A better way to run a railroad

Boston Globe ^ | June 30, 2002 | Jeff Jacoby

[sarcasm]

A: And I can't believe that David Gunn, Amtrak's president, had the gall to threaten a shutdown in the first place.

Q: What do you mean? How are the trains supposed to run if Amtrak goes broke?

A: Let me understand you. Amtrak is in danger of going broke, so you think it should shut down the few routes on which it actually makes money?

[Vidalia]

HELLO....ONE RINGY DINGLEBERRY........

Gee Whiz, Boys and Girls, Just What the Heck is AMTRACK ECONOMICS 101, AMTRACK MANAGEMENT 101, AMTRACK ACCOUNTING 101, and last but not least the big WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP LYING OUT YOUR ASS TO THE PUBLIC, WHO IS PAYING YOUR SALARY TO WASTE BILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS 101?

Have you ever heard of PUBLIC CANING for those who lie and deface in the name of greed or incompetence?

Do you know how to spell, or have a thought of the feeling that may headed your way, spelled SWAK, SWAK, SWAK, SWAK, SWAK, SWAK for about 40 SWAKs to your lying backside?

[jejones]

Sealed With A Kiss?! Yecch!

[Movemout]

David Gunn used to run the D.C. Metro system with the same extortionist philosophy. Shutting down Amtrac would cause a temporary disruption which would inconvenience a hell of a lot of people for a few months. Then market economics would solve the problem. Those routes that are profitable would be serviced with trains by private sector companies. It would be a major upheaval, let there be no doubt, but subsidies, using your money and mine, would be history. I think that is a good thing. Bailing out the airlines was a mistake. Bailing out Chrysler was a mistake. Bailing out anybody is a mistake. Trust in the market place is not a mistake.