How about starting by cutting the fat of Congressional salaries themselves? Almost all of them are already millionairs anyway, or they would not have all of their millionair buddies to help them afford to get elected in the first place. You do know that it takes literally billions to keep these 535 or so members of this “do nothing” Congress in office? Shouldn’t such people be serving “The People” of this great country, instead of the moneyed interests anyway?
We should hold elections they way England does. Six weeks of campaigning and a very low cap on election spending. No political ads allowed on television or radio. It seems to work just fine for them. Other countries have similar routines. That way they have to stand on the issues instead of all the political BS
if they want to cut the budget of amtrak, then congress should give themselves a pay cut as well. some of them proclaim they are fiscal conservatives. well, they should take no salary for their term in office. no pac nor super pac money, and no benefits either.
The Amtrak folks share their track with the profitable freight lines, who have resisted installing mandated safety equipment out of cheapness, which is a cardinal virtue to the GOP.
The rail beds have long been the (shunned) responsibility of those freight companies, that in the west, are now oil companies based on what they were given to build, and maintain, those railroads. Blaming Amtrak is very convenient, for like well CSX, Santa Fe/Burllington, and others, who not only don’t pay their “freight”, they are the ones who fly by with cargo while Amtrak trains and passengers sit on the sidings. Yes, there are problems, but look at the real source, corporate control.
And yet all the safety devices are already in place – just waiting for FCC approval to turn them on. So sure, the over $1 Billion subsidy for Amtrak isn’t enough and that caused the problem. Yeah. Right.
“you are right…they blame the Rs when it was the conductor”Cutting Amtrak’s budget has seriously slowed the installation of the safety system that would have automatically slowed the train down after the conductor failed to. Congress cut Amtrak’s budget and plants to make more drastic cuts. They share in the blame that the safety system wasn’t installed that could have slowed down the train and prevented the derailment. But don’t let the facts stand in your way of deflecting blame.
Observer fo Irony about 9 years ago
Leave it to the Politco Banditos to protect a speeding train on horses.
frodo1008 about 9 years ago
How about starting by cutting the fat of Congressional salaries themselves? Almost all of them are already millionairs anyway, or they would not have all of their millionair buddies to help them afford to get elected in the first place. You do know that it takes literally billions to keep these 535 or so members of this “do nothing” Congress in office? Shouldn’t such people be serving “The People” of this great country, instead of the moneyed interests anyway?
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member about 9 years ago
We should hold elections they way England does. Six weeks of campaigning and a very low cap on election spending. No political ads allowed on television or radio. It seems to work just fine for them. Other countries have similar routines. That way they have to stand on the issues instead of all the political BS
vwdualnomand about 9 years ago
if they want to cut the budget of amtrak, then congress should give themselves a pay cut as well. some of them proclaim they are fiscal conservatives. well, they should take no salary for their term in office. no pac nor super pac money, and no benefits either.
apbtdale about 9 years ago
shouldn’t the Amtrack folks repair their own tracks.
Kip W about 9 years ago
The Amtrak folks share their track with the profitable freight lines, who have resisted installing mandated safety equipment out of cheapness, which is a cardinal virtue to the GOP.
Dtroutma about 9 years ago
The rail beds have long been the (shunned) responsibility of those freight companies, that in the west, are now oil companies based on what they were given to build, and maintain, those railroads. Blaming Amtrak is very convenient, for like well CSX, Santa Fe/Burllington, and others, who not only don’t pay their “freight”, they are the ones who fly by with cargo while Amtrak trains and passengers sit on the sidings. Yes, there are problems, but look at the real source, corporate control.
Reppr Premium Member about 9 years ago
And yet all the safety devices are already in place – just waiting for FCC approval to turn them on. So sure, the over $1 Billion subsidy for Amtrak isn’t enough and that caused the problem. Yeah. Right.
Jason Allen about 9 years ago
“you are right…they blame the Rs when it was the conductor”Cutting Amtrak’s budget has seriously slowed the installation of the safety system that would have automatically slowed the train down after the conductor failed to. Congress cut Amtrak’s budget and plants to make more drastic cuts. They share in the blame that the safety system wasn’t installed that could have slowed down the train and prevented the derailment. But don’t let the facts stand in your way of deflecting blame.