Well, Amtrak has been a political "Ping-Pong Ball" even before its inception. It was never expected to turn a profit, but neither do the "Interstate Highways".. It is a publicly funded mode of transport. As are the Interstate Highways. Same can be said for the Waterways... The Army Corps of Engineers maintains all that, but it is an integral part of our infrastructure, just the same. There are some people that think our country would be better off without any taxes. Well, that is stupid. Without taxes, are the trucking companies going to fix the roads? I doubt it. Without taxes, are the Airline companies going to maintain the Airports? I doubt it. Next time you hit a pot-hole in the road, who do you think will fix it? Will it be a privately owned corporation, or the local road commision? So, Taxes are not such a bad thing. You know, we all have to contribute to the better society. Without that, we will become a 3rd world country, and that is NOT who we are...
Todd
Trinity River Bottoms Boomer Not to get political, but does anyone know Senator McCain's stand on transportation in the US, including Amtrak?
Not to get political, but does anyone know Senator McCain's stand on transportation in the US, including Amtrak?
He was not a fan, and attempted to eliminate the federal funding Amtrak receives.
But unlike most politicians he could tell when he had lost an argument, there was a memorable exchange between McCain and then-Amtrak president David Gunn where McCain once again advocated for killing Amtrak's subsidy. Gunn then asked McCain if he would demand the same of the commuter airlines that serve Arizona and other western states.
McCain did not reply.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
The funeral held for this GREAT American Hero was very moving. The words spoken by his family, especially daughter Meghan McCain's eulogy, was an inspriration in it's own way. Former POTUS Bush and Obama spoke highly of Senator and Military Veteran John McCain as well, both vividly describing the current sorry state of affairs in DC today.
YES, ladies and gentlemen.. We will, unforunately never see the likes of him again. Not in the current state of our political system.
Nice posting Dude. Saw a couple of TV segments on the connection with the Robert Service poem and his trek to the Yukon to the cabin. Amazing story. Shane Doan a pallbearer, very nice,
McCain's Klondike connection:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.4800295/john-mccain-s-yukon-trip-led-him-to-sam-mcgee-s-cabin-1.4800300
I didn't agree with a number of McCain's political positions, but I know he genuinely believed they were the right things to do and was truly trying to change things for the better. That is a lot more than I can say for most of the current crop of politicians.
Another Canadian connection:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-shane-doan-arizona-john-mccain-memorial-1.4801994
One of his most endearing attributes was his sense of humor. Three days before the 2008 election, he hosted Saturday Night Live, which included him in a sketch featuring Tina Fay as Sarah Palin. I can't imagine a candidate doing that now.
You can search YouTube for "John McCain SNL"...or Google "McCain Sings Streisand" for another classic!!
So am I Dave. I served in the US Army Transportation Corps in Germany. I visited Dachau in 1965 as a young 18 year old GI. Even now, in 2018, I still cannot imagine what man was capable of doing to fellow human beings. Being escourted through the concentraton camp one could still smell the stale air of death in the shower room! Prior to this I well remember watching the 1959 motion picture The Diary of Anne Frank and not only cried but secretly fell in love with her! I was 13 at the time.
I visit the synagogue here in Ansbach when it is open to the public (next date: Sept. 9, 2018) and always silently and respectfully say prayers for all the Jewish people who perished, not only during Germany's Terrible Reign of Terror during the Third Reich, but all who have been killed due to the hate carried in many men's hearts.
No, this isn't a political site but back on the subject of classic trains, I have watched the docs on TV about the deportation of the Jews who were transported in Deutsche Reichsbahn 4-wheel goods wagons with barbed wire covered over the small ventilaton slots. The ones that have been preserved can surely tell some nasty stories and I can't help but wonder if the remains of blood (DNA) can still be detected in the wood if professionally checked for same?
God Help Mankind. We as people can't do it alone in Century 21 and Thank God for brave men like The Honorable John McCain who served his country with pride. RIP.
Item: We not only lost a great statesman in America, but August 25, 2018, we celebrated the 100th birthday of the late and great composer Leonard Bernstein. The joint German-Austrian-Swiss TV Channel Sat1 carried his biography and also the motion picture production of West Side Story. I couldn't help but think about the one time New York Central West Side Freight Line. A portion of the elevated section has been preserved and restored to the best of my knowledge. Will do an update this week for my own observation.
This is a sad day indeed. Please pray for world peace like you have never done before.
McCain is a big loss to the American Democracy. He has been the common sense rudder to attempt to keep the ship of state on beneficial course. Fly away John!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
"Fair winds and following seas" to you, Senator (and Captain) McCain.
A Vietnam hero and great public servant. In addition to his father and grandfather I'm sure there's a lot of great Navy men waiting to shake his hand and say "Welcome aboard!"
And by the way folks, don't think he's the last of his kind, far from it. There's a rising generation of young veterans stepping into the public arena and ready to pick up the ball and run with it. John McCain would be the first to agree.
And since I'm sure the Senator wouldn't like to leave us in a downcast mood, here's a little motivational music I'm sure he'd approve of...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acnt3r6z5ns
Give it a few seconds to load.
PS: I don't know what it's like now, but back in John McCain's day when you graduated the US Naval Academy you graduated with a degree in engineering and could hold your own with another engineer from any institution, anywhere. Which means ol' John was a pretty sharp guy despite his "wild man" antics at Annapolis.
My heart felt condolences to John McCain's family.
Jones 3D Modeling Club https://www.youtube.com/Jones3DModelingClub
Over here in Australia, he was remembered as a great man.
A scene from the Presidential race against Obama was shown tonight. A woman had said that Obama was "an Arab". Mc Cain stopped, walked over to her and said "Obama is a citizen, a family man, a fine man. I disagree with him on some issues but I respect him." I recalled seeing that during the campaign. For some time, the US Navy has had a ship with the name of his grandfather and father. It will now commemorate his name as well. He came to Australia recently to discuss China and its expansionist policies and this was appreciated.
We need more men like him today.
Peter
I am deeply grieved.
I just a day ago was applauding his decision to go off treatment and just live whatever life was left in peace and dignity. Sadly he only lasted a day. Rest in peace John.
I know this is not a political forum, and I will not get upon a soap box. But we have to honor the decades and decades of service to our country given by John Mc Cain. A True Viet-Nam Hero, no matter what Trump says. He has given his ALL, his entire life. Five years as a "P.O.W.", In a cage....!!!! The man was was a true hero! Always did what was right. I have words for Trump, but I'll not publish them here.. This is not the proper stage for that.
I am Deeply saddened by tonights news of his passing. Our lives will be deeply affected by his absence.. One less "sane person" in Congress..
God Bless You John. You will be missed..
Todd Cline
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