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[quote]QUOTE: A story: When Dave Gunn appeared before Senator McCain's committee on FY 2004 AMTRAK funding, the Senator asked Gunn why he wouldn't eliminate the "big money looseing" long distant trains. Gunn replied that to keep or drop those trains is a political decision. You don't have to be a high end political scientist to get that. Congressional reps fron NE corridor states might get in trouble is the service shuts down and those who work for us folks in the hinterlands say OK but we need something to take back to our folks. The Senator told Gunn to stop calling it politics, as there was no reason that a "business" decision could not be made to stop wasting government funds. Now you might wonder why Senator McCain, whom we can assume is pretty intelligent, would ignore the "It's politics" issue s well as some other items such as a whole bunch of costs associated with shut downs. Would his basic campaign pitch that he is fighting to cut government waste have anything to do with it?[/quote] Jeaton, I respect Senator McCain's stance on government waste, but it seems to me he lacks insight on what's 'waste' and what is not. I've argued with people whom seem to feel that AMTRAK is a waste of taxpayer dollars...yet they support the ridiculous notion that the airline industry's Federal bailout was money well spent. HUMPF! Something wreaks. The notion of politicians and folks whom have no value for AMTRAK service...and whom support it's demise...is arrogant and selfish. For routes that are costly and show marginal ridership--yet is still needed for those whom reside in smaller, isolated communities--would it not be better to simply curtail the frequency of train service to these towns, rather than shut down the route completely? Has our government become so out of touch with the public that it doesn't hear the outcry of everyday folk whom not only ride the trains, but in many instances rely upon it? If our so-called leaders were true visionaries, they would undoubtedly realize that if money was appropriated to completely overhaul and expand AMTRAK, America would have a jewel to tout to the rest of the world. And just think of the other benefits: we'd create thousands of long-term construction jobs across the nation for those whom would be in involved in improving right-of ways, for example. Bridges and tunnels could be retrofitted, rehabbed or replaced where absolutely necessary. High speed ACELA trains could provide healthy competion to the airlines in high traffic corridors beyond the NEC--and the NEC could see further improvements, too. The benefits--immediate and long term--far outweigh the perceived atrocity of cost the government has regarding AMTRAK. I don't have a beef with those who enjoy and prefer flying. I just find it bogus to think that planes are all we need--or our automobiles. Senator McCain would be well advised to take this under serious consideration.
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