You want to change things until it falls on you to change it.

@CountScrofula Neither.

@SinlessOnslaught Lmao. The point of it is that a lot of people believe that being right about something will somehow make it happen.

Good idea don't just succeed by their own virtues otherwise the world wouldn't suck. Rather the focus needs to be on 'winning' rather than on having the right take.

@CountScrofula How do I win?

@SinlessOnslaught What's y our elevator pitch on traffic/infrastructure?

@CountScrofula I'm drunk and passing out. I'll respond tomorrow.

@SinlessOnslaught Exactly.

@CountScrofula My pitch on traffic and infrastructure, in a nutshell, is that in the US, when a road becomes congested, we just add more road. That's only PART of the solution and only serves to create MORE congestion if it's all we do.

The government also grapples people for license and registration fees while doing NOTHING to make sure we remain safe and educated drivers.

It results in dangerous roads with stupid drivers and we all pay for it, especially those who can't afford a car or those who die in traffic accidents.

@Graylight "Exactly" what?

@SinlessOnslaught So I don't necessarily agree with road widening as a solution (lookup the concept of induced demand) but whether or not we agree isn't the point of this.

If you want people to get on side find a clear and sane policy position. It can be to specifically widen one road, or implement some kind of municipal level policy that can be realistically achieved about automobile safety. Something winnable rather than big vague ideas.

Then, find the politicians responsible, and start going after them. Write letters. Write op-eds. Start a Facebook group and find like-minded people to do the same. Create political pressure from below where the only release valve is doing the thing you want.

The key thing is to not go after something too big, and target the right pieces of government. That's basic political activity and how you get shit done.

@CountScrofula For awhile I've been considering pushing a local law saying that traffic lights need to be timed so as to pass as much traffic through as possible.

@SinlessOnslaught Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it. And then maybe more cities will follow suit.

@Graylight No more taking a half hour to travel 8 miles (my daily life).

@SinlessOnslaught Dear God, it's getting bad where I live, the fastest growing county in the state and 7th fastest in the nation. Lights can take entire songs and then some, and these were lights that used to last 12-30 seconds. It would be explainable except that it's all made the traffic worse than it was before.