Amtrak, airlines, highways, government and the "free market"

[oltmannd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...More smoke and mirrors.

Yes, but potentially successful smoke and mirrors, the same ones used by highway, airlines and waterways.

[Modelcar]

...More smoke and mirrors.

[Anonymous]

An excellent article and a very interesting read. I think that Paul Weyrich may very well be onto Amtrak's possible source(s) of salvation, here. Given that he's been a close personal friend and confidant of both the current President Bush AND his father, it will be interesting to find out whether Paul's suggested strategies mirror President Bush's thinking. BTW, Paul is also the head of the Free Congress Foundation think tank.

Sincerely, Ross R. Moore, Jr.

[oltmannd]

He make the case that unbundling Amtrak and parcelling out the pieces by function can reduce costs in some cases, hide the subsidy in others (ala air traffic control and highway subsidy), and allow for some functional pieces to make a "profit". Neither airlines nor trucking make a profit except that their subsidies are either well hidden or unquestioned. He's like to see Amtrak on the same footing.

[oltmannd]

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2296

Paul Weyrich opinion piece on Amtrak reform. Interesting reading.