I just don't get the fascination with technology from the 19th century.. I'm sure Willie Green is doing the happy dance..
You have to look at it from the big picture and most people don't. It isn't about getting people to ride trains at all.
Let me explain it like this. Today, lets say it's nice out and you want to get some yard work done. So you hop in the F350, head to home depot and pick up some supplies. Maybe a new lawn mower to replace the old Craftsman your grandfather used in the 60s. Still runs but it's a bit long in the tooth. So you go load up the great beast, get home, mow your lawn and do all that fixer upper he man ARG AGR ARGHHHH!!!! Tim Allen stuff.
Because you can. Because your F350 allows you to whenever your ambition and cash/time allows.
Ever notice how small homes and yards are in most of Europe and Japan? Thats in part because it's hard to haul all that material goods stuff on a bicycle or take it on a train in one or 20 trips. So they restructure their lives and their entire society around it. America is seen as the land of the McMansion because we can actually get the goods from A-B without UNION delivery services every step of the way and paying them the added taxes and fees. Which then go in part to govt coffers.
Imagine as an American, being unable to get in your F350 and do whatever it is you need/want to because not only are the roads too narrow to fit te beast, but Gas is $6 a gallon or more. Odds are you would restructure a lot of your life to live with less simply as you could not move it or even get the new hotness home without added and major expense.
That leads to businesses like mining/forestry shrinking a lot and many companies closing, greatly reduced fuel sales,thus increasing the price and taxes even more. You will travel less and stay in the same areas simply to save money.
You might recognize Agenda 21 above. Starting to understand yet?
