What happened to “free market?” If the railroads–private companies that they are–can’t provide the service, find another service provider. If the price to provide the service gets high enough, another service provider would step in… For a high enough price, UPS or FedEx would carry grain, one box at a time…
I have complete respect for those who are having financial difficulties do to railroad service shortfalls. However, I am entertained that in the US we support the “free market” when things are going well for everyone, yet complain and seek additional regulation when things are not going well for some groups…
What happened to “free market?” If the railroads–private companies that they are–can’t provide the service, find another service provider. If the price to provide the service gets high enough, another service provider would step in…
I am entertained that in the US we support the “free market” when things are going well for everyone, yet complain and seek additional regulation when things are not going well for some groups…
Mel & Mo, do you realize that the Feds mandates ethanol which created a boom business for agriculture from the farmers up to the railroads. The mandate results in an unnecessary fuel and food costs that is produced in the heartland and shipped all the way to California so YOU can pay for it for no reason. You will probably buy the hype about ethanol is better for the environment without ever realizing how much fossil fuels, the feedstock for most industrial fertilizer, it takes to grow the amount corn needed to produce ethanol. Al is another politician who won’t tell it as it is, period. Railroads are doing what any business will do, demand a price that gives them profit and a return on investment now that they are free of that non-sense regulation that bankrupted the rail industry and left a vital infrastructure to waste decades ago.
If the railroads weren’t taxed so high here, and taxed per rail mile there would be more double tracks left. Thus with more track capacity they would be more ready for increased traffic that the ND oil boom has brought through Minnesota. Franken is likeable to me until I reach the voting booth.
Maybe the politicians should lower the property tax burden on the railroads and they wouldn’t be so anxious to rip out under used track so quickly therefore increasing capacity and redundancy.
Maybe the politicians should lower the property tax burden on the railroads and they wouldn’t be so anxious to rip out under used track so quickly therefore increasing capacity and redundancy.
Ah, those MInnesotans! they elect some real winners to represent them. A pro wrestler, and a comedian. Franken appears to be at least making an effort to learn what is taking place. I agree that “corrupt” many be an inappropriate adjective, but I understand why shippers are reluctant to complain, as it may lead to a sudden inability for them to obtain cars in which to ship their stuff. As for the VA, that’s a whole 'nother problem! Rest assured that the “physician” referred to by Mr. Murray isn’t the VA docs, it is the wizards among the administrators who placed bonuses ahead of the intrests of patients.
The thing to remember is that Senator Franken is up for re-election this year. All of a sudden he is very concerned about what happens back in Minnesota versus maintaining his town home in New York City, or his other home in California. Shipping grain by rail in Minnesota and other grain producing states has been a problem for many years, and not just something that has recently happened. Senator Franken is an excellent example of another Progressive millionaire in Congress telling the people that he is very concerned about their problems, but only at election time! His comment won’t deter contributions to his re-election campaign from Progressive billionaires like George Soros, Bill Gates, MIchael Bloomberg, or Orpa Winfrey.
@Noel Petit, First; FYI Congress has little control and even less say about how the STATES spend their federal highway trust funds, including grants. If a state wants to spend it on hiking paths that’s where it’s spent.
Second; The trucks are there. Your highways show it,
Speaking of comedians, the VA, and all things irrelevant, (where’s that Goose when you need him) I was just thinking how if we could just repeal Obamacare, none of this would have happened.
If “corruption” is defined as a culture in which people are afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation, then it seems to me that the same word could be used to describe what often happens in the federal government itself. Does the term “Veterans Administration” ring any bells? Physicians, heal thy selves!
The senator’s use of the term corruption seems like a word choice error in my opinion. There appears to be no evidence nor any accusations of it. Perhaps he meant to say ‘coercion,’ which I still don’t agree with but at least fits the situation.
I too am a Franken supporter but I don’t believe he’s well advised on transportation issues.
Did some one mention to the Senator about the over 100 units that CP has on long lease to BNSF? Hard to move much when you have that much HP off home rails…
I just want to say that I liked AL Franken on SNL.It was some of the sharpest political satire on TV and I’m happy to see that Al hasn’t lost his real talent.