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Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Tue, 3 Sep 2013 13:18:09 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... Bunch of old retirees that are afraid of change! Cite? :) John (Gun Nut) H. Wow, must you be shown everything? He http://bit.ly/18Auhqn You really should learn how to do a little research yourself. Kevin is a heluva googler but not much of a reader "Florida has almost 3.3 million seniors and they are 17.3 percent of the population." Hardly enough to swing a vote, particularly a vote taken 9 years ago when the retiree number was lower. Cite? |
Our great capitalist society...
In article , says...
On 9/3/13 7:39 AM, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... "F.O.A.D." wrote in message ... On 9/2/13 8:46 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: "BAR" wrote in message . .. I just went to the WAMATA.com web site and plugged in my home address and my work address to see what it would take to get from home to work. It will take 1 hour and 7 minutes and I get to ride a bus to the Metro station, take a train a couple of stops and then take another bus ride. It would take me 1 hour and 7 minutes and cost me $3.20. If I drive it takes 25 minutes and about 1/4 of a gallon of gas. Even figuring in insurance and maintenance I would pay about $2 at the most and I would get to work in less than 1/2 the time. ----------------------------- Just for kicks, I went to the Amtrak website and priced the *cheapest* one-way fare from Boston to Charleston, SC. Train would leave Boston at 9:30 pm and arrive in Wash DC at about 7 am the next morning. Then a three hour layover in DC with a connection leaving at 9:55 am. Arrive in Charleston, SC at 7:15 pm. Total travel time: 22 hours. Cost: $289.00 I can fly there in 2.5 hours for less than that. I can drive it in about 15-16 hours and not need to rent a car when I got there. A high-speed train would have to be non-stop and average almost 400 mph to be competitive with the airlines, time-wise. We can't do it because we can't do it because we can't do it. I get it. We can't do anything anymore, and that's another example of why conservatism is killing America, because we can't have nice trains, we can't keep our interstates in good shape, we can't repair our bridges, whatever, we can't do it because...we can't do it. When we take the train to Jax, it usually works out to be a 13 hour train trip. We leave in the evening and arrive the next morining, after a good night's sleep aboard the train. No long waits to clear security at the origin, no long wait for luggage at the termination. Compartment includes private toilet, two bunk beds and two pretty decent meals. Takes about the same time as driving, if I felt like driving without an overnight stop, which I don't like doing. Would take much less time if trackage and equipment were a lot better, but the trackage south of DC is mostly CSX, and it doesn't give a **** about high speed passenger rail. No worries about all the crap that accompanies airline travel. About $700 round trip for two adults. Much more comfy than even first class on a plane. Takes longer, sure, but it's overnight and you have to sleep. Oh, and two first class airline tickets would be about $1000. But we can't improve passenger rail transportation because this is America and we can't things like that anymore. I get it. --------------------------------- Part of the cost of your travel to Jax is subsidized by taxpayers although Amtrak has done better this year, requiring only $1.3 billion in federal subsidizes compared to $1.4 billion in 2012. Air travel is subsidized as well. Sure, anything is possible if you throw enough money at it but the demand needs to warrant the investment. Just look at air travel as an example. Why is it that liberals think there's simply no limit to what taxpayers should be willing to spend to benefit a few? Are only "liberals" willing to subsidize air travel? Uh, highway travel is "subsidized," too. And when you ride your bicycle on city streets, the cost of those streets, why it is subsidized, too. Specious argument. I posit that train travel of all sorts would be more popular if there were more of it, if it were faster, and if the equipment were better. And, as far as subsidies go, it is amazing what this country could accomplish in rebuilding itself if the military budget were cut in half and half of what is cut were dedicated to infrastructure improvement. How is highway travel subsidized? The government gets its money from th individual's and corporations pocket's the subsidy is from the working people of the USA who actually pair their fair share of taxes. You are the last person who should be talking about subsidies and taxes. |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:26:56 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/3/13 12:43 PM, wrote: Japan? We would never live like that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XfVl6_R7_k Right...we can't do it because we can't do it because we can't do it. Got it. Trains are financially successful in Japan because the people will tolerate being stuffed in by force. Do you see that working here? Do you even believe the lawyers would allow it? People here tolerate being stuffed into airplanes as well... |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/2/2013 12:51 PM, iBoaterer wrote:
