Sequel?

The NWP ain't the only other place. It' been happening all over the country - for a long time.

But this story is also PROLOG!

County after county in this whole country will continue to become economically disadvantaged, by the loss of local rail service. Apparently, the private transportationj industry continues to fail us, as it refuses to "pick anything but the low hanging fruit", leaving the rest to rot.

This year it's our county's turn to rot.
Yours is next!

Yes, after 50 years of one sided subsidy (local highways are paid for mostly by sales and property tax - not user fees as the truckers claim), we have already permanently skewed and screwed the so-called free market, against local and shorthaul railroading. And without it, kiss the noble idea of a universal national free marketplace goodby; as most regions of the country will soon not be competitive with the few, the elite, the.....

You get the picture.

At this point, we either also provide public funding of local railways, or do without; which will put many an otherwise viable employer out of business and crumble our roads to dust. Then our cities will return to dust.

Universal poverty will follow right behind. Just go check out the "Apalachia" that is the California North Coast, if you doubt it.