What do ya'll predict will happen this time?
Will congress save them again or will this administration finally succeed in what their predecessors attempted to do?
Hopefully the latter will not play out....
Just asking for thoughts?
I am just worried and I was looking for predictions from other Amtrak fans to try and cheer me up.
Thanks,
JP
This budget will go nowhere because I can guaranty most congressmen care more about getting reelected then passing his budget. They will throw the whole thing out and do what they do every year, give Amtrak just enough to get by another year.
ETA: forgot spellcheck
[This message has been edited by Big Merl (edited 02-08-2005).]
In an agrarian State such as yours, I think there are larger issues "on the plate" than whatever happens to Amtrak and its "one a day' that chugs each way substantially accross the length of Nebraska (your domicile, incidentally, is quite public record at your website).
Once again as I have noted, Amtrak will get a "B+".
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 02-08-2005).]
There are a "few' cuts proposed, namely in the area of agricultural price supports, that are going to impact "a few" more Nebraskans than whether 5 & 6 chug through the State, mostly during "somambulist' hours.
I hear you loud and clear; good luck!!!
GBN
I think there is a real need to have a public policy discussion on what sort of service Amtrak should be providing, rather than following the "limp along" strategy of recent years (actually, it's more like a "slow starvation" strategy). If the Bush budget generates this sort of discussion, that will be a good thing.
As for farm subsidies, I recall a joke about the Agriculture Department. A visitor saw one of the bureaucrats sitting at his desk, sobbing his heart out. He asked, "What happened to him?" and was told, "His farmer died".
For a number of reasons, including the impact that subsidized sales of farm products have on attempts by Third World countries to feed themselves, I favor the elimination of such subsidies. I do not, however, live on a farm.
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JONATHON D. ORTIZ
EMD455@Blue-Rail.com
A note from the "incurable optimist" here.
See the news release from Mr Gunn on the Amtrak Website under Press and Media. I like this guy, he seems to be a fighter! (Wonder if he had an easy time of it on the Pennsy?
Mr Reagan, as much as I liked him, tried this from 1981-1986 and got virtually nowehere with it. There are many Republicans who are Amtrak supporters and they are not all on the great plains!
Write Mr Minetta, Mr Bush, congress, etc.
Let them know that it is the fault of the legislatures and short-sighted vision that has caused this, NOT bad management. (Although George Warrington needs to take SOME of the blame)
Here is an analogy that, while humorous, also illustrates a point:
Lets pretend that Amtrak is a person.
1) Amtrak we are gonna start you up with a broken leg.
2) Amtrak, you ain't doin' your job, so we will break the other leg.
3) Amtrak, you are getting stronger, we can't have that! So we are gonna cut your food rations!
4) Amtrak, whatcha doin' on the floor? Lazy bum, have to cut your food ration off to get you to perform!
I like Mr Bush in many ways, but he is CLUELESS on this issue!
Cheers!
Rob
The Nebraskan Senator may care more about farm subsidies than he does about Amtrak. But the Massachusettes Senator probably cares more about Amtrak than farm subsidies. To save one, each will appeal to the other. "I'll vote for your's if you'll vote for mine" is how things really work in Washington.
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"Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience." -- Hyman Rickover
The Del Monte Club Car
JP
*sighs*
Here is an analogy that, while humorous, also illustrates a point:
Lets pretend that Amtrak is a person.
1) Amtrak we are gonna start you up with a broken leg.
2) Amtrak, you ain't doin' your job, so we will break the other leg.
3) Amtrak, you are getting stronger, we can't have that! So we are gonna cut your food rations!
4) Amtrak, whatcha doin' on the floor? Lazy bum, have to cut your food ration off to get you to perform!
Hey Rob: You've come up with what I think is a great analogy!!! I'll take the liberty of adding a couple more -
Hey, Amtrak. Take your empty plate and sit across from all your airline relatives who have full plates and may go to the buffet for more anytime by crying out I don't have enough. And don't complian about no utensils or rusty utensils eitrher or I'll take your plate away.
Hey, Amtrak. Go sit in the public clinic and wait and get sicker, while your airline and auto industry relatives get free health insurance and immediate service at the best hospitals. And we'll transport them there, too. Time and again.
Hey, Amtrak. See the sign up there that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"? Go sit on that siding until I give you permission to move. Who do you think you are anyway??
This all strikes me as simlar to the elimination of trolleys and rail systems around major cities in the 50's and 60's in favor of roads for buses and cars. Now we find ourselves needing more rail mass transit and fighting to find space in our cities to put the rail lines. I think shutting vs dramatically increased funding is disasterously short-sighted. Course we're sermonizing to the choir here. To the streets (tracks?), group. The heck with letters.... I wax nostalgic for the sixties...
Thanks again Rob...
Ira