Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

frezik t1_iym6cmv wrote

Reply to comment by ScoobiusMaximus in TIL that the southern United States converted all 11,500+ miles of its railroads from broad gauge (5 ft/1.524 m) to nearly-standard gauge (4 ft 9 in/​1.448 m) in just 36 hours, starting on May 31, 1886 by 1859

You think late 19th century rail workers were treated well? We can't even agree to give them sick days now.

1

ScoobiusMaximus t1_iym71mn wrote

I'm not saying they were treated well, I'm wondering what your point is.

I will point out that labor conditions in the 1880s in the south were a hell of a lot better than they were in the 1850s, yet the south didn't change their rail gauge then despite their massive number of slaves. I don't think labor rules were what made moving the rail gauge then and not before happen. I doubt labor rules today would prevent moving a rail gauge either.

2

frezik t1_iym7i8q wrote

If you get rid of labor rules, you can accomplish a lot. China is slapping together hospitals in a month. Qatar put together a series of World Cup stadiums and hotels in a decade. We don't do that sort of thing in the US anymore, because there's a cost that's being hidden.

1

ScoobiusMaximus t1_iym9w30 wrote

The cost preventing the US from building infrastructure the way China does is a lot more than just labor rules. Our salaries are like 10x higher (to compete with other industry in the US, not because of regulation), environmental laws exist, and land rights are constantly an issue that people sue over for example. The ability to treat your employees like shit won't change those things.

1

frezik t1_iymacir wrote

All those things are interrelated.

2