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Railroads Struggle to Deliver Coal to Utilities

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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal If someone can simply tell us why the monopolistic characteristics of US railroads is NOT the reason that most succinctly explains their actions, well, post it here. [/quote] OK I'll take a shot at that question. In the capitalistic/consumer/investor type of system that we all live and operate under,most every thing is done for a profit motive. Whatever type of scenario you can find in the railroad industry, you can find nearly the same thing, in one form or another, in every other industry. If you read what everyone has given you for examples just on this thread, you'll see what I mean. To make out like the railroads are big and evil for doing whatever they do, or did in the past, is simply your opinion. An opinion that most on here don't agree with.[:)] [/quote] You're right AND you avoided the more distinct question. Quite an accomplishment![;)] I am not arguing against the profit motive, I am arguing against the monopolistic model in favor of the competitive model. If we really had a competitive rail situation in this nation, threads such as this would not even exist. And BTW, I HAVE NEVER EVER SAID THAT RAILROADS ARE "EVIL". Sorry to shout like that, but certain trolls have put words in my mouth that I never said or implied. I have always extolled that corporations are amoral, neither good nor evil. And no, the *examples* given on this thread are not germaine to the rail situation and the loss of rail capacity. Remember Mr. Sol's admonishment regarding property-bound assets vs mobile assets? If the USA had no auto plants, we'd still have autos, just not US made autos. If the USA had no steel mills, we'd still have steel, just not US manufactured steel. But when we lose rail lines, we lose rail service, which by the way is the product that railroads are selling. A foreign railroad cannot replace our loss of rail service, because it requires that property-bound asset known as the tracks. If it ain't on our shores, we cannot use it.
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