Leaning Right Wrote:
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None of our large, government run programs
> work worth a crap and few are without corruption
> at some level. Ever ride Amtrak? Try to collect
> unemployment or disability insurance benefits? Go
> to the DMV? VA, Medicare, TSA? All disastrous
> programs wrought with corruption.

I've been ridden Amtrak every year of my life since 1973 and on short- and long-distance trains in most of the US. Although I've had a bad trips, most of my Amtrak rides have been pleasant experiences. Nothing that I could describe as "disastrous." I've also had good and bad trips on privately operated airlines and intercity bus companies.

What was a disaster was the Penn Central debacle. Fortunately, the federal government took over Penn Central and several other bankrupt Northeastern Railroads, merged them into Conrail and reversed decades of deferred maintenance. After a few years, it became a successful railroad. Additionally, much of the passenger service operated by Penn Central was substantially inferior to what is provided by Amtrak and commuter rail authorities today.


>
> Anyone over 40 years of age should be able to look
> back and see that the more government gets into
> our lives, the worse life gets. It's not
> complicated.

I'm 61 and believe that the government, through providing education & mail delivery, provision of transportation services & facilities, protecting the environment, establishing parks and creating wilderness preserves and overseeing food safety has made my life better. Your mileage may vary.

Oh yeah, about the DMV - I mailed in my renewal, enclosed a check and less than two weeks later received my current registration. No disaster for me.