Not sure why you say "if that was so easy, why bother counting the votes at all?". My estimate isn't really easy in that it's based on 86% of votes counted statewide, thanks to the hard work done by election officials, poll workers, and volunteers in Nevada.
Agreed but I've seen arguments both ways. If I had to bet, I think the Biden shift will be stronger than my prediction but I chose to adopt a more conservative assumption.
I'm not even reading your comments any more because I know exactly who you are...
- You're the "I'm smarter than you" person.
- You're the "instead of getting the point of an aspirational piece, I look for technicalities" person.
- You're the "I've never submitted anything to HN but I critique everyone else's submissions" person.
- You're the "well, actually" person.
In short, you're the reason Hacker News has such a sadly unwelcoming reputation. Well done sir or madam.
Re: 5 vs. 4, again, it's aspirational. How do you know what's possible by 2040?
Re: highways, thank you for pointing that out. I've fixed the article by s/interstate highway system/public works program/ with link to the details. Btw, FDR spent over $4B on highways, roads, and streets, a considerable sum in those days.
Re: You can't aspire using the impossible." Naysayers like you are why we may hever have this.
1. The article is meant to be aspirational, not literal. We're talking about 2040 and what we could accomplish, if we put our minds to it.
2. I did the same calculations you did but went with a more provocative headline for reason cited in 1. above.
3. Re: only benefiting NY & SF, if you read my article you would know that I'm advocating a network of trains to replace the antiquated, wasteful, and enviironmentally unfriendly extant network of highway systems.
In response to your final comment about bad math, etc, I would say that your feedback is replete with the kind of overrly-literal interpretation, detail knitpicking, and generally holier than thou attitude that has given HN a bad reputation. Nonetheless, thank you for sharing your thoughts.