AMTRAK FALLOUT: Crash reignites Hill debate on infrastructure spending:

Ok ladies; time to get off your dead ass again, we just had another tragedy. It seems the only times the DC Dudes seem to get the message is if there is a catastrophe or if one of your own is involved but most time such as this they still can’t make a decision.

I have said this so many times I am beginning to sound like a parrot.

There has been a bill on congress’s docket for quite some time to update and revitalize the decaying rail system in this country. Even with this disaster last week, the overpaid and underworked congress shot down a bill proposed by Mr. O.

USA today: Hours after rail crash, Amtrak funding bill voted down

In the wake of Tuesday’s crash, which killed seven and left dozens injured, Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee pushed an amendment to give Amtrak the full $2.45 billion requested by President Obama.

But the amendment was voted down 21-30, leaving intact the previously proposed $1.13 billion for Amtrak. That represents a $251 million reduction from last year, and $1.3 billion less than what the president had asked for.

Going back a few years, most companies took pride in their, appearance,  service, public relations and reputations by keeping their equipment updating and rotating and actually tried very hard to satisfy their customers.

These days it is an entirely different story. Anyone that has had to call customer service for any reason can attest to the fact that THEY DON’T GIVE A SHIT. They make the customer feel like the company is doing them a favor, instead of in reverse.

The buildings, equipment and vehicles for some of the companies are being held together with duct tape and rubber bands.  A good percentage of the profits used to go into maintenance and upkeep but now it goes into the stock holders’ pockets.  First comes the profits, than greed; if there are any crumbs left they may put it back into the company, maybe.

It is like the miserly old man that bought a house for $300,000.00 and never put a penny into its upkeep or maintenance because he was a cheap bastard. When he or his survivors went to sell the house that should have appreciated substantially, it is only worth half of what he paid for it. To put it back to its original condition can cost more than the house is worth.

Amtrack has been neglected so long that it can cost trillions to get it to respectable working condition. Compared to the some of the rail systems in Europe and Asia, it is a joke. Passengers actually take their life in their hands by riding the rail in the USA.

This manner of doing business is not exclusive to Amtrack; it is an epidemic around the USA that our entire infrastructure is falling apart and no one seems to care. Neglect has become so much of a way of life in the USA that it is the rule not the exception.

In this case I do side with Mr. O and throw stones at congress for the inadequate. neglectful and incompetent way of doing business.

As I have said many times before; politicians and athletes should be paid by their performance and we would see a much different show.

As a matter of fact; the entire working system in this country should be structured on performance.  There could either be a lot of very wealthy people (the smart ones) or a lot of people standing in the soup lines that are always looking for the handout.