In article , says... On 9/2/2013 11:36 AM, Hank© wrote: On 9/2/2013 11:16 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote: On 9/2/13 10:27 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: "F.O.A.D." wrote in message ... ...can't compete with this: Japan Railway Comp. (JR Tokai) (TYO:9022) (aka. "The Central Japan Railway Comp.) is responsible for ferrying close to 400,000 passengers a day between some of the largest cities in central Japan. While its fastest bullet trains can cut the transit time from Tokyo to Osaka from about 6 hours by car to about 2 hours and 20 minutes by bullet train, JR Tokai is dreaming of a next generation maglev system that could go even faster, completing the 500+ kilometer (310+ mile) journey in under an hour. When you don't waste your money on the military, you can have nice things. -------------------------------- Funds have been approved to develop high speed rail corridors in the US however the Department of Transportation is still working on the safety standards that will apply. Right now, the "crash worthiness" spec for the trains is more than double (in terms of forces than can be withstood without frame deformation) than the standards used in Europe and Japan's high speed rail systems, i.e. almost 900,000 lbs versus 350,000 lbs. The cost of designing and manufacturing such trains is a major impediment, as is the cost of the rail system itself. Right now there are Amtrak trains between Boston and Wash DC capable of doing over 200 mph however there are very limited stretches of track that would allow speeds of even 150 mph. Plus, even if they could run at high speed, they would never be able to sustain the speed very long without having to stop at stations along the way. Not enough passenger usage for "non stop" tracks. Yeah, I've heard and read every excuse here for at least the last 20 years. The fact remains that in the operation of high speed trains, we're still in the caboose. And why is that? Geography, and our business model... Trains just don't work here. Even the fast one on the shoreline. It doesn't change traffic one bit down the CT coastline, it really serves a few folks who find it easier to commute between Boston, NYC, and DC from what i can see... but it's never crowded, I can't see how it could ever be profitable. The naysayers, the ones against progress, innovation and invention. If it's a good idea, it will be profitable. If there is a dollar to be made private industry will build it. We don't need to borrow any more money from China to build a rail system that will need taxpayer subsidization forever. Mikek US, $17,000,000,000 in debt. That's only what is shown, doesn't include all the unfunded pension plans, health plans, deteriorating infrastructure, etc. We in big trouble. This is just the tip, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ation/2573457/ |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/2013 8:38 AM, amdx wrote:
On 9/2/2013 12:51 PM, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... On 9/2/2013 11:36 AM, Hank© wrote: On 9/2/2013 11:16 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote: On 9/2/13 10:27 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: "F.O.A.D." wrote in message ... ...can't compete with this: Japan Railway Comp. (JR Tokai) (TYO:9022) (aka. "The Central Japan Railway Comp.) is responsible for ferrying close to 400,000 passengers a day between some of the largest cities in central Japan. While its fastest bullet trains can cut the transit time from Tokyo to Osaka from about 6 hours by car to about 2 hours and 20 minutes by bullet train, JR Tokai is dreaming of a next generation maglev system that could go even faster, completing the 500+ kilometer (310+ mile) journey in under an hour. When you don't waste your money on the military, you can have nice things. -------------------------------- Funds have been approved to develop high speed rail corridors in the US however the Department of Transportation is still working on the safety standards that will apply. Right now, the "crash worthiness" spec for the trains is more than double (in terms of forces than can be withstood without frame deformation) than the standards used in Europe and Japan's high speed rail systems, i.e. almost 900,000 lbs versus 350,000 lbs. The cost of designing and manufacturing such trains is a major impediment, as is the cost of the rail system itself. Right now there are Amtrak trains between Boston and Wash DC capable of doing over 200 mph however there are very limited stretches of track that would allow speeds of even 150 mph. Plus, even if they could run at high speed, they would never be able to sustain the speed very long without having to stop at stations along the way. Not enough passenger usage for "non