> EPA rules are designed to make locomotives and autos throw away. . . . .


Citing EPA rules here is just ruse to cover the real problem. Everything under the frikin sun in our post modern society, is "Throw-Away"; especially the people in our lives. The law merely reflects us - as we actually are!



Having said that though, if they had really wanted to clean up the air, they would have required all that it took from the outset, instead of this stupid multi-tier requirement, which puts off any real improvement and makes the rules constantly change; which in turn causes this very costly premature obsolescence.

Railroads are hardly alone though. The American landscape is everywhere dotted with derelict factories just rusting away - too costly and too non-competitive to justify constant costly upgrading as the rules change. Though other things often contribute, the usual trigger cause of plant closure is forced upgrading and retooling to a deadline required by law.

Watch as secondary rail lines outright close in 2015, or be embargoed to passengers and hazardous cargo; just because the economics of PTS can't sustain continued operations. Which of course, will force this traffic onto the highway, at significantly higher risks; and be much most costly to ship - putting some companies out of business. Because it mandates a specific very costly technical solution (less expensive alternatives are available), the law will be totally ineffective in its stated purpose - public safety. What it will accomplish is to put some out of business.

What armchair environmentalists (or as I prefer: conservationists) often fail to observe though: is that not only do these multi-tiered regulations create significant extra tooling costs for businesses, often making smaller entities (i.e. shortlines) non-competitive, and sometimes even bankrupting them; the environment is not improved one iota - for years to come. Neither was overall public safety improved.


Lets see! It is ineffective for its stated purpose, but it will effectively and "progressively" bring down capitalist enterprises from small to large. Yet they (progressive politicians) keep on insisting on more and more of the same at every venue. Are they just insane or stupid - or what?

I don't think so - I sometimes wonder what they are really trying to do. But I shouldn't wonder. I should take them at their own word - as they themselves told us back in '08, they "will bankrupt anybody trying to build. . . . ."


But hey, all this merely reflects us - as we actually have become! - - - Asleep at the guardhouse!

OPB