Relevance? Just that the zeitgeist (mood of our time) is entitlement, as is revealed by many posts here.
I AM holding out for the Texas Central.
I'll get out of your way now. Peace be with you.
wanswheel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ymsram2BDY&t=4m26s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ymsram2BDY&t=4m26s
Thanks, Wanswheel. I think that was from Austin City Limits. If I remember correctly, it included a truly great rendition of City of New Orleans in a duet with master mandolinist Jethro Burns, and more. Irrelevant? No more so than the parenting skills of modern Americans.
Tom
Gramp "I knew Jack Kennedy..." No trouble. I know I'm an outlier. I happen to like Russell Kirk. I prepared tax returns for a couple retiring schoolteachers this tax season; one teaches math, the other fourth graders. I asked them what's the difference teaching today compared with early in their careers. The math teacher said there's always a few kids who excel, but today if he gave tests with the same rigor he gave earlier in his career, the rest would not be able to pass them. The fourth grade teacher said kids' problems have to be worked with in the classroom. The parents won't own up to their responsibilities as parents. They think and act that they should be the kids' friends, not provide guidance.
"I knew Jack Kennedy..."
No trouble. I know I'm an outlier. I happen to like Russell Kirk.
I prepared tax returns for a couple retiring schoolteachers this tax season; one teaches math, the other fourth graders. I asked them what's the difference teaching today compared with early in their careers. The math teacher said there's always a few kids who excel, but today if he gave tests with the same rigor he gave earlier in his career, the rest would not be able to pass them. The fourth grade teacher said kids' problems have to be worked with in the classroom. The parents won't own up to their responsibilities as parents. They think and act that they should be the kids' friends, not provide guidance.
Relevance?
Well Gramp, glad you like the song, but Steve Goodman was once my roommate in Champaign (before writing CNO) and he loved trains, as should be obvious from the lyrics. He was also a liberal.
[/quote]
Steve wasn't my roommate, but I met him when we both lived in Chicago in the 70's. He didn't need no help from no Goldhirsh fella to write the song. He wasn't a raving railfan either, but he understood the social, economic, practical, and historic value of a vibrant rail passenger system, and he lamented its decline during his short lifetime.
Had he lived longer, I think he would have still been supporting a vibrant rail system. He understood that our country is rich and strong enough that we can have both bread and roses, and we might pay down that debt with fewer trips to Mira Lago, a bit less NY security for trump's family, serious tax reform, better control over influential lobbyists, and greater accountability for the politicians they control. When we have a military budget that exceeds that of any other country in the world by a wide margin, it seems pretty disingenuous to suggest that cuts to Amtrak will reduce the debt enough to justify the loss of this national asset.
You are free to disagree, but don't take Stevie's name in vain.
GrampWhat I'm saying is all it would take to swamp all government programs is a significant rise in interest rates. The cost of servicing the debt is not a can that can be kicked down the road. Servicing that can overwhelm everything else. All govt. programs are "a drop in the bucket" to those who benefit from them. I think we've lived too high on the hog. Fiscal restraint with dynamic incentive is what's needed. The 20 trillion is a drop in the bucket next to all that's been mandated. I love the LD trains as much as the next enthusiast. Unfortunately, Amtrak has been, is now, and always will be mediocre at best, a political football. The native son is left to the blues in perpetuity.
