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #38
"the average age of an American bridge is 42" -- where does it say "in ny & the NE"? HiPointDem Nov 2012 #45
It was in the first paragraph. Did you read the article? NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #47
this is the first paragraph: HiPointDem Nov 2012 #48
Wrong Article. I was discussing the OP's article. As is the rest of the thread. nt NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #49
I saw that & appended my post. average age of bridge in new york state, for example, HiPointDem Nov 2012 #51
I was thinking of the GW or Brooklyn bridges. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #56
nyc = not spread out. & little difference between nyc and say paris in that regard -- HiPointDem Nov 2012 #58
The OP article was comparing Germany to the Northeast. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #59
Title: "Europeans Are Laughing At U.S." HiPointDem Nov 2012 #65
And the meat of the article discusses Germany vs. Northeast NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #67
well, i agree with you there. but my post was to counter the idea that somehow HiPointDem Nov 2012 #69
I agree with you on rail and broadband. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #71
"8 times for more than 8 hours in the last 16 months"! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #62
It's power lines on poles. NutmegYankee Nov 2012 #64
What worries me femrap Nov 2012 #78
I LOVE Europe, BUT! There's money when you don't support a major military presence. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #19
like the Billion+ we're spending in the middle east: amborin Nov 2012 #27
+1,000! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #35
Hey, don't look at me; I'm on your side! I was just sayin'! WinkyDink Nov 2012 #82
our infrastructure is decaying because the ruling class has been disinvesting in the HiPointDem Nov 2012 #22
Ask New York City about their aquaducts that bring drinking water from the mountains upstate. byeya Nov 2012 #36
They won't be laughing if on a visit here a bridge they are crossing collapses under them. It's no Raine Nov 2012 #37
You'd think private industries would strive to make great products and services adieu Nov 2012 #40
for the same incomprehensible reasons that detroit continued making big honkers HiPointDem Nov 2012 #43
good post. fil62793skx Nov 2012 #122
Reminds me of Greece and Turkey ErikJ Nov 2012 #52
Turkey is hardly Europe. Except for the motorway west into Istanbul.. :) Lars77 Nov 2012 #86
amborin Diclotican Nov 2012 #60
Our tax money has gone to rebuilding and defending Europe since WWII GiaGiovanni Nov 2012 #61
What is the US military defending Europe from in the here and now? LanternWaste Nov 2012 #66
Ask NATO GiaGiovanni Nov 2012 #114
DING DING DING DING! MisterJones Nov 2012 #68
I imagine it is rather more convenient to attribute LanternWaste Nov 2012 #72
Yeah... you don't know very much about Europe. sibelian Nov 2012 #75
Mister, you really have to keep up! You should get a passport and do some travel and really CTyankee Nov 2012 #80
Care to guess why the EU got the Nobel peace prize? Lars77 Nov 2012 #87
What exactly are you talking about? davidthegnome Nov 2012 #88
Europe is also cleaning up after the US-led invasions in the middle east. Quantess Nov 2012 #143
"defending Europe"? Hardly. Protecting U.S. corporate interests? More likely. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #84
+1,000! Surya Gayatri Nov 2012 #115
The Marshall Plan helped Europe from 1948 to 1952. They have done well since the end pampango Nov 2012 #150
Suburban sprawl and inner city neglect/decay is main reason ErikJ Nov 2012 #79
"white flight" was engineered. just as "white return/gentrification" is being engineered. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #95
Koch brothers trying to increase sprawl/ prevent gentrification return ErikJ Nov 2012 #101
gentrification = ethnic & class cleansing in the cities, ghettos in the suburbs. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #105
Gentrification = urban renewal = good ErikJ Nov 2012 #110
no, it doesn't mean diversity, and you can prove it yourself by looking at the increased HiPointDem Nov 2012 #111
NYC is special. Most regular cities its great. ErikJ Nov 2012 #118
Where in Europe is there NOT suburban sprawl? Sen. Walter Sobchak Nov 2012 #112
Metro density much higher in Europe ErikJ Nov 2012 #120
No, spending over 50% of all our revenues on corporate welfare for the last 60 years Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #117
it's not so much they can't afford to sprawl; they have urban planning policies against it, to prote amborin Nov 2012 #137
Not fair. They use Socialism. We only have "The Free Market".... Junkdrawer Nov 2012 #81
Fair point. Instead of concentrating their wealth on creating billionaires through corporate welfare Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #119
where is the video of "laughing" Europeans? ha Divine Discontent Nov 2012 #89
I have to agree about the infrastructure rightsideout Nov 2012 #90
Yep, we are a joke to the rest of the world! johnq45 Nov 2012 #91
Americans: "Europe" is not a country! Lars77 Nov 2012 #92
Okay... I think almost everyone knows that, seriously. davidthegnome Nov 2012 #94
It was ment to be light hearted and humorous... Sorry Lars77 Nov 2012 #121
It's okay davidthegnome Nov 2012 #123
I have an MA in American studies and i've studied in west kentucky. Lars77 Nov 2012 #126
I'm laughing too Amaya Nov 2012 #93
I remember my Junior High Civics teacher laughing at Europeans aint_no_life_nowhere Nov 2012 #102
i very well remember that mentality and the absolute *stupidity* of americans HiPointDem Nov 2012 #113
Greece is one of the more poorer countries in Europe Harmony Blue Nov 2012 #125
So DU'ers just lap this shit up... There was a HUGE power outage in Europe in 06. KittyWampus Nov 2012 #130
And how long did it take to restore power? n/t Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #132
Power failure for one hour, six years ago Spider Jerusalem Nov 2012 #139
LOL! You think that's the only power failure in Europe? It was the 1st on google KittyWampus Nov 2012 #160
And yet the fact remains that American infrastructure sucks quite a bit more on average Spider Jerusalem Nov 2012 #164
ONE hour, six years ago... TeeYiYi Nov 2012 #144
Okay, now I'll just post a bunch of other European power outages.... Denmark KittyWampus Nov 2012 #161
London KittyWampus Nov 2012 #162
Munich two days ago. KittyWampus Nov 2012 #163
No-one said Europe never has them Spider Jerusalem Nov 2012 #165
Fail n/t GCP Nov 2012 #156
Republicans hate infrastructure spending ThoughtCriminal Nov 2012 #148
This important artice can be summed up in one sentence ; typeviic Nov 2012 #149
This framing will do more to inspire change duhneece Nov 2012 #151
Message to Europe: America is fully prepared to litigate over the crumbling of our infra­structure! DreamGypsy Nov 2012 #152
We were busy building shit in Iraq elehhhhna Nov 2012 #155
30+ years of Reaganomics is why we are behind AZ Progressive Nov 2012 #157
k&r butterfly77 Nov 2012 #158
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