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Amtrak launches multicultural microsites
The African American site can tell the history of the underground railroad. Of course that has been done. This should give some good ammo to the people who want to kill AMTRAK (think Tea Partiers).
I can’t wait to see the Norwegian American micro site!
Guess they don’t want us WASP’s to ride.
One more reason why Amtrak is always in the red, fiscally. Balkanization of the country per socialist regulations. But, as long as the socialists are going that route, I think they should cover all cultures. Therefore, if those Amtrak nuts want trains running between Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, the local culture should be respected on board during the trip. Mandatory music over the PA speakers. Dick Rodgers Orchestra for the entire trip north or west. The Romy Gosz Orchestra south or east. Except on Sundays. Then it will be the Jerry Schneider Orchestra and Jerry Voelker and the Jolly Gents. Now if you know who any of these guys are, you know exactly where this is going. Several dozen kegs of beer are mandatory along with a wood bar and hardwood floors. And the trains must be pulled by steam in order to maintain historical authenticity. None of those ugly Amtrak diesels.
What a waste of valuable resources. What a joke as well.
Never takes long for the distortion of anything Amtrak does…
So the anti-Amtrak “free-market” folks are racist and homophobic as well - what a surprise.
Uff da! We need Norwegian, Swedish, German, and Polish sites, too. The French already have VIA Rail Canada.
Hey Goosie, perhaps Amtrak should follow Virgin Trains example and install talking toilets. That will keep you entertained, Huh, Goosie?
Actually, this is smart marketing that will pay off big time. Look at how many companies advertise their products in ethnic-specific media, such as ethnic magazines. Of course, Amtrak could NOT do it, and return to the generic ads from the 70s that appeared in Reader’s Digest, etc, that never told anyone how or where they could catch a train.
Insane.
What a complete waste of money which could be spent improving Amtak service - where does it all end?
What BS
I can understand the marketing angle for the Spanish site, and the historical interest and perhaps other aspects of the African American site, but if my tax dollars are going to support the LGBT site, I’m offended. Not because I have anything against LGBT people per se, nor do I think Amtrak can’t try to at least welcome them as passengers, and even though I’m not sure what LGBT issues relate to passenger train issues in special ways apart from others in the population, but because if they are going to do that, then Mr. Guise is right, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t target EVERY ethnic, religious, cultural, or special interest group. I know the idea of “return on investment” is looked down upon, as if no amount of money is too much to spend on certain services whose users aren’t willing to pay the full cost of, including, unfortunately, passenger trains, or a different toilet for every special interest group in the LGBT acronym and one for the rest of us if we don’t want to share a toilet with them over concerns of health and safety (an extra car added to each train with nothing but toilets?) Never mind, I’m being a bit silly, but unless this pays for itself, it (like another poster said) gives even more good fodder for anti Amtrak politicians to be anti-Amtrak. And good fodder for other special interest groups to claim their “right” for an Amtrak web site focused on them, nevermind it’s profitability. But even apart from that, if return on investment is counted not just in dollars but in numbers of actual people served and increase in ridership (aren’t those respectable goals for Amtrak and its fans?) then I think they should have done a site to attract Europeans, Canadians, and maybe Asians. Perhaps even Arabs too. Those are all significant populations with vacation dollars to spend when the visit the USA, and why not try to grab some of that market?
So just because they’re minority groups, means they get special websites? Aren’t they the ones who pushed for equal rights, and now they have things specialized FOR them? America is going down hill fast.
Unappreciated minorities ALWAYS gravitate to where they feel most genuinely welcome. I applaud Amtrak’s targeted award-deserving efforts to implement sharp, focused marketing (in the manner of most savvy airlines). These Amtrak microsites are sure to be received as both tasteful and motivating by their intended audiences, resulting in revenue enhancement in the months ahead.
Of all the stupid things that Amtrak has done this is about the most stupid. I just hope the Irish-American site comes with a printable coupon for a Guiness in the lounge car.
Ah! Are you kidding me? Is this the best Amtrak can do?