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Responding to John Mica

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Responding to John Mica
Posted by ontheBNSF on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 12:01 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_the_Soviet_Union

Trans-Siberian Railroad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH6Xpr_kyxQ

John Mica accused Amtrak of being a "Soviet style operation". It seems that the Soviet union had a pretty good rail system with electrification, very affordable service, and one of the largest systems in the world. The Russia Railroad system is still ranked #3 in terms of Freight. Over all being called a "Soviet Style operation" in this context is actually somewhat of compliment because comparatively they had better passenger service than we do and today Russia has true High Speed Rail. 

Railroad to Freedom

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Posted by oltmannd on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 1:00 PM

Russia <> USSR

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 2:41 PM

Strange that 'Soviet' no longer has quite the connotations it did in the Eighties, when the Communist way was still taught as the devil's handiwork.

I suspect Mica may be behind the times in a number of other areas, as well.  Amtrak among them.

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Posted by oltmannd on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 2:47 PM

Overmod

Strange that 'Soviet' no longer has quite the connotations it did in the Eighties, when the Communist way was still taught as the devil's handiwork.

I suspect Mica may be behind the times in a number of other areas, as well.  Amtrak among them.

He's an old guy with a nice wig.  

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by John WR on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 7:00 PM

ontheBNSF
John Mica accused Amtrak of being a "Soviet style operation". It seems that the Soviet union had a pretty good rail system with electrification, very affordable service, and one of the largest systems in the world. The Russia Railroad system is still ranked #3 in terms of Freight.

I do not suggest you express your views to Congressman Mica.  He had a tough race in the primary running against a tea party candidate who accused him of being to moderate.  His attacks on Amtrak certainly help him win over tea party people in his own district.  He does have to face them and deal with them.  So I think you would not get a fair hearing from him.  

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