Fred Frailey has a lot of praise for Amtrak's Joe Boardman. In Trains for May Frailey gives a long list of the the good things that are happening at Amtrak while Boardman presides. He says the good things are more important than the fact that Boardman can be cranky.
Well, if Joe Boardman it sometimes cranky perhaps it can be understood. Can we even imagine a Member of Congress complaining to William H. Vanderbilt or E. H. Harriman that he was loosing too much money on hamburgers sold on his trains? Yet this is the level of criticism Boardman puts up with.
But things may be looking up. According to my morning paper, The Newark Star-Ledger, the sequester is requiring our Members of Congress to reduce their own spending. For example, House Speaker John Boehner has told his fellow House members that they must cut back on transportation expenses. They can no longer use military aircraft to travel but have been reduced to using commercial airlines.
The next time I buy an Amtrak hamburger I'll think of the sacrifice Members of Congress make for me.
I was happy to see Fred Frailey's remarks about Boardman...he echoed one point that I have expounded on several times, the point that more than any Amtrak President, Joe Boardman has the experience to do his job with Amtrak itself while dealing with government people from Congressmen on down. His background is with government transportation agencies to NY State DOT and the US FRA. He knows this way around the railroad as well as round the Halls of Government.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
$15 hamburgers are merely a symbol or metaphor for what's wrong with Amtrak.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
henry6He [Joe Boardman] knows this way around the railroad as well as round the Halls of Government.
You are more than absolutely right, Henry. But to take it a step beyond this I wonder why Joe Boardman puts up with this. If you subtract the pension he might get from his salary I bet he is working for very little money now. He could easily decide he doesn't need the John Micas of the world and just retire and chop wood.
But he doesn't and I, for one, am grateful.
I've known many business and political leaders at many levels over the past 50 adult years. I've known Joe for about 25 years (not a friend or bosom buddy, but as a business acquaintance and, thus, have followed his career). Like the others, I believe he first of all, likes what he does for a living. Because he likes it, like the others, he finds more ways to like the work, enjoy and revel in the victories and use defeats as challenges to do better or make a change and not, instead, fold the tent and go home. The MIcas are the wood they all look forward to chopping if only by chipping away at them.
Well, Henry, if you've met Joe Boardman and been able to hear him in person you certainly know more about him than I do. I have never even been near him. All my life I worked for the Federal Government. My own experience is that a lot of management employees burn out although I don't know why. But I do know enough about Joe Boardman to know that he is absolutely not burned out. In fact, everything I've seen about him reflects enthusiasm about his job. And as I said, I am grateful that he is.
As far as John Mica goes, what is clear is that his criticisms have nothing to do with Amtrak and everything to do with his political problems in Florida. He did win the last Republican nomination but from what I've seen it was a hard fight that left him and Sandy Adams barely on speaking terms. And in a little over a year he again has to win the Republican nomination. The people who vote for the Republican candidate are not just Republicans but also the most conservative Republicans. And this is a guy who has supported Sunrail which is a big expense for both the state of Florida and for the Federal Government. And he is well known to have joined with President Obama to work for Sunrail. That does not make him attractive to conservative Republicans. He need something to neutralize his image. What better than an extreme anti Amtrak position with publicity grabbing events? That is what his Amtrak opposition is all about.
Of course any opponent (like Sandy Adams, his last opponent) would probably be even more anti Amtrak. But an opponent would have no seniority and this is John Mica's eleventh term. He certainly has the potential to injure Amtrak. I hope he doesn't do more harm than he has.
John
John WRThe next time I buy an Amtrak hamburger I'll think of the sacrifice Members of Congress make for me.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmanndI laughed!
Have you no sympathy for Members of Congress who are now forced to ride commercial airplanes like common citizens?
John WR oltmanndI laughed! Have you no sympathy for Members of Congress who are now forced to ride commercial airplanes like common citizens?
I laughed again! That's two days in a row...I gotta get a grip.
oltmannd John WR oltmanndI laughed! Have you no sympathy for Members of Congress who are now forced to ride commercial airplanes like common citizens? I laughed again! That's two days in a row...I gotta get a grip.
Next thing you know Members of Congress might have to live some aspects of their lives like the idiots that voted them into office and don't vote them out of office.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDNext thing you know Members of Congress might have to live some aspects of their lives like the idiots that voted them into office and don't vote them out of office.
Do you mean to say we get the politicians we deserve? What a revoltin' development.
Fred may be right. He's at least better than average. But, Amtrak has had some real duds. Warrington, Downs and Kummant of late.
The best two were probably Reistrup and Claytor. Both, were "true believers" with a really good background in railroading.
(copy and paste from Wiki-land...)
OF them all, Boardman has the most political experiences along with operating experiences. All the others were either just railroaders or just businessmen.
henry6 OF them all, Boardman has the most political experiences along with operating experiences. All the others were either just railroaders or just businessmen.
Boardman seems OK. However, Claytor and Reistrup were both railmen and businessmen.
But they didn't have the political experiences that Boardman has had.
John WR BaltACDNext thing you know Members of Congress might have to live some aspects of their lives like the idiots that voted them into office and don't vote them out of office. Do you mean to say we get the politicians we deserve? What a revoltin' development.
We have the best form of government that money can buy! It is bought and sold daily at all levels.
BaltACDWe have the best form of government that money can buy! It is bought and sold daily at all levels.
Well yes, Balt. America is all about each of us seeking his or her own self interest. Why should politicians be any different than the rest of us? Perhaps you can expect to be paid for your good looks; I sure can't expect to be paid for mine.
Pogo had it right, we have met the enemy and it is us! (paraphrasing here) and whomever said we get the government we deserve. Most of us believe everybody in congress are crooks, except MY congressman. As long as that attitude holds we will never have term limits.
guetem1Most of us believe everybody in congress are crooks, except MY congressman.
I think standing for election is an exhausting, grinding ordeal. And most members of the Congress go through that ordeal over and over. Few people would put up with it.
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