stop" tracks. Yeah, I've heard and read every excuse here for at least the last 20 years. The fact remains that in the operation of high speed trains, we're still in the caboose. And why is that? Geography, and our business model... Trains just don't work here. Even the fast one on the shoreline. It doesn't change traffic one bit down the CT coastline, it really serves a few folks who find it easier to commute between Boston, NYC, and DC from what i can see... but it's never crowded, I can't see how it could ever be profitable. The naysayers, the ones against progress, innovation and invention. If it's a good idea, it will be profitable. If there is a dollar to be made private industry will build it. We don't need to borrow any more money from China to build a rail system that will need taxpayer subsidization forever. Mikek US, $17,000,000,000 in debt. That's only what is shown, doesn't include all the unfunded pension plans, health plans, deteriorating infrastructure, etc. We in big trouble. This is just the tip, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ation/2573457/ You left out a few zeros. |
Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
"BAR" wrote in message . .. In article , says... On 9/3/13 11:30 AM, wrote: On Tue, 3 Sep 2013 09:57:25 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: No, it's mostly a stigma, people think elevated trains, they think noise, they think unsafe, etc. Add to that that for some reason beyond me, there are a LOT of people in the U.S. who just fear and loathe any new technology. Elevated trains ARE noisier and if they derail, over a major road, they are a lot more dangerous. We are not talking about the Lake Street El here. You want that train going 150 MPH or more. BTW you keep saying "innovation" and "new technology" but this is 200 year old technology and every plan I have heard involves buying existing technology from Europe or Japan. Were is the innovation? Bringing high speed trains over from Europe would be new technology for this country, because we have no capability anymore for passenger rail innovation. We'd have to reverse engineer what they are doing across the big pond. If they change the octane of gasoline and it makes cars go faster is that new technology or an improvement on an existing technology. Fixed track trains are 200 years old and they only thing that has changed is how the locomotive is powered. ------------------------------ Well, some things on the train tracks have changed. Railroad "ties" are typically concrete now and the rail butts are welded and smooth. Ever notice that the "clackity-clack" sound of a train travelling down the track has disappeared? |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/13 9:12 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
------------------------------ Well, some things on the train tracks have changed. Railroad "ties" are typically concrete now and the rail butts are welded and smooth. Ever notice that the "clackity-clack" sound of a train travelling down the track has disappeared? Depends on where you are. The trackage from here to NYC and beyond is pretty decent, and so is the trackage out to Chicago. I've not been further west than Chicago on a train. The trackage is absolutely miserable between here and Florida. I mean, TERRIBLE. The rails are as crooked and bumpy as you can get and in some places, you have to wonder why the rail car just doesn't hop off the rails. CSX owns the rails and whatever the minimum is for upkeep, it obviously spends less. :) |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... "iBoaterer" wrote in message ... In article , says... Because they weren't intended to be interstate bridges. ------------------------------ A bridge on *Interstate Route 95" is not an interstate bridge? Whoooosh...... I'll try again. In cities, where interstates were extended, added, spurs, etc. were placed long after the original interstate system was in place. A lot of these add ons were aligned to take advantage of in-place roadways including bridges, tunnels etc. These in-place infrastructures were not intended to carry the traffic that interstate travel imposes. ----------------------------- Sorry. I don't buy that at all. As pointed out in a previous post, a roadway or bridge that is "added" to the federal interstate roadway system must be built or upgraded to the specifications contained in DOT and specifically the Federal Highway Commission requirements. The requirements and specs today are much more stringent than they were back in the 50's and certainly more stringent than those for non-federal, local roads. Go ahead and type your four-letter word starting with "C". I've never used Scotty's word, where do you get that idea? Also, I posted an example of a bridge that was re-purposed and certainly does not meet federal DOT guidelines. Where did you get the idea that they must be upgraded to meet those guidelines? |
Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Wed, 4 Sep 2013 08:12:36 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... Once you actually dig into the numbers, the whole idea of an airline "subsidy" falls apart. These are services 100% funded by ticket taxes http://tinyurl.com/l8m7yp4 Thank you, good job. Ticket taxes are subsidies. What? A subsidy implies airline passengers are getting the benefit of money from other government sources and the fact is every dime DoT spends on air travel comes FROM THOSE PASSENGERS in the way of ticket taxes. In fact the DOT is actually making over a billion dollars on these taxes, presumably being spent on other projects. Cite that. They collect about $18 billion in ticket taxes and fees, the total aviation budget for aviation is a tad over $16 billion. http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/fil...ial-report.pdf Expense Air Transportation 16,004,333 Here's more on the subsidies to airlines that apparently you don't know about: http://tinyurl.com/l2sgahq \ Those people have not read the DoT budget, nor have you. Ticket taxes fund ALL of those things with money left over. Horse****. |
Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/2013 11:09 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 9/4/13 10:59 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:15:00 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: Let's not forget the depreciation allowances airlines get for buying equipment. These are subsidies. What business doesn't get depreciation allowances? You didn't answer but I bet you took an accelerated depreciation allowance on your new printer. If you didn't, fire your accountant. You folks are really stretching to find these mythical subsidies but the fact is the passenger is paying more than the government gives them back. That is far from true in rail where the ticket price doesn't even cover the cost of running the train. There's nothing mythical about depreciation allowances, and they are subsidies. Period. Tax incentives to encourage the purchase of stuff to help keep the economy going and generate more taxes. |
Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Wed, 4 Sep 2013 08:19:26 -0400, BAR wrote: In article , says... On 9/3/13 11:30 AM, wrote: On Tue, 3 Sep 2013 09:57:25 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: No, it's mostly a stigma, people think elevated trains, they think noise, they think unsafe, etc. Add to that that for some reason beyond me, there are a LOT of people in the U.S. who just fear and loathe any new technology. Elevated trains ARE noisier and if they derail, over a major road, they are a lot more dangerous. We are not talking about the Lake Street El here. You want that train going 150 MPH or more. BTW you keep saying "innovation" and "new technology" but this is 200 year old technology and every plan I have heard involves buying existing technology from Europe or Japan. Were is the innovation? Bringing high speed trains over from Europe would be new technology for this country, because we have no capability anymore for passenger rail innovation. We'd have to reverse engineer what they are doing across the big pond. If they change the octane of gasoline and it makes cars go faster is that new technology or an improvement on an existing technology. Fixed track trains are 200 years old and they only thing that has changed is how the locomotive is powered. Electric trains running off a catenary is over 100 years old Oh, boy, here we go, everything is the same as it was 200 years ago...... |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Wed, 4 Sep 2013 08:23:41 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... On Tue, 3 Sep 2013 13:11:24 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... Rail lines need a direct subsidy, just to keep the train moving. As do planes. Bull**** Have you looked at the taxes on a plane ticket. Most of the "subsidies" you talk about are actually paid for by the air traveler, not the general fund like the railroads. You pay Federal taxes 7.5% for infrastructure $3.50 per takeoff for ATC $2.50 per boarding for TSA and the airport tacks on $3 -$18 for their expenses. That was in 2007. The way taxes work it may be a lot more than that now. I suppose I could dig out the charges on my tickets to Oregon a couple months ago and look. http://tinyurl.com/l2sgahq They don't say or don't know that all of that is actually funded by airline ticket taxes. I didn't even know it until I actually looked it up. I paid 157.50 in taxes on one round trip ticket to Oregon And that's not a subsidy, eh? |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Wed, 4 Sep 2013 08:24:53 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... On Tue, 3 Sep 2013 13:18:09 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... Bunch of old retirees that are afraid of change! Cite? :) John (Gun Nut) H. Wow, must you be shown everything? He http://bit.ly/18Auhqn You really should learn how to do a little research yourself. Kevin is a heluva googler but not much of a reader "Florida has almost 3.3 million seniors and they are 17.3 percent of the population." Hardly enough to swing a vote, particularly a vote taken 9 years ago when the retiree number was lower. Cite? The 3.3 million was from your cite. You really need to read these things when you cite them The cite is gave showed you that 17.3 percent of any population can't swing a vote? |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/2013 11:16 AM, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote:
