From his Feb 2013 column in Trains:
"Obama's disconnect has been that he seems to see passenger trains as having only two purposes: a political talking point or a way to spread tax money to influence the maximum number of voters."
"Amtrak could use good dose of practical thinking. Amtrak likes to claim it is mostly a private industry. Why doesn't it act like one? It is difficult for me to believe that Amtrak is taking so many months to reorganize itself."
See? It' s not just me!
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Both Don and Fred are terrific assets for TRAINS
oltmannd"Obama's disconnect has been that he seems to see passenger trains as having only two purposes: a political talking point or a way to spread tax money to influence the maximum number of voters."
--Don Phillips
I just don't see that. Personally I can see a lot better ways to improve the rail transit we have before we start to spend money to lay down new tracks for a new high speed rail system. But it is not clear to me that a majority of voters agree with HSR. I think President Obama sees other countries succeeding with HSR and wants that same kind of success for his own country.
daveklepper Both Don and Fred are terrific assets for TRAINS
Absolutely!
John WRPersonally I can see a lot better ways to improve the rail transit we have before we start to spend money to lay down new tracks for a new high speed rail system. But it is not clear to me that a majority of voters agree with HSR. I think President Obama sees other countries succeeding with HSR and wants that same kind of success for his own country.
The problem was it was $8B, drip here, a drib there and not enough in one place to actually accomplish much of anything.
I'm with you in that we need to beef up what we have before we go off plowing green fields. We need to do this incrementally. HSR isn't a moon shot.
Yes, HSR is more like a Pluto shot.
Johnny
oltmanndHSR isn't a moon shot.
I wonder how much the subsidy is for each person who has taken a space ship to outer space.
John WR oltmanndHSR isn't a moon shot. I wonder how much the subsidy is for each person who has taken a space ship to outer space.
Compared to other modes of travel to space? Zero.
oltmanndCompared to other modes of travel to space? Zero.
I think you have the right idea, Don. Amtrak subsidies can only be compared with Amtrak subsidies trains with the same origin and destination.
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