Raise your hand if you think the world's most expensive,
perma-profitless, privileged, govt-coddled industry saw what happened to student loans and is hoping for a Joe Biden handout?

Raise your hand if you'd like to watch him flip Amtrak the bird and put
it out for management by a more competent organization.

/raises hand./

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On 2022-09-15, JAB <here@is.invalid> wrote:

On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:06:37 +0100, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Years ago, the railroads "dumped" consumer side for freight only.

A person needs to bean count subsidies (tax breaks, etc) other
transport companies (air, land) get before bashing Amtrak.

Taxpayers spent billions bailing out airlines
https://www.washingtonpost.com 2021/12/14

And shouldn't have! Let those airlines crash and burn, and teach some
fiscal discipline! Let economic darwinism prevail!

There's a decent background document on the matter here: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11966

The Congressional Research Service is non-partisan and highly regarded.

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On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:06:37 +0100, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Raise your hand if you'd like to watch him flip Amtrak the bird and put
it out for management by a more competent organization.

Years ago, the railroads "dumped" consumer side for freight only.

A person needs to bean count subsidies (tax breaks, etc) other
transport companies (air, land) get before bashing Amtrak.

Taxpayers spent billions bailing out airlines
https://www.washingtonpost.com 2021/12/14

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On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 02:51:11 -0000 (UTC), Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Let economic darwinism prevail!

It does many times to "we the people," but not to the "untouchables."

British English: untouchable ADJECTIVE If you say that someone is
untouchable, you mean that they cannot be affected or punished in any
way.

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On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 02:51:11 -0000 (UTC), Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

There's a decent background document on the matter here: >https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11966

Sanders blocks proposal to force rail unions to accept labor deal

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday blocked a Republican request
to force railroad workers and companies to accept the recommendations
of a nonpartisan panel to avoid a strike that would impact millions of Americans.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3643255-sanders-blocks-proposal-to-force-rail-unions-to-accept-labor-deal/

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On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:06:37 +0100, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Raise your hand if you'd like

Dark Brandon averted a railway strike.

I haven't seen republicans this disappointed since gas prices started
going down.

https://twitter.com/jayblackisfunny/status/1570499419853975554

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On 2022-09-15, Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

On 2022-09-15, JAB <here@is.invalid> wrote:

On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:06:37 +0100, Retrograde >><fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Years ago, the railroads "dumped" consumer side for freight only.

A person needs to bean count subsidies (tax breaks, etc) other
transport companies (air, land) get before bashing Amtrak.

Taxpayers spent billions bailing out airlines
https://www.washingtonpost.com 2021/12/14

And shouldn't have! Let those airlines crash and burn, and teach some
fiscal discipline! Let economic darwinism prevail!

There's a decent background document on the matter here: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11966

The Congressional Research Service is non-partisan and highly regarded.

Well, I do stand by my opinion that Amtrak is coddled and benefits from
more government support than it has ever deserved, and runs
inefficiently and at great cost.

But it does seem these workers had real grievances about working
conditions, all the consequence of corporate management trying to
squeeze the working class at the expense of worker safety and probably
health. So I'm glad they got something out of this strike.

Somehow the billionaires keep getting richer and the working class keeps getting even more crushed.

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On Sat, 17 Sep 2022 02:23:41 +0100, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Well, I do stand by my opinion that Amtrak is coddled and benefits from
more government support than it has ever deserved, and runs
inefficiently and at great cost.

It would take time to compare say Amtrack to Airlines. For instance,
do airlines fully pay for airports and flight infrastructure required?
Amtrack has to pay for miles traveled on corporate owned tracks, and
maintain their tracks. How much do airlines pay for weather reports,
and related weather related ground equipment (radar, etc)?

"So for nearly 40 years, the federal government has been funding air
travel to and from small communities across the United States. In
1979, when the federal government deregulated the airline industry,
Congress established the Essential Air Service Program (EAS) to
subsidize flights to the smallest airports.Jan 31, 2018"

Note this, "The EAS program could be cut back, but it represents only
a small portion of overall federal expenditures in aviation."

1/4 billion is peanuts for this program... https://www.enotrans.org/eno-resources/federal-government-subsidize-air-service-small-communities/


Amtrak made $2.4 billion in 2020

Despite its heavy reliance on state subsidies and inability to turn a
profit, Amtrak is growing, and it has big plans for the future. In the
face of the changing economy and climate, Americans are increasingly
eschewing cars and airplanes for more efficient and environmentally
friendly modes of transportation

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/072115/how-amtrak-works-makes-money.asp

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