It's pointed and funny, but not broad like many of the videos on Funny or Die. Not that I'm saying there's something wrong with being broad, its just that its hard to even call this one a parody. It sticks so closely to the tone of the show it could almost have come out of an episode.
I love the message, too. With increasingly high gas prices, pollution, traffic congestion, not to the mention the cost and anxieties of air travel, I've wanted to see a greater emphasis on rail systems for awhile now. Apparently, in real life Vincent Kartheiser doesn't own a car and relies entirely on public transportation to get around, so its nice to know this is an issue really close to his heart. It seems the locomotive might once again emerge as the future of transportation and industry in this country and I couldn't be more pleased. Actually, and I know this isn't exactly the kind of high-speed rail they're talking about, but if there is one dream vacation I envision for myself in the future it's a cross-country trip on a luxury train.
At the end of the video there is a link for madfasttrains.com, which will take you to a U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) website. There you can send a message to your senator about your support for high-speed rail and make a donation if you're so inclined. For any donation over $10 you'll receive a bumper sticker with the slogan "I'd rather be riding high-speed rail!". Which is a slogan I think would get you thrown out of Don Draper's office. It might as well be "The cure for the common traffic jam", or something like that. I liked what Harry was pitching in the video, "Smoking car or smoking car?", but that's a little abstract for a slogan. His other one's better: "Parking is murder". I'd rather have that bumper sticker -
Save a Space.
Ride the Rail...
