Passenger Trains in Mexico

Even the staunchest Progressives don't understand the astronomical fees, slow-motion construction and bureaucratic bullship. The Chinese would build it in a year.

Actually we understand very well, much better than you think. But it's a tradeoff. Generally it's a good idea to have an environmental impact statement, public input, paying a living wage with benefits, building up to the highest standards, respecting property rights and many other things. But those things take a lot of time and can mean enormous extra costs. Sometimes such regulations are onerous and burdensome and dumb. But since there are an infinite number of variations, it's impossible to craft regulations to fit all contingencies. Regulations, even dumb ones, are the price we pay to live in a relatively civilized, first-world society. The Chinese, on the other hand, pay little attention to such frivolities. Projects can be greenlighted and completed very quickly, at a minimum cost. But the downside is that you have to live in an authoritarian dictatorship without any regard for the environment or public sentiment. Being a dictatorship has its benefits that way. Like I said, tradeoffs.