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Re: Big Brouhaha Over Unaccompanied Minors Being Removed From Train
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 04-12-2012 - 16:16
So you think they’re making a mountain out of a molehill, eh?
All the while, we hear from cynics that are trying to make a molehill out of a mountain!
And that mountain is far more involved than just whether Amtrak is at fault here. There was a time, before the fascist do-gooders started imposing their views of child care on everyone else, that common carriers simply and without question, did what was needed to protect young people as they traveled - period.
After reviewing Amtrak's website, it appears to me that no matter what negligence the parents may or may not have displayed (and that's quite debatable); that the Amtrak conductor not only violated his/her own company’s “UM” policy, by putting her off the train at other than a staffed station; but he also violated the most basic of all common sense. His/her actions are inexcusable.
Moreover, tickets for unaccompanied minors must be purchased directly from a ticket agent in person, according to the website. So then, an employee of Amtrak, acting as agent for Amtrak, accepted her as a UM and sold a ticket for her. That was the only proper point of decision by Amtrak.
Then, once the conductor accepted the ticket as valid, boarded her, and got underway; it’s a done deal. Consideration given – consideration accepted – transaction in progress; Amtrak was by then legally bound! Clearly, Amtrak breached its duties to its 13 year old passenger in this case.
Worse yet, apparently having second thoughts, the conductor then puts her off the train in the middle of nowhere (in breach of Amtrak’s own policies). Amtrak policy forbids UM travel between unstaffed locations for good reason; as a young UM getting off the train in a strange (unknown to her) place with no staff around, and with those meeting her waiting elsewhere; is clearly dangerous. So that conductor not only violated his own employer’s policies, but also is guilty of child endangerment – a felony.
BTW, unaccompanied minor travel has been going on for as long as there has been public transportation. I did it as a kid myself. My grandson has done it regularly - since he was 13 years old – on both Amtrak and airlines - without problems. Mind you - we were always very careful to make sure there was someone at the other end to meet him – with backup contingency plans even.
The assumption by some here, that these parents did not do the same – is rash, ridiculous, and even bizarre. No publically presented fact suggests any such thing. But apparently, to the “Railroads can do no wrong” crowd, bias and cynicism easily overrides fact.
All the while, we hear from cynics that are trying to make a molehill out of a mountain!
And that mountain is far more involved than just whether Amtrak is at fault here. There was a time, before the fascist do-gooders started imposing their views of child care on everyone else, that common carriers simply and without question, did what was needed to protect young people as they traveled - period.
After reviewing Amtrak's website, it appears to me that no matter what negligence the parents may or may not have displayed (and that's quite debatable); that the Amtrak conductor not only violated his/her own company’s “UM” policy, by putting her off the train at other than a staffed station; but he also violated the most basic of all common sense. His/her actions are inexcusable.
Moreover, tickets for unaccompanied minors must be purchased directly from a ticket agent in person, according to the website. So then, an employee of Amtrak, acting as agent for Amtrak, accepted her as a UM and sold a ticket for her. That was the only proper point of decision by Amtrak.
Then, once the conductor accepted the ticket as valid, boarded her, and got underway; it’s a done deal. Consideration given – consideration accepted – transaction in progress; Amtrak was by then legally bound! Clearly, Amtrak breached its duties to its 13 year old passenger in this case.
Worse yet, apparently having second thoughts, the conductor then puts her off the train in the middle of nowhere (in breach of Amtrak’s own policies). Amtrak policy forbids UM travel between unstaffed locations for good reason; as a young UM getting off the train in a strange (unknown to her) place with no staff around, and with those meeting her waiting elsewhere; is clearly dangerous. So that conductor not only violated his own employer’s policies, but also is guilty of child endangerment – a felony.
BTW, unaccompanied minor travel has been going on for as long as there has been public transportation. I did it as a kid myself. My grandson has done it regularly - since he was 13 years old – on both Amtrak and airlines - without problems. Mind you - we were always very careful to make sure there was someone at the other end to meet him – with backup contingency plans even.
The assumption by some here, that these parents did not do the same – is rash, ridiculous, and even bizarre. No publically presented fact suggests any such thing. But apparently, to the “Railroads can do no wrong” crowd, bias and cynicism easily overrides fact.
