Comments on: Video: United Streetcar, the only manufacturer of modern streetcars in the USA http://portland.daveknows.org/2009/11/02/video-united-streetcar-the-only-manufacturer-of-modern-streetcars-in-the-usa/ built on an ancient unicorn burial ground Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:15:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Streetcar Steve http://portland.daveknows.org/2009/11/02/video-united-streetcar-the-only-manufacturer-of-modern-streetcars-in-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-5982 Streetcar Steve Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:53:47 +0000 http://portland.daveknows.org/?p=6443#comment-5982 What an interesting fable this is... Government(taxpayers)money given to a munitions company to make a local "US" streetcar - which is simply is a replicate of the Czechoslovakian Skoda 1980's original model - using imported "original manufacturer's parts". Did anyone mention that only one car has been built, and it has not entered public service because it doesn't work properly... Mmmm maybe the company should apply for another taxpayer handout to try and make it work.... what do you think Rick? What an interesting fable this is…

Government(taxpayers)money given to a munitions company to make a local “US” streetcar – which is simply is a replicate of the Czechoslovakian Skoda 1980’s original model – using imported “original manufacturer’s parts”.

Did anyone mention that only one car has been built, and it has not entered public service because it doesn’t work properly…

Mmmm maybe the company should apply for another taxpayer handout to try and make it work…. what do you think Rick?

]]> By: Steve R. http://portland.daveknows.org/2009/11/02/video-united-streetcar-the-only-manufacturer-of-modern-streetcars-in-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-5973 Steve R. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:03:17 +0000 http://portland.daveknows.org/?p=6443#comment-5973 Got a chuckle over all the big "MADE IN USA" hype, with the narrator intoning (buried somewhere in the middle) "over 60%" of the components are made in the US. (Probably about the same for a Chevy, I suppose.) Also, on the their site's FAQ, "Streetcars operate on electric lines, not fossil fuels...." As if electricity just magically appears in those electric lines! (Powered by 60% non-coal energy!) In all seriousness, it is great to assemble these pups here rather than in Europe. I just wish we'd use them to solve transportation problems rather than as subsidies to high-end commercial real estate developers. Got a chuckle over all the big “MADE IN USA” hype, with the narrator intoning (buried somewhere in the middle) “over 60%” of the components are made in the US. (Probably about the same for a Chevy, I suppose.)

Also, on the their site’s FAQ, “Streetcars operate on electric lines, not fossil fuels….” As if electricity just magically appears in those electric lines! (Powered by 60% non-coal energy!)

In all seriousness, it is great to assemble these pups here rather than in Europe. I just wish we’d use them to solve transportation problems rather than as subsidies to high-end commercial real estate developers.

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