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Congress approves Amtrak funding by veto-proof margin

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[quote user="Phoebe Vet"] One of the things I have noticed in almost every debate, on any subject, is that people tend to think in black and white. I tend to think in shades of grey.I wonder about solutions like:What if a government agency used eminent domain and public construction funds to build a high speed rail line in a high density corridor then operated it like a toll road. Then anyone who could afford to buy one train could start passenger service. Many companies could offer competing service along the same right of way.What if a government agency used eminent domain and public construction funds to build a high speed rail line in a high density corridor then sold it to a private company.What if a government agency used eminent domain to acquire a right of way sufficient be used for high speed rail and then leased it to a private company.Surely their are other ideas that have not occurred to me.[/quote]One of the ways to put rail on a par with highways and airways would be for the government to own the rails and allow anyone who meets the required standards to operate freight and passenger trains on them.  Unfortunately, given the debt load of the U.S., coming up with the money to buy the existing lines would be a super difficult challenge.  Moreover, the existing railroads would push back hard on the idea.Investor owned companies use eminent domain if they have been empowered by the government to do so.  Investor owned utilities (electric, gas, water, etc.) do it all the time.
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