I'm well aware that the geography based argument against HSR is disingenuous. It's also convincing to the general public because the way the American population is distributed is quite homogenous, so it's easier for the democrats and republicans to sell the idea that it won't work. HSR would be a great good to the American working class, but not having it better serves the interests of capital. As long as America remains a liberal democracy, this is likely to remain the case. Hopefully, the territory currently called the United States of America will get high speed rail eventually! I want them to and believe it will be an unalloyed good. But I will eat my hat if it happens without first achieving socialism, or at the very least removing the current neoliberal ruling class (which means both major parties would need to go at the very least), which even without a name change would effectively mean the USA no longer exists.