The National Debt is only a football that politics will pay lip service to - with no intent by either party to 'solve' it. It is just something else to argue about (like they need anything else). For anybody that thinks politicians actually care about the Nationl Debt - I've got some overpriced land I can use to liberate you from your funds.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Gramp Give it up, folks. We're 20 trillion in the hole. Riding on the City of New OrleansIllinois Central Monday morning railFifteen cars and fifteen restless ridersThree conductors and twenty-five sacks of mailAll along the southbound odysseyThe train pulls out at KankakeeRolls along past houses, farms and fieldsPassin' trains that have no namesFreight yards full of old black menAnd the graveyards of the rusted automobiles Good morning America how are you?Don't you know me I'm your native sonI'm the train they call The City of New OrleansI'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done Dealin' cards games with the old men in the club carPenny a point ain't no one keepin' scorePass the paper bag that holds the bottleFeel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floorAnd the sons of Pullman portersAnd the sons of engineersRide their father's magic carpets made of steamMothers with their babes asleepAre rockin' to the gentle beatAnd the rhythm of the rails is all they feel Good morning America how are you?Said don't you know me I'm your native sonI'm the train they call The City of New OrleansI'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done Nighttime on The City of New OrleansChanging cars in Memphis, TennesseeHalf way home, we'll be there by morningThrough the Mississippi darknessRolling down to the seaBut all the towns and people seemTo fade into a bad dreamAnd the steel rails still ain't heard the newsThe conductor sings his songs againThe passengers will please refrainThis train's got the disappearing railroad blues Good night, America, how are you?Said don't you know me I'm your native sonI'm the train they call The City of New OrleansI'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done Songwriters: Ilan Goldhirsh / Steve Goodman
Give it up, folks. We're 20 trillion in the hole.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
What I'm saying is all it would take to swamp all government programs is a significant rise in interest rates. The cost of servicing the debt is not a can that can be kicked down the road. Servicing that can overwhelm everything else. All govt. programs are "a drop in the bucket" to those who benefit from them. I think we've lived too high on the hog. Fiscal restraint with dynamic incentive is what's needed. The 20 trillion is a drop in the bucket next to all that's been mandated. I love the LD trains as much as the next enthusiast. Unfortunately, Amtrak has been, is now, and always will be mediocre at best, a political football. The native son is left to the blues in perpetuity.
GrampGive it up, folks. We're 20 trillion in the hole.
I'm not sure what you're saying, Gramp.
Are you implying that with a $20 trillion national debt we must give up our national network of long distance trains? That's what I'm inferring from your post. (And why the song lyrics?) We could, you know, raise taxes to pay that debt off sooner. Would you favor that?
I respect your point, but I disagree. The Amtrak subsidy each year is just so pitifully small that eliminating it entirely would hardly make a recognizable dent in the annual deficit.
What do we say to a proposed budget that calls for an increase in defense spending that is some 25 to 50 times the size of the Amtrak subsidy?
Sometimes these days in Amerika it's like living in Bismarck's Prussia: guns or butter. I know where guns gets us; I prefer butter.
With over $80 Trillion in assets. Check the national wealth figures. Agree we need to get our budget house in order and pay down the National Debt because on a cash flow basis our annual GDP falls short of our National Debt. However we are still a ways away from flat broke...........and nothing like the situation Greece got itself into.
Whatever it is, please cover it with a hairnet ----- or a snood ----- or a bag.
Comb-over! Not a wig, a comb-over!
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
I could be wrong on this but I thought a tupee was a non-starter for food service work in most states.
NKP guy Dakguy201 Did Congressman Mica land a job somewhere in the Executive Branch? I believe he was defeated by a wide margin in the last election. I'd like to report that Mr. Mica (former Congressman John Mica R-FL) does indeed have a new gig. He is currently employed as a microwave techinican cook for the National Rail Passenger Corporation on several trains out of Washington. From what I read in the Washington Times and Breitbart, he is not quite yet a good fit for the position. He is trying to get used to the hours and the work week, but more importantly his compassion muscles and instincts are getting a real work out. He's been quoted as saying recently, "Who knew running a long distance train was so hard? We in the dining car are especially short-handed." As far as the pay, he's supposed to have noted that "nobody on this damned train is overpaid." What he said when informed the train he was working was already three hours late and would get him home, if lucky, at some ridiculous hour, simply can't be quoted here. Notice I said, "I'd like to report..."
Dakguy201 Did Congressman Mica land a job somewhere in the Executive Branch? I believe he was defeated by a wide margin in the last election.
I'd like to report that Mr. Mica (former Congressman John Mica R-FL) does indeed have a new gig. He is currently employed as a microwave techinican cook for the National Rail Passenger Corporation on several trains out of Washington. From what I read in the Washington Times and Breitbart, he is not quite yet a good fit for the position. He is trying to get used to the hours and the work week, but more importantly his compassion muscles and instincts are getting a real work out. He's been quoted as saying recently, "Who knew running a long distance train was so hard? We in the dining car are especially short-handed." As far as the pay, he's supposed to have noted that "nobody on this damned train is overpaid." What he said when informed the train he was working was already three hours late and would get him home, if lucky, at some ridiculous hour, simply can't be quoted here.
Notice I said, "I'd like to report..."
