i have many issues with the ethics and morals that comprise the current chinese dynasty. but they are extraordinarily rational when it comes to the great imperial forces of the world. it costs a government less, long term, to implement big public works projects. the technology for high speed rail will reduce traffic jams, reduce infrastructure maintenance costs, and boost the economy but it will take 30 years to bear fruit? china will do that because it's cheaper.

meanwhile here everything is analyzed and implemented in 2 year increments. it's unsustainable

This is probably unachievable in Western countries, since they expect the metro systems to make a profit, which makes no sense whatsoever.

It's the difference between making profit

• Widening gulf between price and cost, then pocketing the difference

And value

• Widening the gulf between cost and utility, then increasing the overall value of the economic system

Businesses are absolutely profiting off Chinese HSR. They just aren't the rail network operators. They're the operator's clients.

Incidentally, America does have comparable systems. We just do it for cars and planes, not trains