> >Agreed - But today's rules are influenced far too
> much by bureaucrats, lawyers, featherbedding and
> unqualified supervisors/inspectors rather than
> respecting those who went before us.


> Comparing the current GCOR to the last two SP rule
> books and the Consolidated Code reveals that while
> the GCOR says essentially the same things as these
> older books, it does so with far better grammar,
> syntax, usage, and parallel constructions.
>
> I completely fail to see how "featherbedding" had
> anything at all to do with operating rules, ever,
> union contracts, yes, but NOT operating rules.

In my OPINION (which isn't worth much),

The rules will never be perfect, and I agree that many of the earlier conflicts and black holes have been resolved. I still remember the old number system better than the new one, but then again I have always been stubborn and now getting older and more stubborn. I could do without some of the gobbledy-goop wording required by 49CFR. The unions are an integral part of rulemaking at least as far as federal regulation changes, and no doubt they exert influence for improved safety, working conditions and protection of jobs for their members. Some of the regulations that the FRA enforces, such as hours of service, are actually laws created by congress so might be influenced by union lobbyists. Again - no necessarily a fact, but my opinion.