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Started By
Message
re: Privatizing Amtrak
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:26 am to 4cubbies
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:26 am to 4cubbies
quote:
What is the purpose of privatization? How would that benefit our government or the American people?
Right now, taxpayers are subsidizing all the users of the post office and Amtrack.
Privatize them, then only the people using the services will be paying, not every US taxpayer.
The reason FedEx costs more than USPS is because the taxpayer are not subsidizing FedEx.
1
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:29 am to aero1126
quote:
Close to never, private companies have to make profits so their price to customers naturally has to be higher.
But the cost to the American taxpayer is significantly lower.
Do you understand basic economics?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:30 am to Rebel
quote:
prison trash collection utilities
And who runs these enterprises…to quote Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School…”It’s not the Boy Scouts”
These companies are so into local graft and corruption. Each one makes huge campaign donations and promises to politicians that every time a new official is elected, these contracts change hands like women changing underwear. See Kenner and New Orleans trash issues. Then when they cannot meet the contract’s expectations, they ask for price increases or sue when they lose a contract due to poor performance.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:38 am to Texas Weazel
quote:You might want to expand your example here.
It is cheaper to fly between Houston and New Orleans than it is to take Amtrak. I
Amtrak in the Acela corridor is massively utilized and also far more convenient than flying. 
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:39 am to chryso
quote:
I'm ok with Amtrack but not so sure about the post office.
I never ride Amtrak, and that’s about the frequency my mail is actually delivered by USPS.
It can definitely stand to be privatized.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:43 am to Tarps99
quote:
These companies are so into local graft and corruption. Each one makes huge campaign donations and promises to politicians that every time a new official is elected, these contracts change hands like women changing underwear. See Kenner and New Orleans trash issues. Then when they cannot meet the contract’s expectations, they ask for price increases or sue when they lose a contract due to poor performance.
But those are not truly private enterprises.
They are private entities being paid by the government, so basically the same as the government doing it themselves. There is no competition.
Where I live, trash service is truly competitive. There are at least 2 services available to choose from. You can choose one or the other, or you can choose to just haul it to the dump yourself.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 7:04 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
Do you think the free markets would fund the interstate system at 14 million dollars per mile?
there are certain things that require govt involvement because the free market is inherently not incentivized to allow for it.
there are certain things that require govt involvement because the free market is inherently not incentivized to allow for it.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 8:41 am to 4cubbies
quote:
What is the purpose of privatization?
How would that benefit our government or the American people?
So you enjoy paying for something you don’t use?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 8:58 am to coolpapaboze
But you are talking about an area that is much densely populated than New Orleans and Houston and closer together.
Out here in wide open America, we don’t have time to wait for a train especially if one comes 3 days a week.
Also the massive requirements for high speed rail would bankrupt any project to get there.
Brightline maybe bridging that gap, but it is still slow or comparable to air travel. It may work in selective use cases but not everywhere it will work. Then you also have to factor in stupid, some people have met their maker when they fail to yield to the railroad crossings.
Out here in wide open America, we don’t have time to wait for a train especially if one comes 3 days a week.
Also the massive requirements for high speed rail would bankrupt any project to get there.
Brightline maybe bridging that gap, but it is still slow or comparable to air travel. It may work in selective use cases but not everywhere it will work. Then you also have to factor in stupid, some people have met their maker when they fail to yield to the railroad crossings.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:48 am to Tarps99
I think it totally makes sense to cutback Amtrak's service. Nobody is taking a train across the country for reasons other than nostalgia. The Acela corridor is heavily used and incredibly useful. There are probably two or three areas in the country where passenger train service makes sense. The rest should be discontinued.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 12:36 pm to Stinger_1066
quote:
Right now, taxpayers are subsidizing all the users of the post office and Amtrack.
Privatize them, then only the people using the services will be paying, not every US taxpayer.
The reason FedEx costs more than USPS is because the taxpayer are not subsidizing FedEx.
Denmark will stop delivering letters at the end of the year -- BBC.com
Link says it all, 90% drop in letter delivery since 2000. Danes are told they will still get letters and packages, but it will be from private deliveries.
I received a package this morning at 5am. I asked the young woman [was prepping to walk dogs] -- she is a contractor for Amazon - she said her group starts deliveries at 3am.
No mail carrier wants to do this. Free this market up.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 12:55 pm to Evolved Simian
quote:
America is automobile centric. We have a love affair with our cars, and as FSD evolves, that isn't going to change. The road network is superior in every way to the rail network for passenger travel.
Thanks to the federal government pouring hundreds of billions of dollars annually into roads while virtually ignoring everything else.
How's that sprawl working out for metro areas?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 1:05 pm to BuckyCheese
You’re correct.
Amtrak already has “services” to deliver freight such as personal vehicles as well as packages.
It just needs to be privatized and depending on the line (geographic area) either focus on being a freight carrier WITH passengers or vice versa.
Kind of like riding a military “hop” for active duty/families/retirees. A C-130 carrying cargo is headed across country with or without you…if there’s room, you can tag along.
Amtrak already has “services” to deliver freight such as personal vehicles as well as packages.
It just needs to be privatized and depending on the line (geographic area) either focus on being a freight carrier WITH passengers or vice versa.
Kind of like riding a military “hop” for active duty/families/retirees. A C-130 carrying cargo is headed across country with or without you…if there’s room, you can tag along.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 1:13 pm to 4cubbies
quote:
When has privatization ever decreased costs?
Amtrak costs the government $5 billion a year.
Now Privatized
Now costs the government $0 a year.
Retards: when has that ever lowered costs?
People with brains: What?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 4:36 pm to DaveyJones12
quote:
Do you think the free markets would fund the interstate system at 14 million dollars per mile?
there are certain things that require govt involvement because the free market is inherently not incentivized to allow for it.
The answer is that you charge the users.
Not everyone drives on interstates. Taxpayers should not be paying for interstates. Allow private companies to build them and charge a fee for using them.
But, but, today I drive on them for free!
No you don't. You are paying for them via various taxes. I'm assuming you are a taxpayer. If you aren't, then you should lose the privilege of driving on interstates.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 4:41 pm
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:25 pm to 4cubbies
quote:
When has privatization ever decreased costs?
If USPS does it better for cheaper how does FedEx and UPS stay in business?
If you have something to mail and it really doesn’t matter if it gets there or not use USPS. If you have something that is important that it gets delivered then private is the way to go.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:37 pm to SwampMonster
quote:
Amtrak already has “services” to deliver freight such as personal vehicles as well as packages.
Amtrak hasn't had MHCs or Roadrailers tagging along on their trains for many years. Because it wasn't profitable.
The only personal vehicles they haul are on the Auto Train from Virginia to Florida. You buy a ticket on the train and you can take your car with you.
quote:
It just needs to be privatized and depending on the line (geographic area) either focus on being a freight carrier WITH passengers or vice versa.
The railroads Amtrak runs on are not going to just let them start running freight trains. It doesn't work that way. Railroads like UP own their tracks and Amtrak pays fees to run passenger trains on them. UP isn't going to let some other operator come in to haul freight under Amtrak's deal.
What you are asking for is essentially what Britain, and the rest of Europe has I think, national ownership of the tracks with operators paying to use them. Much like a toll road.
That is most assuredly NOT what the US rail network is.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:43 pm to BuckyCheese
You just schooled me, thanks for info.
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:45 pm to 4cubbies
quote:
When has privatization ever decreased costs?
When has decreasing costs ever been the ONLY factor?
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:46 pm to Jax Teller
quote:
We need an actual rail system like other countries.
Which other countries are you envisioning?
Don’t include European countries the size of Alabama
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