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Per the reference to Mark's column, so you want equalization of so-called subsidies but not equalization of price competition? Isn't that just plain hypocrasy? Putting aside for the moment the argument over whether the federal user fees for trucking can even be called a subsidy, why do the same people who are opposed to competitive access for rail shippers are the same people who are lobbying the federal government for financial aid to make the needed improvements to the nation's rail infrastructure and capacity? Can't you see that the current situation of capacity constraints was brought about by Staggers and the subsequent monopolistic behaviours of the railroads? Monopolistic behaviours breed inefficiencies, it's in every economics textbook, and it is proved to be true in real world experiences at every turn. BTW, differential pricing and monopolistic pricing are one and the same. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. If the rates being paid by captive shippers are a monopolistic differentiation above those expected in a competitive environment, it's a monopoly situation. And now you want to exasterbate this unfairness and inherent market inefficiecy by sequestering taxpayer's dollars to feed the beast? Open access itself can take on many forms depending at what level and degree of implementation you are talking about. Are you talking about a federal takeover of the nation's rail grid? with compensation? without compensation? including or excluding Class II and Class III lines? Are you talking about a separation of infrastructure owning companies from rolling stock companies? If so, are you assuming the infrastructure companies are completely private? a private-public consortium? or a public corporation aka Conrail and Amtrak? For the latter two, do you include tax credits and other incentives to aid in operations, or direct subsidies, or do they go it alone? Are you taking any of the above examples and applying them to the whole nation, or just selected rail corridors where either capacity constraints or where number of captive shippers begs for federal intervention? Are you only applying open access to new rail corridors or additions to be constructed by the feds, or currently dual use lines? Are you talking about reregulation wherein all shippers get competitive rate access and the owning railline has to haul cargo for a competitor at a set rate? Etc., etc., etc.
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