🚀 go-pugleaf

>The interstate highways, interestingly enough, were not originally meant
for
>trucking or even commuting.  They were built as part of a comprehensive
national
>defense system to be able to get military equipment around efficiently.

You are right about starting as the "National Defense Highway System" part.
What this means, is that the system was built for heavy and big trucks.
That is what the military uses.

I remember in the late 1950's some bridges were build a little low and had
to be re-built to accomodate military vehicles.

If we tax gas like the Europeans, we will live like the europeans.   We will
have small houses, small rooms, and the only rural people will be those
receiving a government subsidy.

It is up to the railroads to serve the public need for getting small
shipments around on time.   The government should not force small shippers
to use the railroads by super high gas tax.  (It would require super-high
taxes-even if you DOUBLED the cost of running a truck most of the loads you
see today on the interstate would either not be shipped at all (bad for
business) or still be shipped by truck -- the railroads are that bad).
Even in Europe, both truck and air-freight are steadily increasing.  In UK,
they are eliminating small branch lines of the government owned rail system
and running busses in stead.

John Gilmer@crosslink.net

P.S.:  I accidentally sent an incomplete message, I tried to cancel, if I
didn't I am very sorry.

JLG