Bloomberg News
Time to shut down Amtrak.
Hi,
If Amtrak were a private business it would be profitable. It is like any public transportation system, whether it is a bus system, whatever. The unions are in control, they funnel money to the democrat party for protection, and they make it impossible to make a profit. The problem is not selling a microwave hamburger for $9.50, it is the fact it costs $16 to begin with. When one has no competition, this stuff happens. They probably are forced to buy them from some union shop, much like the union forced teachers in Wisconsin to buy their medical insurance through the union insurance company. When it got bid in the open market, it became pretty clear the taxpayers were getting gouged beyond belief by the insurance company.
If you ever looked into taking Amtrak, their fares are outta sight. Every time they are losing money, they raise fares, which in turn causes them to lose customers.
After Hurricane Katrina, they stopped using the rails between Jacksonville and New Orleans. Try booking Amtrack from Florida to AZ and you have to go through DC or Chicago. They have no concern for marketing or common sense. I fear our health care will follow the same path as the post office and Amtrak has done.
Turn it over to a private company, let them declare bankruptcy to get out from under all the union contracts, work rules and pensions garbage and they would likely do well.
regards,
5412
