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I wrote him concerning the economical future of amtrak passenger train services. This is a Letter From Senator John McCain About Passenger train services & Saveamtrak.org that he sent me. Enjoy
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Why did you waste the time to write this idealogue? His answer should make it clear that you wasted your time. Does the phrase "beating a dead horse" come to mind? He throws in the voodoo accounting done by Warrington as part of his reason for opposing what is being done now, and of course there is the usual $400 per passenger on the Sunset red herring. Why bother publishing what this guy is going to say? It is as predictible as sunrise. Asking him to understand and accept the idea of passenger railroading is like asking Karl Marx to understand and accept democracy and free enterprise.
George
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I have always admired Sen. McCain for stating his positions openly, as opposed to telling people what they want to hear. But the stats he uses are chosen to support his opinion. You could also argue that the Southwest Chief brings tourist dollars to northern Arizona. How about comparing air and rail subsidies between LA and Flagstaff.
As for the $400/passenger figure for the Sunset, I have heard it also claimed that for all the passengers using intermediate points on the Sunset, it would cost them and the government much more to get there by any other way than rail.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: I have always admired Sen. McCain for stating his positions openly, but the stats he uses are chosen to support his opinion.
Mark Twain, I believe, once said that there are three kinds of liars....
liars
damn liars
and statisticians
The numbers can be selectively cited to support nearly any position one would wish.
Tanner929 Member # 3720
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When the LD travelers consider the "trip" the major part of the vacation compared to time spent on site? While I enjoy the journals I'm kinda wondering what are the profile of the riders. Are they retiree's? students or teachers on summer or winter break? Perhaps many people who may only have a week vacation or so. If someone is taking a vacation in a place like Arizona might look to see how many rounds they could get in, or how many hikes in the desert or camping days or fishing days would they get in if they took a plane rather then the train. If the journey is going to be part of the vacation experience maybe then the rail industry needs a new plan for the Long Distance Trains
Chucky Member # 2263
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Tanner, you can't fault the rail industry because some people are in such a mad rush to get somewhere that they won't take time to enjoy the journey.
On the contrary, it seems a tragic fault in mankind that they are so eager to get somewhere that they would dispose of a system of transportation that is memorable and fun.
American passenger train travel will always be with us and there is no indication that they will get any faster in the next generation or so. What might happen, however, is that trains will gain a similar reputation as cruise ships and when that day arrives, they will no longer be affordable for the common man.
Recent discussions on this board suggest that train travel might not be as expensive as Sen. McCain might believe. Certain accounting irregularities have surfaced in our discourse and it seems likely that an entirely new examination of costs are in order.
So what if we are spending a billion dollars or so a year on train travel? Most of the long distance trains are running at full capacity and everybody has an opportunity to ride on them if they so desire.
In the meantime we spend hundreds of billions of dollars building airports, bailing out airlines and fighting a war over oil in Iraq.
I mean, who gives a crap about a mere billion dollars going to keep alive passenger train travel? Clearly the argument is not about trains. It's about distracting the American public from thinking about substantive matters.
By the way, passengertrainlover, you should be proud of yourself. That's a great website you've got there and it's gratifying to see you got Sen. McCain's attention.
train lady Member # 3920
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if the senator is so "put out" abput the tax payers money he should start with Congress. Those overseas jaunts with staff and spouse are tax payerrs money. Ditto all the "perks" congress provides for themselves. Oh yes what about all the pork barrel projects in all the bills like the transportation bill. And then there are the airlines,security ,airports, controlers etc. The busses are subsidized by taxes for the roads. One could go on and on and one day I may just call the man and ask these questions, I would also like to know when he last rode the train. Another point to consider is at how many small towns do the planes stop between LA and Tucson? All this simply confirms my feeling that this administration from top to bottom is a bunch of mental pygmys.Maybe that;s what happens when one lives so near DC Tanner ,we feel that our vacation begins when we board the train. We can relax, enjoy the scenery,good food and new people.
MontanaJim Member # 2323
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in mccains defense, he was talking about widespread waste of taxpayer money throughout the govt yesterday on meet the press.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by MontanaJim: in mccains defense, he was talking about widespread waste of taxpayer money throughout the govt yesterday on meet the press.
The odd thing is that I find much to like in what John McCain has to say. His position on Amtrak, which mirrors the standard far right position, is the only substantial disagreement I have with McCain.
I believe that the United States would be in much better shape on all other fronts today had McCain not been swindled out of the GOP's presidential nomination back in Y2K.
Capltd29 Member # 3292
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I too agree with Sen. McCain on most issues he is probably the most reasonable senator from either party at this point, bu the is dead wrong on passenger rail.
I heard a rumor that his wife was hurt in an Amtrak wreck, is this true?
JP
jgart56 Member # 3968
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I'm not sure about that, however, at another forum a few years ago someone mentioned that she had been on a super-late train and was furious about it. I don't know if either rumor can be proven,however!
Tanner929 Member # 3720
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Perhaps she was on that poor train that was held up outside of Kansas, while they waited for John Kerry's campaign train caught up. Ha Ha. Hey what ever happend to that poor conductor who told the passangers why they where being delayed.
MontanaJim Member # 2323
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Perhaps she was on that poor train that was held up outside of Kansas, while they waited for John Kerry's campaign train caught up. Ha Ha. Hey what ever happend to that poor conductor who told the passangers why they where being delayed.
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I dont know but i think he was running for some political office...
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