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The financial records for Amtrak, Southwest Airlines, DOT, etc. are primary source documents or roll up from primary source documents.   The accounting databases are constructed in accordance with rigid accounting rules, i.e. General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or Government Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS).  Equally important, they are audited by independent auditors. If those responsible for the data attempt to put a spin on it, or the records are not maintained properly, management will be called to task over it, and the results will be reported to the board of directors or the U.S. Congress. They are not partisan databases. If the New York Times or the Cato Institute publishes select information from the data bases, it is a secondary source. If I cite or calculate statistics from one of the primary source databases, it too is a secondary source. If I want to verify the information in a New York Times article or from the Cato Institute to determine how much spin has been put on it, I can if I know where the data source. The same applies to the statistics that I cite.   A person who downloads data from the primary databases, slices and dices the numbers, and calculates what he or she believes are relevant statistics is not avoiding tedium. The tedium referred to having other people go through numerous links to get to the data. Most of them are not interested.  And most of them probably would not understand the data even if they got there inasmuch as they are not accountants and financial analysts. Again, the primary source for the Amtrak calculations is Amtrak's financial and operational records available to the public.  If a person does not know how to get there, i.e. via Amtrak's website, my providing them with links is not going to help them. Ultimately, people have to have some faith in the credibility of others once it can be determined. Although I have been chided for listing my experience and educational qualifications, it is important for people to have a rough idea of what skills I bring to the table. Of course, I could be lying, but the motivation for doing so in forum like this is not strong.  By the same token, I appreciate know that several of our contributors are mechanical and civil engineers.  That coupled with the fact that what they say appears to make sense is comforting.  I rely on contributors like Oltmmand for an engineer's insights.
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