I like your post, except for a couple things:
1. You posted on April 2. You missed it by a day.
2. While microwaves are used on lounge cars and certain high volume food service, including many trains that are crewed out of Washington, chefs on Amtrak Long Distance full service diners cook on grilles and convection ovens. In those cars, the microwave is used only for thawing, and for some special meals such as Kosher meals or meals for special diets, that are intended strictly to be prepared that way. Normally, your meal is not microwaved.
3. I know a lot of Amtrak chefs, and I've seen them work miracles under extremely trying conditions. The idea that someone like Mica could qualify to be an Amtrak chef in the first place is ludicrous, and the idea that he could succeed is laughable.
http://news.erau.edu/headlines/micaplex-debut-kicks-off-with-announcement-of-new-tenant-ready-to-hir-scholarship-endowment/
NKP guy Dakguy201 I'd like to report that Mr. Mica (former Congressman John Mica R-FL) does indeed have a new gig. He is currently employed as a microwave techinican cook for the National Rail Passenger Corporation on several trains out of Washington. From what I read in the Washington Times and Breitbart, he is not quite yet a good fit for the position. He is trying to get used to the hours and the work week, but more importantly his compassion muscles and instincts are getting a real work out. He's been quoted as saying recently, "Who knew running a long distance train was so hard? We in the dining car are especially short-handed." As far as the pay, he's supposed to have noted that "nobody on this damned train is overpaid." What he said when informed the train he was working was already three hours late and would get him home, if lucky, at some ridiculous hour, simply can't be quoted here. Notice I said, "I'd like to report..."
Dakguy201
Reality - he isn't qualified for such a position and would not have lasted his 1st training trip - most likly being removed inroute for being unruly.
Dakguy201Did Congressman Mica land a job somewhere in the Executive Branch? I believe he was defeated by a wide margin in the last election.
Did Congressman Mica land a job somewhere in the Executive Branch? I believe he was defeated by a wide margin in the last election.
daveklepper Posted as a suggestion to others who agree that there a great deal of hidden costs in air and highway trtansportation thar Mica ands others have not begun to address: aדוד לויד בן יעקב יהודה קלפר, כתובת: ישיבת בית אורות, שמואל בן עדיה1, הר הזיתים, ירושלים 97400 David Lloyd ben Yaacov Yehuda Klepper, Yeshivat Beit Orot, Shmuel ben Adiya 1, Mt. of Olives, Jerusalem 97400, ISRAEL E-mail: daveklepper@yahoo.com. א' ניסן, תשע"ז, 28.03.17 1 Nison 5777, 28 March. '17 President Donald Trump The White House, Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20202, USA Dear President Trump, Closing down Amtrak long-distance train service would eliminate the ability of most handicapped and elderly people from having access to the entire continental USA, for vacations and family visits. It would also prevent some tourist-oriented businesses from continuing to earn enough money to pay taxes, and this loss may be greater than the subsidy. The defense importance of these trains was proved on 11 September 2001. With all possible respect and very best wishes, David Lloyd (ben Yaacov Yehuda) Klepper, student of the Yeshiva, USA Army veteran
Posted as a suggestion to others who agree that there a great deal of hidden costs in air and highway trtansportation thar Mica ands others have not begun to address:
aדוד לויד בן יעקב יהודה קלפר, כתובת: ישיבת בית אורות, שמואל בן עדיה1, הר הזיתים, ירושלים 97400
zugmann schlimm Perhaps it's more effective to phone your Congressperson. They ever plug their phones back in?
schlimm Perhaps it's more effective to phone your Congressperson.
They ever plug their phones back in?
Do they even know how?
schlimmPerhaps it's more effective to phone your Congressperson.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
"Should I write a letter to my congressman?"
"Each congressman has got two ends:
A sitting end, and a thinking end.
And since his whole life sepends upon his seat,
Why bother, Friend?"
----------E. Y. "Yip" Harburg.
P. S. That won't stop me from writing anyways.
northeasterWhen I was in a position to do so, I made certain that all telephone calls and written communications to our national orgainzations office in WDC were answered by a real person with authority to respond. But, that was years ago and, it seems, this courtesy is no longer commonly in place. When Joe Boardman became Amtrak's chief, I wrote a very nice letter to him which got zero response, about a year later, I sent a certified, signature required letter to his office which got zero response and the same was true with a letter to the Secretary of Transportation. On the other hand, I used to get Christmas cards from one of the most difficult old Senator from the deep South after I had written a reasonable letter to him regarding Amtrak! Go figure. Hope that you get a reasonable letter back from the White House and thanks for sending what you did send.
