Great? Let’s make America functional and efficient

After a recent visit to Norway, I wished that one of the presidential candidates would have had the slogan “Let’s make America functional and efficient again.”

In stark contrast to present-day America, Norway is functional and efficient. Norway has a population about half that of North Carolina so how is it able to accomplish all that it has? It has rich oil reserves from the North Sea, but it is saving most of the income from this resource for future generations – it is saving.

The intercity trains are electric, quiet, run on time, provide a smooth ride, have new equipment and are fast (not bullet but faster than U.S. trains). Bergen has a light-rail system that opened in 2010, expanded in 2013 and will be expanded next year to reach its new airport terminal. The light rail is wildly successful. There is standing room only during most of the day. During rush hours, the trains have a 4-minute head space and a 7-minute head space at other times.

At each clean, comfortable station, a digital sign tells riders when the next two trains will arrive. Bergen’s light rail is faster than the St. Louis’ light rail because it does not need to slow down at each crossing even without crossing gates. Are people smarter in Norway than the U.S.? Probably not, but they know not to drive or walk in front of a train.

The equipment is all new. The stations are all new. The next station name appears on a digital board in each car and is announced orally. Then a few seconds before each stop, a distinct melody announces the stop. For example, for the stop near Edward Grieg’s house, a snippet of his music is played.

constantly improving

It also has an extensive bus system with a digital sign at each stop telling which buses stop there and when the next one is to arrive. Oslo, a city about the size of the Raleigh area, has relocated many of its roads underground to make the city pedestrian friendly. It has an underground subway, a tram system and an extensive bus system.

Norway is constantly improving its highway system, which is no small task since the mountainous terrain requires much tunneling. Why is Norway willing to develop a functioning, efficient society?

Several Norwegians said that Norway is a new country (independence from Sweden in 1905) and there is considerable enthusiasm among the population to work together to make Norway a wonderful place to live and work. The citizens are willing to invest to make the country functional and efficient. They are putting the well-being of all ahead of each one.

In the U.S., even the talk of raising the user fee on gasoline causes an uproar and nothing happens. Our infrastructure is crumbling while Norway’s is improving. In Norway, it seems that the people want to work together.

Here is a scene that I observed in Bergen, which highlighted significant differences in the cultures of the two countries. While watching the light-rail trains go by at one station, I noticed elementary children, both boys and girls, getting on and off the trains without parental oversight. They seemed to be quite happy as they were conversing with one another.

This scene would never be repeated in the U.S.

From 1825 to 1925, a third of Norway’s population emigrated to the U.S. because it was then the land of opportunity. Now some Norwegians are saying that in the 21st century the emigration may be in the other direction.

Can the U.S. become functional and efficient? Can we find leaders who want to bring people together rather than divide them? The future does not look bright now, but maybe at some point Americans will say enough is enough and move toward a functional and efficient society.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Great? Let’s make America functional and efficient."