The whole railroad industry has practiced predatory business for far too long now. The fact is that there are beginning to be too many shippers, too many communities and especially too many voters that are on the short end of the stick of the incestuous good ole boy railroad network. At some point everyone is accountable for their past and/or for the perception of their present. If you tell yourself something long enough even if it isn't true you will soon begin to believe it. The railroads have been telling everyone for so long now that deregulation has been in everyone's best interest. Does that mean rates are lower than ever? Does that mean there are more service options? Does that mean the national network is larger than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago and goes to more places?

The fact is the answers to those questions are irrelevant. In this day and age the only thing that matters is polling. And when the losers outnumber the winners by 61% the railroads will be re-regulated no matter how much money they pay congress. Which is why Mr. Oberstar continues to push regulation of the rail industry -- because it polls well in his district?