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A keen sense of timing

Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 10:25 pm
by callmeslick
http://bluenationreview.com/house-gop-r ... tal-wreck/

the NTSB stated that slowed rollout, for fiscal reasons, of key safety equipment, might have been a contributing factor in the accident.

Re: A keen sense of timing

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:22 am
by Darkhorse
Yea, 100 mph on a 50 mph curve had nothing to do with it!

Re: A keen sense of timing

Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:43 am
by callmeslick
a computer operated speed controller would have fixed that, DH. And, all trains in the fleet are supposed to have them in place by the end of the year, a process already slowed badly by budget cutting. Further, when Europe and Asia can run trains at 100-180 mph AVERAGE speeds, what the hell are we doing here staying in the dark ages. East Coast corridor runs should be able to go that fast, but we fail, repeatedly, to spend on infrastructure. Back to my favorite President, Eisenhower. He BORRROWED money, on top of existing war debts, to rebuild the US infrastructure. Three generations of Americans prospered from his foresight. We now have a mentality that rejects foresight, especially if You Know Who in the White House keeps suggesting such measures around infrastructure rebuilds. Our grandchildren will curse the GOP for that, and us for tolerating the GOP.

Re: A keen sense of timing

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 2:26 pm
by Darkhorse
So you think we need to pour more money into a government-run money-losing machine with appalling management practices that loses $230m a year?
callmeslick wrote:a computer operated speed controller would have fixed that, DH. And, all trains in the fleet are supposed to have them in place by the end of the year, a process already slowed badly by budget cutting.
We have more than 600,000 miles of railway in the US (Amtrak has about 21,000) and it will cost $10bn to install Positive Train Control on the system (Amtrak has 400 miles with PTC now).
callmeslick wrote:Further, when Europe and Asia can run trains at 100-180 mph AVERAGE speeds, what the hell are we doing here staying in the dark ages. East Coast corridor runs should be able to go that fast, but we fail, repeatedly, to spend on infrastructure.
Agreed! But do we just add to the deficit? Where do we cut?
callmeslick wrote:Back to my favorite President, Eisenhower. He BORRROWED money, on top of existing war debts, to rebuild the US infrastructure. Three generations of Americans prospered from his foresight.
Many things were different in the past and it is unrealistic to make the comparison! Don't get me wrong here, I am a railroad advocate and believe that we need to use it more than we do and here to tell you that the current system is not coming close to working!
callmeslick wrote:We now have a mentality that rejects foresight, especially if You Know Who in the White House keeps suggesting such measures around infrastructure rebuilds. Our grandchildren will curse the GOP for that, and us for tolerating the GOP.
Blaming this all on the GOP is making you look like HH, this tragedy is a great opportunity for you to jump on the GOP is evil band wagon!

Re: A keen sense of timing

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 4:49 pm
by callmeslick
Darkhorse wrote:So you think we need to pour more money into a government-run money-losing machine with appalling management practices that loses $230m a year?
yes, good government, and the public welfare are NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PROFIT CENTERS.
We have more than 600,000 miles of railway in the US (Amtrak has about 21,000) and it will cost $10bn to install Positive Train Control on the system (Amtrak has 400 miles with PTC now).
we lost 6 times that much in Afghanistan on 'public works' projects, unaccounted for. Not to mention the trillion we pissed away in Iraq. Priorities, and, I repeat, the public welfare.
Agreed! But do we just add to the deficit? Where do we cut?
why cut, when about 10% of the public(the wealthy) are VASTLY undertaxed. That said, borrowing is cheap, which is the best time to borrow.
Many things were different in the past and it is unrealistic to make the comparison! Don't get me wrong here, I am a railroad advocate and believe that we need to use it more than we do and here to tell you that the current system is not coming close to working!
the basic governance principle that Eisenhower was working on has not changed one bit.
Blaming this all on the GOP is making you look like HH, this tragedy is a great opportunity for you to jump on the GOP is evil band wagon!
when the shoe fits, they HAVE to own up to it and wear it. This is a GOP problem,and has been since they jumped on the goofy cut taxes and cut spending bandwagon. It is a terribly short-sighted policy to follow and our grandchildren will pay the price.

Re: A keen sense of timing

Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 9:18 pm
by HappyHappy
Blaming this all on the GOP is making you look like HH, this tragedy is a great opportunity for you to jump on the GOP is evil band wagon!
You mean it makes him look good?
perish the thought.

Of course the GOP caused it, and the fucking Commies(Demos) walk on water!