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ArkRoyal wrote: I am still waiting for them to prove Russian cullison, especially as he has now pulled out of the nuclear treaty with Moscow. From what i have read, a lot of money does need to be pumped into infra-structure, because, in general the yanks are hostile to 'internal improvements' lest the government favours one state over another. In short, they have been a do nothing country since Eisenhower's time.

That's quite a long time since Eisenhower, anyway certainly long before my time. Pretty disappointing they have been a do nothing country since him (bet Reagan is having a little turn in his grave right now at that one). Interesting for me is where you read it? Wouldn't mind having a butcher's at that material myself. Cheers

oool: the best book on US history is 'the great republic: A history of the American People'. Try not to be put off by the title as it is quite a critical book in parts.

Ark ..Eisenhower AKA Ike.The same man that organised and overseen the D-Day landings.June 6 1944.And ran the invasion from France to Germany...

gtrxuone wrote: Ark ..Eisenhower AKA Ike.The same man that organised and overseen the D-Day landings.June 6 1944.And ran the invasion from France to Germany...

Ark you are right about the infrastructure, most dates from 50s and 60s, as you say the US is a privateer economy, public works and spending is something that's really on the back burner.

I noticed public infrastructure pretty run down, there were bridges that looked held together by rust and concrete cancer, public transport was pretty run down, better in some places than others, Washington was really smicko and well maintained had one of the best Metro systems around, but New York subway is one of the worst I've seen , Boston was OK in patches but pretty bad in others, Penn Station in NYC is a grotty crap hole - apparently they are allocating a heap of money to re do that.
One positive was the newish high-speed rail line I think built early 2000s, that runs Boston New York Washington DC , it wasn't quite to Euro or Japan standards but it was pretty good and some of the most comfortable seating I've had on trains, a great trip up and down to DC, as you go along you see a lot the areas that have been devasted by the down turn in Manufacturing , Philly - Pennsylvania , Baltimore Maryland and Wilmington Delaware etc, I saw quite a few Vote Trump Signs in people yards in those working class areas.

mate...I did the Amtrak run from DC to NY back in the early 90's on my way up to Montreal. What really struck me was the difference between the main city areas in places like Baltimore and Philly and the squalor only a few blocks back from the main drags. This was also highlighted in Atlantic City where you had the bright lights and glitz of the casinos and only 100 meters away was abject poverty and destitution. The US is certainly a contradiction in many places.

Yep it’s true mate the vineer is really thin, most people in the US live week to week and a lot of cities are pretty ugly as you say, at the moment surveys reveal 70% of Americans have less than 400 bucks in savings, which I can believe because I tell you what cost of living is not cheap and wages are low, and they seem to burn cash up on eating out a lot etc... most people are only just keeping up.

Yeah Atlantic City has had a rough reputation for decades it’s all a bit tragic around there.

Baz they have allocated an. Enormous amount of money to fix this problem. 10 Trillion dollars This is so big America will need 10 million legal workers immigrants in the next decade.

gtrxuone wrote: Baz they have allocated an. Enormous amount of money to fix this problem. 10 Trillion dollars This is so big America will need 10 million legal workers immigrants in the next decade.

It is, they reckon Detroit and Chicago are even worse.

Bazza wrote:

gtrxuone wrote: Baz they have allocated an. Enormous amount of money to fix this problem. 10 Trillion dollars This is so big America will need 10 million legal workers immigrants in the next decade.

It is, they reckon Detroit and Chicago are even worse.

They where the 2 big bust city's that started the GFC.Realestate sub prime loans+shutdown of automotive manufacturing.