Bring on the Railways!!

Just read an interesting article on CNN on the issues airlines face with overweight passengers. Normal sized people feel that fat people are encroaching on space and that airlines should have the right to throw these people off or make them buy two seats. Overweight people feel that it is discriminatory against them, and that as a whole, people in this country are getting bigger and that airlines should accomodate this by making bigger seats. I feel for both sides. I'm 5'3, 130lbs, fit perfectly into a seat, and still find flying uncomfortable. On the rare occasions that I do get an exit row, bulkhead seating, or an upgrade, I'm in heaven and thank god there is some advantage to being short and small. I can't imagine what it is like for the 6', 200lb folks, much less the people considered to be "overweight."

I actually wrote a blog some time ago on how much I've come to hate flying (see post Boycott Flying). I realize eliminating flying entirely is difficult, but how about looking at alternatives? This country is severely lacking in public transportation options. Obama unveiled a high-speed railway plan sometime ago, which is a good start, but probably not good-enough. I don't think the people of America realize just how much we need a railway system. Look at the wonders that it has done in places like Europe and Japan. Think of the vast amounts of time Americans spend sitting in traffic in large metropolitan areas. Wake up, America! We needed to get going on this railway project long time ago!! Not only do we need the metro system in cities, we need a railway system to get us to & from various cities. Flying has become a nightmare for everyone - we need alternatives. Bring on the railways!!