commentaries

What about privatization of social security? Republicans haven't mentioned that since the economy began to crash in 2007. Just think about those nest eggs - shrinking in half. And the need to work until age 70.

How can Amtrak be losing so much money. I have ridden it numerous times in all parts of the country. The trains are always close to if not full.

The United States of America will never be a modern country until we improve our rail and transit systems reducing our dependence on oil. Look, even CHINA is creating a high-speed railway and although they crash every now and again, they're moving people at 210 mph. That's about 2 1/2 hours to Chicago - and right into the city center. And I suspect our trains won't be crashing into each other, either.

Privatize Amtrak and let it fail? Here's what will happen: More people will have to drive, jamming the roads and leading to more spending on highways that are already falling apart. Taxes will go up to improve roads. No money saved, but the private buyers of Amtrak will surely structure the deal so they get a gigantic government bailout. ...and the rich get richer....

I have an idea - radical, brutal, and strange to many, it seems... Do what the countries who have working rail do? If you think you need to change it, then it obviously you think it isn't working - so see what those who have working rail do, and copy it... Oh.. the countries all own them.

smdent; China also has more than a billion more people living in an area about the same size as the US. Density according to Wikipedia; China: 363.3/ sq mi; United States: 87.4/ sq mi.

jbnpaper - That population density is misleading. China has very, very large cities, it is true, but in between are large expanses, just like in the US. Wuhan to Beijing? 720 miles - almost twice the distance of Saint Paul to Chicago. Guangzhou to Shanghai? 920 miles - further than New York to Chicago.

"Just think about those nest eggs - shrinking in half. And the need to work until age 70."---If you didn't panic and sell off your assets during the downturn, you probably haven't lost much of anything. Allowing people to opt out of social security makes as much sense now as it did five years ago.

"I have an idea - radical, brutal, and strange to many, it seems... Do what the countries who have working rail do?"---We do have a working rail system. It moves enormous amounts of freight. And it is private. Europe, Japan, and China move most of their freight on congested, government-owned roads.

Someone is going to have to pay to run the passenger trains regardless.No private company will enter any business unless they will make money.BNSF will not allow Amtrak to operate on its tracks for free from the Twin Cities to Seattle.The Congressmen who represent North Dakota Montana and Washington state all want Amtrak.Amtrak has existed since 1971 when the railroads got sick of losing money out of pocket to run passenger trains.David Gunn stepped on some powerful political toes;that is why he was fired as Amtrak President.The taxpayers will continue to pay for Amtrak regardless of it being in public or private hands.There are a number of Congressmen who want Amtrak to continue;some are conservative Republicans.