Ernest H. Robl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The feature article on passenger trains is
> available at www.parade.com.
>
> The site also has a poll as to whether the U.S.
> should invest more in passenger trains -- and the
> poll is running close to 100 per cent positive.
>

There! Now it's down to 99%!

Seriously, these types of polls aren't worth much for trying to analyze concrete opinions, in this case the true nature of Americans' willingness to use (and pay for) passenger rail. We could just as easily ask "Should Congress commit more money to energy independence?" or "Should Congress commit more money for free health care for everyone?" and you're going to get close to a 100% positive response.

Now, if we were to ask the question in a way that reflects the fact that nothing comes free and everything has a price.......say, something like the following....

"Should Congress raise gas taxes 10% to pay for Amtrak?" or "Should Congress raise taxes on our beer to pay for Amtrak?", or the most obvious - "Should Congress raise Amtrak's ticket prices to a point that covers Amtrak's operating costs?"

.....I would venture the responses would tend toward the negative. I base that on the fact that ridership is still down in the 1% range despite the current subsidies.