Then it was "Smart Diplomacy" that's fracturing NATO.
Now it's High Speed rail to "keep up with China". Oops:
China’s massive high-speed rail network is being called unsafe, unprofitable and corrupt.Oh, and the tickets are so expensive that the trains are empty. Boy, you put enough Ivy League grads in positions of power, and things just happen.
The Chinese Railways Ministry Chief, Liu Zhijun was in charge of the construction of the railway, spanning almost 8,100 miles across China and reportedly costing $395 billion U.S. dollars.
Liu was fired In February. He’s now behind bars and under investigation for “severe violations of discipline.” During his seven years as chief, he embezzled a personal fortune of $120 billion U.S. dollars.
Corruption is not the only problem plaguing China’s railways. Experts say shoddy materials were used to cut costs. According to a source for the New York Times, the concrete bases for the tracks were so cheaply made, with insufficient hardening agents that the tracks would warp in five years.
Oh yeah, a village in Texas is missing its idiot, or something. Glad we got rid of all those dim-bulbs and got Top Men on things.
Hat tip: The Antiplanner.
What do you wanna bet this little nugget never makes the Evening News, especially the "behind-bars" bit?
ReplyDeleteCan't be inspiring the masses, now can we.
"across China and reportedly costing $395 billion U.S. dollars."
ReplyDeleteI assume it didn't cost us $395 billion dollars. I assume it cost China the EQUIVALENT of that, though.
Sloppy reporting.
My momma alway said, "stupid is as stupid does".
ReplyDeleteHanding political animals money and power is stupid and if you do, you get what you deserve. Good and hard, as H.L. Mencken used to say.
Reminds me of "The Simpsons" Monorail episode. Coming to a moronic American city near you (via Lord Obammy)...
ReplyDeleteWait a minute! Are you telling me that a high speed rail project isn't the answer to everything? Politicians are corrupt, buy shoddy materials and pocket the difference?
ReplyDeleteRight. Next thing you'll be telling me green energy is just hype.
Well isn't this a shock...
ReplyDeleteJim
They execute embezzlers in China.
ReplyDeleteJust saying.
Executin embezzlers stops em snitchin on the boss.
ReplyDeleteLessons/prophecies there for "Gunwalkers"?
As a seperate thought, are huge vanity projects like China's high speed rail, a symptom that so many eff ups have accumulated in the system, and people have got so accustomed to them that they now don't recognize them?
If so, me thinks the big fire sales can't be long in coming.