wow. check out this post on DailyKos by Matt Osborne:

the US interstate system cost about $425 billion to build; even the price at the time — some $114 billion — is more than twice the projected total cost of HSR networks  serving 80% of Americans.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/30/961599/-Starring-Joe-Biden-as-Dagny-Taggart#comments

Above are some things that have me shaking my head at the stupidity and lack of foresight (or,  even less endearing,  actual foresight and reaction of fear of competition that would threaten the oil interests “bottom line”) by our illustrious leaders .  I so LOATHE the oil companies.  Those corporations who keep telling us they had record profits each quarter last year,  even as oil prices kept robbing our  own pockets in a multitude of ways,  and further aggravating the economic woes.  Bastards!  Do they actually think we’re ALL stakeholders?

I would LOVE to ride HSR into town for 10 minutes rather than sit in traffic on the interstates and alternate routes for 40 minutes.  Not only would this save TONS (or er…”gallons” ) of gas,  but make it possible to use even that “compressed” time to maybe gear up for the day (or “unwind” on the way home)  or catchup on some quick reading,  or talk.