I was just reading the Newswire stories when I happened upon the piece about the GOP platform calling for the end of Amtrak's subsidy and public transit in general. I read the piece and was delighted to see 78 comments there. When I started reading the comments one great fact became apparent. That is, out of the first 4 pages of comments, not one was in favor of such cuts or was anything but friendly toward Amtrak in general. Then I reflected on this forum. As Bette Davis said, "What a dump."
It's as if there are two different planets or realities on the same website. In the one, Amtrak is loved and people are declaring that, no matter their party affiliation, they could never vote for a Party that would propose such actions against our hobby and our country.
Then there is this place, where the monomaniacal group of well-known posters continue, frankly, to hate any iteration of Amtrak that includes sleepers, diners, or a subsidy. The predictable statistics and talking points would not only be trotted out, they are already known all too well to the rest of us; after all, we've read them thousands of times here. By the way, I notice this site no longer provides us with a running count of all the "contributions" we each post here. That was a telling indicator. This forum to me is so predictable as to be boring. I find myself almost never here anymore because of that.
I think the newswire comments on Amtrak, anyway, are so refreshing. Those posters really seem to like my hobby. I have to think there must be some comments there that would be contra, but in four pages...not one. Interesting.
NKP guy I was just reading the Newswire stories when I happened upon the piece about the GOP platform calling for the end of Amtrak's subsidy and public transit in general. I read the piece and was delighted to see 78 comments there. When I started reading the comments one great fact became apparent. That is, out of the first 4 pages of comments, not one was in favor of such cuts or was anything but friendly toward Amtrak in general. Then I reflected on this forum. As Bette Davis said, "What a dump." It's as if there are two different planets or realities on the same website. In the one, Amtrak is loved and people are declaring that, no matter their party affiliation, they could never vote for a Party that would propose such actions against our hobby and our country. Then there is this place, where the monomaniacal group of well-known posters continue, frankly, to hate any iteration of Amtrak that includes sleepers, diners, or a subsidy. The predictable statistics and talking points would not only be trotted out, they are already known all too well to the rest of us; after all, we've read them thousands of times here. By the way, I notice this site no longer provides us with a running count of all the "contributions" we each post here. That was a telling indicator. This forum to me is so predictable as to be boring. I find myself almost never here anymore because of that. I think the newswire comments on Amtrak, anyway, are so refreshing. Those posters really seem to like my hobby. I have to think there must be some comments there that would be contra, but in four pages...not one. Interesting.
I fail to understand why someone who loves Amtrak wouldn't want them to do better. By that I mean improving enough so that any party in power will help them grow. Not a single person has shown a case where Amtrak has economy of scale - outside of the NEC, despite several routes where frequency has increased. Amtrak apologists always seem to give them a free pass. The Amtrak critics are correct when they point out the the subsidy rate for unit of production is hugely out of line with all other transportation subsidies. Amtrak needs to get a handle on it if they are to have any long term future. Without Amtrak, there will be no national network. Without improvement, there will be no Amtrak.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
NKP guyI think the newswire comments on Amtrak, anyway, are so refreshing. Those posters really seem to like my hobby.
A hobby? Actually many (not all, I concede) of us want to see a viable, real passenger service in this country, not a half-broken relic of outdated services outside of the coasts and a few routes in the midwest. To many it appears that Amtrak is so broken, it can never do the job properly. I would like to see dedicated passenger train infrastructure built on Interstate ROW, as higher speed rail is incompatible with freight. The tracks could leased to operators, public or private with stringent conditions. I doubt if that sort of idea would be welcome at a GOP convention, anymore than I want to "hang out" with that crowd. So don't assume or try to claim that those of us who think Amtrak has serious, perhaps terminal problems [no pun intended] are all anti-government, anti-passenger rail, anti-Amtrak, shills for bus companies, Libertarians or whatever other epithet comes to mind. We just want a better service and that can only come by radical improvements.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
People of good will can differ on the best way forward for passenger trains in the U.S. And they can do so without using pejorative language, i.e. absurd, ridiculous, naive, childish, etc., and phrases like your wrong, you don't understand, etc.
Verifiable statistics and financial data are tools to buttress a point of view. If one disagrees with the numbers, he or she should say why and present alternative figures.
My consistent point of view is passenger trains make sense in relatively short, high density corridors where the cost of expanding the highways and airways is prohibitive. In Texas, where I live, the two most likely corridors would be DFW to San Antonio and DFW to Houston.
Unfortunately, because the emphasis has been on maintaining a so-called national passenger train network, federal monies have not be available to help develop any Texas corridors, although in fairness the state has not placed much emphasis on passenger rail until the last decade.
What we have is the once a day Texas Eagle and Heartland Flyer and the thrice weekly Sunset Limited. They are lightly patronized. Most Texans don't ride them; in fact, most of them don't even know that they exist.
I have learned a lot from people who have views different than mine. Hopefully, the forums will continue to generate a variety of viewpoints. Locking oneself into a view and being unwilling to consider other points a few is not a good idea.
NKP guy Then I reflected on this forum. As Bette Davis said, "What a dump."
Then I reflected on this forum. As Bette Davis said, "What a dump."
I am reporting to moderators that this parent post is offensive
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
NKP guyBy the way, I notice this site no longer provides us with a running count of all the "contributions" we each post here.
They are still there. Just hover over the "stars".
Thank you, Paul. I'm glad to know you are moved sufficiently to contact the moderators. But just to be sure, I'd enjoy knowing what, specifically, you took offense to. Ms. Davis' quote? My opinion and analogy?
I'm looking forward to my imminent arrest and/or booting from this forum for such egregious behavior.
NKP,
Do us all a favor and leave if you can not stand other points of view. In fact, just leave.
Mac
NKP guy Thank you, Paul. I'm glad to know you are moved sufficiently to contact the moderators. But just to be sure, I'd enjoy knowing what, specifically, you took offense to. Ms. Davis' quote? My opinion and analogy? I'm looking forward to my imminent arrest and/or booting from this forum for such egregious behavior.
User DwightBranch threatened to contact the moderators regarding user oltmannd accusing passenger advocacy people of "howling at the Moon" or some comment to that effect on another thread. My comment was a "riff" on that earlier exchange regarding the resolution of controversy on this site.
I hope we can ALL continue to exchange opposing ideas and thoughts on controversial topics, minus the insults, vulgarities and demands that folks leave the forum.
Paul Milenkovic NKP guy Thank you, Paul. I'm glad to know you are moved sufficiently to contact the moderators. But just to be sure, I'd enjoy knowing what, specifically, you took offense to. Ms. Davis' quote? My opinion and analogy? I'm looking forward to my imminent arrest and/or booting from this forum for such egregious behavior. User DwightBranch threatened to contact the moderators regarding user oltmannd accusing passenger advocacy people of "howling at the Moon" or some comment to that effect on another thread. My comment was a "riff" on that earlier exchange regarding the resolution of controversy on this site.
...of which I have heard nothing. Not even a "thank you".
Can we all just lower our Rabbit Ears and discuss the topic.
Railroading - both passenger and freight - are hard businesses and engender strong opinions and strong rhetoric in expressing those opinions. Those who don't possess the intestinal fortitude required for these kinds of discussions should leave now before they get their nappies in a twist.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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