Amtrak has a Passenger Advocacy setup, they speak direct with Amtrak Management based on Amtrak passenger feedback from passengers that contact them, you can find the email on the Amtrak website. If you want your comments to be heard directly by Amtrak management contact them or volunteer. They will also give you a little feedback on what they think of your proposal and how Amtrak management is likely to interpret or respond to it based on their past experience (the rational person test I would call it). Here is the link on ACAC, you can submit comments to them as well. Please give them information about yourself about how frequently you ride Amtrak and if you ride LD or Corridor as well as what specific area you are communicating about LD or Corridor so they can steer you in the right direction.
https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245669151
When I was in a position to do so, I made certain that all telephone calls and written communications to our national orgainzations office in WDC were answered by a real person with authority to respond. But, that was years ago and, it seems, this courtesy is no longer commonly in place. When Joe Boardman became Amtrak's chief, I wrote a very nice letter to him which got zero response, about a year later, I sent a certified, signature required letter to his office which got zero response and the same was true with a letter to the Secretary of Transportation. On the other hand, I used to get Christmas cards from one of the most difficult old Senator from the deep South after I had written a reasonable letter to him regarding Amtrak! Go figure. Hope that you get a reasonable letter back from the White House and thanks for sending what you did send.
ACY CMStPnP Nothing wrong with writing a letter Dave and yes it will be read. I'll just sit back and snivel. No, it won't be read; or if it is, it won't be paid attention to. For myself, I won't sit back and snivel, but I won't waste my time writing letters to this White House. I use too many multisyllables to be understood by them anyways. Tom
CMStPnP Nothing wrong with writing a letter Dave and yes it will be read. I'll just sit back and snivel.
Nothing wrong with writing a letter Dave and yes it will be read.
I'll just sit back and snivel.
No, it won't be read; or if it is, it won't be paid attention to. For myself, I won't sit back and snivel, but I won't waste my time writing letters to this White House. I use too many multisyllables to be understood by them anyways.
Perhaps it's more effective to phone your Congressperson.
https://www.narprail.org/news/blog/for-train-passengers-in-search-of-a-congression-vision-for-infrastructure-moulton-esty-slaughter-lead-the-way/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call
CMStPnP ACY No, it won't be read; or if it is, it won't be paid attention to. For myself, I won't sit back and snivel, but I won't waste my time writing letters to this White House. I use too many multisyllables to be understood by them anyways. Tom All letters to the White House are read, scanned in to a electronic file and become a part of the White House archives.
ACY No, it won't be read; or if it is, it won't be paid attention to. For myself, I won't sit back and snivel, but I won't waste my time writing letters to this White House. I use too many multisyllables to be understood by them anyways. Tom
All letters to the White House are read, scanned in to a electronic file and become a part of the White House archives.
This is correct. Periodically I have sent snail mail letters as well as emails to the White House. I have always gotten a response to the snail maiI letters. I had the option of requesting a response to the emails, but I did not do so.
I have also called the White House on several occasions to express my views. As you might imagine, when I asked to speak to the President, I was told that he was unavailable, but the staff was happy to take my message.
My letters and emails were addressed to the President or the First Lady. I am pretty sure that they did not read them, but if a response is requested, someone on the staff, presumably a clerk, had to read them before selecting the appropriate canned response.
According to a former Massachusetts State senator, as well as a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, someone on their staffs, at least, reads all of the snail mail communications and most of the email.
The former member of the Texas House of Representatives, who I know reasonably well, told me that she instructed her staff to always respond to a well thought out snail mail letter and any emails that were written properly. She also said that her office got a ton of rants, and they were consigned to the circular file or its electronic version.
I have written numerous letters to a variety of public officials. More often than not I have gotten a reply, although in some instances the reply did not address my presenting issue. A common reply is, "I will keep your views in mind should the matter be discussed during the legislative (Texas) session".
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
CMStPnP ACY All letters to the White House are read, scanned in to a electronic file and become a part of the White House archives.
ACY
All letters to the White House are read, scanned in to a electronic file and become a part of the White House archives.
and immediately forgotten
especially with an administration that says the opposite today of what it said yesterday
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