Is public transport in the USA owned by car makers?

sir_pronoun@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 47 points –

I once heard that in the middle of 20th century, public transportation in the USA was widely privatized and bought by automotive manufacturers, and then wilfully left to rot, so that people would buy more cars.

However, I can't find anything backing that up. Do you know whether that's true, and where I can find some sources for that?

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I love that distinction. And where does the money go? "Lose money" implies it vanishes, which isn't the case. It goes to companies that then pay their workers. It circulates which should be the point.

It's like saying the Department of Transportation loses billions of dollars annually to build roads for individual vehicles. People find the craziest arguments to fight against anything that benefits the public.

The military budget alone is in the trillions and they've apparently never "wasted" or "lost" a cent.