Sure, California is a failed state on a lot of fronts, but Musk literally said he was pushing hyperloop for that reason. https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/editorials/article26445107...

Whether he was the only reason for high speed rail being derailed and delayed isn't really the point. He intentionally worked against mass transit, and lied repeatedly about hyperloop as part of that.

Certainly not a Musk fan, but IMO the real point of hyperloop was more that it's on a route that could be constructed within our lifetimes. (Unlike CAHSR, check their website.) Of course, California knows this because that's where they built Interstate 5.

> California is a failed state on a lot of fronts

Some people really should just rm -rf their boot disk cause I feel dumber for having read their comment.

I think you've missed the point - that wasn't the reason at all. In a way he was right too - we'll have fully autonomous buses and private vehicles capable of making the full trip down the I-5 long before they complete even the middle of nowhere section they currently have planned.