Rail produces externalised goods, the same way that not having rail, i.e. suburbia + truck traffic gridlock, is producing externalised costs and opportunity costs. Short term thinking, colloquially called “being stupid” and incentivised by capital-centric political economy, doesn’t even recognise the concept of externalised good: “but I’m paying for people I don’t like” - first-day-in-society people complaining like 12 year olds that they have to do the dishes sometimes.
I don’t even go to school why should I have to pay for it! (Benefits materially from ubiquitous public education daily)
I’m not sick why should I have to pay for other people to go to the doctor! (Benefits materially from people being generally healthier than people without healthcare daily)
I prefer the freedom of my huge SUV why should I pay for people to take the train or ride their bike without the fear of death by car! (Benefits materially from people using other forms of transit daily)
I wish these people could think more than one step beyond the immediate personal cost.
Rail produces externalised goods, the same way that not having rail, i.e. suburbia + truck traffic gridlock, is producing externalised costs and opportunity costs. Short term thinking, colloquially called “being stupid” and incentivised by capital-centric political economy, doesn’t even recognise the concept of externalised good: “but I’m paying for people I don’t like” - first-day-in-society people complaining like 12 year olds that they have to do the dishes sometimes.
I don’t even go to school why should I have to pay for it! (Benefits materially from ubiquitous public education daily)
I’m not sick why should I have to pay for other people to go to the doctor! (Benefits materially from people being generally healthier than people without healthcare daily)
I prefer the freedom of my huge SUV why should I pay for people to take the train or ride their bike without the fear of death by car! (Benefits materially from people using other forms of transit daily)
I wish these people could think more than one step beyond the immediate personal cost.