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Could have the SP survived without UP
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by futuremodal</i> <br /> <br />I appreciate the compliment, but I doubt we'd agree on all that much if your user name is any indication of your feelings about Microsoft. I have no love lost about Microsoft, and yes, Bill Gates is a bit of a left wing ogre, but I believe the whole Justice Department case against Microsoft was misplaced. There are no real barriers to entry into the markets of software development, computer manufactering, computer sales, et al. Besides, Linux-based systems are there to keep Microsoft in check. <br /> <br />Contrast that with the current rail industry, where any thought toward building new lines to compete for rail-based traffic is basically a pipe dream. Even those projects that have been given the initial go-ahead face the possibility of being blocked by the regulatory mire, e.g. DM&E's PRB connection. Once rail companies have been allowed to extract predatory pricing and service denials, there is no way out for those rail shippers who are captive to these rail oligarchs. Once rail companies "achieve" such an oligarchy status, there is no competitive reason for them to take actions which involve risk. Risk aversion means no aggressive marketing and no attempts at innovation to improve market share, since the cream of the market share is already maxed. <br /> <br />It is ironic that the Clinton JD chose to waste millions of dollars going after Microsoft while at the same time Clinton's STB was drunkenly approving just about every merger brought before it, eliminating most aspects of rail competition in much of the country e.g. the "red" states. The mega-mergers of the 1990's have had a more negative affect on average joe consumers than any of Microsofts tactics. <br /> <br />The end result of all this will be one or both of the two major things railroaders fear the most: Either an adoptation of Canadian-style trucking regs (more LCV's, GVW's of up to 146,000 lbs), and/or a re-introduction of some aspect of pre-Staggers rate regulation. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />Well, I guess we can differ in our opinions on computer software developers, and still enjoy the mutually cynical views we have in other areas of interest..[:D] <br /> <br />The other observations you made struck a chord with me, since they run in contrast to the mainstream "rooty-toot" concepts that seem to advocate that the regulative body's only have OUR best interests in mind, and are there to PROTECT us,,etc etc.....under the prevailing opinion that out government wears a white hat,...which is IMHO sheer nonsense... Government protects the hand that feeds it,.. big business and the two together see US as little more than a resource... to fund their ponyshow. <br /> <br />I found these links interesting, in a tangential way <br /> <br />http://www.trainweb.org/utahrails/drgw/timeline.html <br /> <br />Note remark cited as being from a Mr Mark Hemphill.....[;)] Considering he was counseling others earlier in this thread about the advisability or lack thereof in perturbing opinion by the way a subject is addressed, I found it amusing.. <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />http://www.trainweb.org/utahrails/drgw/tidbit.html <br /> <br />I never knew that UP was "rolled into" the SP in the function of their merger....interesting
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