> We Republicans are "bound and determined" to make Amtrak, or its successors, less
> addicted to taxpayer money, and if privatizing it does that, so be it.


> I still remember what Ben Biaginni of Southern Pacific said at the time of the
> creation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: "It will be a money-losing
> operation throughout its entire existence. This is an approximate quotation.


But what Old Baggy-knees forgot to mention was that, his own entire railroad was also a money loosing operation from its inception too! Except during the "Robber Baron Era". But that was at the expense of bankrupting most small family farms in California; and more recently, except for SP's land holdings doing the subsidizing. It was not long after those land holdings were stripped off SP, that the whole organization financially collapsed.

I don't know if Bob R. really speaks for Republicans, or just himself; but "you Republicans", who fancy yourselves as the party of Lincoln, ought to remember your roots; As it was Lincoln himself that started the idea of large scale railroad subsidization in the first place; especially out in the sparsely populated west. They were all very heavily subsidized in the last half of that century. Indeed, more govmnt money was spent (and embezzled) than private!



To my mind, we ought to do more of what works and less of what doesn't. That means that private enterprise should be required to do all those things that it can do itself (in return for its profits, of course); whereas gov't should do those things that are not practical or profitable to do privately; everything else simply being left undone.

Apparently, Mr Lincoln and his successor Republicans, believed that facilitating "commerce among the states" (re: US Constitution) was a Federal responsibility, and best realized by massive federal subsidies to western railroads. It was not just land grants either. Massive amounts (for that time) were paid in federal dollars to many private railroad companies, for every mile built and operated. Moreover, cross-subsidization between remunerative lines and services, and the non-remunerative, was also the expected norm. Railroads were expected to earn their profits by providing the whole package - not just cherry pick it. The great railroad heyday was thus created, and lasted until the 1930s and the great depression.

But during the war, we wore those railroads out, literally rolling them right into the dust. We then forgot about 'em - while an industrial anti-subsidization fervor took hold of both political parties - not just the republicans. The myth that "Free Enterprise" can exist without any gov't involvement whatsoever, was in full sway. But it was and is a total myth. No enterprise, free or otherwise, has ever happened without gov't facilitation - clear back to antiquity. Not even the Barbary Pirates! And Not even during the "Robber Barren" era, either!

So I say to Mr Baggy-knees, and any other naysayer because it needs a subsidy; Big Fat Hairy Deal! Very little economic activity in this world could ever exist without someone else "Facilitating" it. And facilitating it involves very many activities and the provision of many infrastructures, that can never be made remunerative on their own. So why don't Smart Republicans (and smart Dems too) just fess up! It ain't working! Private passenger railroading never did make a profit, and never will; but it is and can be a very important facilitation of commerce.

We can then stop continuing to insanely try so much of what never worked; and instead try something that did work (even for Abe Lincoln) - subsidized trains. Perhaps they are run by private companies, perhaps public - and perhaps on publicly owned track where needed. But run nonetheless!

Besides, it is a plain obvious fact, that the "people" want the trains, they want viable public ground transportation on a national scale. And congress just as obviously knows all that; but still only gives the people's will, fancy talk and little walk. Perhaps they (or the money grubbers that have their ear) would actually prefer the stone age - with every man for himself! But have you seen any cavemen around lately. They went extinct thousands of years ago - that plan never worked either!

OPB