patrick.net

Dan8267 says

There are literally an infinite number of things that the free market cannot do well. If that is your definition of few...

http://www.freemarketfailures.com/

Where the fuck is the infinite?

Dan8267 says

Also, a truly free market cannot exist along side corporations. By their very nature, corporations make the market not free.

Not true, you are thinking of monopolies, which there is no such thing save government.

Dan8267 says

Almost everyone who advocates the free market as a utopia would be horrified if a free market were to actually be established as economic profits would plummet and people would have to actually work for a living instead of rent seeking.

I would say they would be horrified by the dystopian state that would result from what you advocate.

BTW Somalia is not a free market it is an anarchy.

Dan8267 says

New Renter says

OK

#1 and #2 and #3

Yes, some technology will have to be developed. Consider that a great way to stimulate the economy, create jobs that are useful, and end the depression. Much better than bailing out banks and increasing unemployment benefits.

Permanent magnets would be used to life the vehicles. Artificial permanent magnets if necessary. I wouldn't be surprised if in the near future you could use a 3D printer to print artificial magnets.

I doubt that lack of technology will prevent us from building a maglift highway. Just look at what's going on already…

http://phys.org/news68475451.html
http://ens-newswire.com/2012/06/05/volkswagen-creates-maglev-hover-car/
http://www.automoblog.net/2012/10/06/maglev-cars/

Cool! Mr Garrison already invented this though:

All fun aside how much power it it talking to levitate that thing? Would permanent magnets be up to the job, especially when loaded down with freight?

Political will and transitioning the current infrastructure to a new one will be the biggest challenge, but even that can be done in phases with both infrastructures living side by side, or more precisely, the new on top of the old.

#4

The maglift roads would be built in 3D above existing lanes. Over time, drivers switch from ground cars to maglift cars, possibly by driving their ground car into a maglift car. Maglifts travel at 100 mph in inner city vs 20 mph for ground cars, so people have incentive to switch at least for the majority of their commute.

Couple of problems with that idea. Building elevated maglev tracks above existing roads will create havoc on said roads for at least a decade. What about tunnels and overpasses? Obscure rural roads?

Emergency vehicles can continue to use the far less congested ground roads. Eventually, only emergency vehicles and pedestrians (cyclists included) use the ground roads.

#5

That's political will. Tough cookies to the rich snobs who think the maglift roads are eyesores. They can get use to it or move to the country. If they bitch, threaten them with a wealth tax.

Riiiight...Good luck with that.

#6

No additional surface area is needed as the maglift roads would be above the ground roads. Building in three dimensions allows us to add additional lanes without slowing down or obstructing traffic.

Stacked thoroughfares aren't the best solution:

Oakland 1989

Kobe 1995

Sure you can argue better engineering would have prevented it, no argument there. I'm sure the engineers who designed THESE structures had confidence in them as well.