I agree that Amtrak does not make money, but did someone tell you that the airlines did? Did you not know that the airlines don't pay for the airports, but your tax dollars do? The federal government pays the air traffic controllers and the TSA agents who frisk you before you get on board too. Did you not know that a big chuck of your money for every gallon of gas you buy pays for the roads, in other states in some cases. That is called a gas tax.

Let's not go there with "let Amtrak die because it doesn't make money". No form of transit does when you really examine it. How about let's fund Amtrak at a level that it can afford to buy new equipment and partner with the railroads to help eliminate some of the choke points, which would be good for both parties.

A billion extra for Amtrak or a trillion for a war no one wants. Hmm....