Are they stupid?
(Yes)

Train infrastructure is so underfunded (thx oil) that you can still get the fingering at most train stations for a really reasonable fee.

Because they like TSA fingering their assholes?

I really really wish I wasn't American

I was in Switzerland and the trains there are incredible. Even the tiniest village in buttfucksburg, nowhere has a train connecting it to the rest of the country.

I live in South Korea and HSRs are pretty much the only mode of (intercity) transportation that is relevant. Buses take too long, planes are expensive, while HSR(KTX)s are marginally cheaper than buses and take about ⅔ of a time.

Of course, our country's much much smaller than US/Canada so even the farthest lane takes only about 2.5 hours. It's pretty cool.

The cost of dedicated passenger rail lines is staggering, and the US has a LOT of ground to cover.

Something something Hungarian National Railway fucking useless once you go further than a 100 kms from the capital city.

I kind of like the thought of me pissing in the train and it travelling 300+ kph sideways and 9.8 m/s² downwards

Trains not planes is a much more reasonable and practical way to get people behind building more railways than planes not cars. We can talk planes not cars once some of the initial infrastructure is in place, but I think focusing on replacing something people hate (flying) rather than replacing something they like (driving) is probably a good place to start.

Planes are safer. Plus, TSA is the only way I get any sexual contact. I'm not giving that up.

EDIT: Y'all are free to look this up. Planes safer per mile and trains safer per trip. Pick which stat you want to use.

I recently went on a holiday using high speed rail in Europe (1100km). Flying was cheaper and faster. Sadly I have feeling of empathy and principles so I went with the train anyway. Wasn't too bad though just did a lot of reading.