On 9/4/2013 11:01 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:16:53 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: On 9/3/2013 5:57 PM, Wayne.B wrote: On Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:33:28 -0400, John H wrote: Our cabinet doors were opened, crap all over the floor, and shelves broken. What a mess. === Been there, done that, but we were in 8 to 10 foot waves at the time. All of our galley cabinets have heavy duty latches now. I wonder what the speed limit was in that area, and how fast John was going... I mean, if the roads were under construction, the speed limit could have been down around 40-45 in the city loop. Seems you might be moving a bit faster than that to do that kind of damage, and there is no way I am going to believe a "five inch" dropoff, all the way across the road... I have seen it on the beltway. In fact a guy I know wiped out on one of these "buckles" on a Sportster and I ended up fixing the bike for him. Not trying to indict John... just wondering about 5", seems even outside Boston that would be addressed somehow... They won't address pothole issues unless a car has been reported missing in one. |
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On 9/4/13 12:16 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:09:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 10:59 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:15:00 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: Let's not forget the depreciation allowances airlines get for buying equipment. These are subsidies. What business doesn't get depreciation allowances? You didn't answer but I bet you took an accelerated depreciation allowance on your new printer. If you didn't, fire your accountant. You folks are really stretching to find these mythical subsidies but the fact is the passenger is paying more than the government gives them back. That is far from true in rail where the ticket price doesn't even cover the cost of running the train. There's nothing mythical about depreciation allowances, and they are subsidies. Period. Every business in the US gets them too (even your little hobby). That is not the same as a direct cash infusion like we give passenger rail. A subsidy by any other name would not smell as sweet, eh? |
Our great capitalist society...
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On 9/4/13 12:33 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:27:07 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 11:20 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:20:33 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 9:12 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: ------------------------------ Well, some things on the train tracks have changed. Railroad "ties" are typically concrete now and the rail butts are welded and smooth. Ever notice that the "clackity-clack" sound of a train travelling down the track has disappeared? Depends on where you are. The trackage from here to NYC and beyond is pretty decent, and so is the trackage out to Chicago. I've not been further west than Chicago on a train. The trackage is absolutely miserable between here and Florida. I mean, TERRIBLE. The rails are as crooked and bumpy as you can get and in some places, you have to wonder why the rail car just doesn't hop off the rails. CSX owns the rails and whatever the minimum is for upkeep, it obviously spends less. :) CSX spends what it needs to for freight trains. Amtrak is just freeloading on their track., Amtrak pays a train mile fee for using CSX tracks. A relative who was a CSX exec told me what it was once, but that was years ago. In the aggregate, the total Amtrak pays out for train mile fees around the country is several hundred million dollars. Freeloading...what an interesting term. I suppose when you rent a car from Hertz, you are freeloading. Avis makes a profit from my rental. CSX is not even covering their costs from Amtrak and that is actually tax money from people who never ride a train. Costs? What costs? Certainly not additional wear and tear, since a short passenger train weighs only a fraction of what a freight train ways, and there are only a couple of passenger trains a day between here and Florida. CSX's approach to track repair seems to be to repair it when a freight train derails. |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On Wed, 4 Sep 2013 11:44:30 -0400, iBoaterer wrote: In article , says... They don't say or don't know that all of that is actually funded by airline ticket taxes. I didn't even know it until I actually looked it up. I paid 157.50 in taxes on one round trip ticket to Oregon And that's not a subsidy, eh? Not at all that is a user fee that goes directly to the service I am paying for. I flew on a plane, I got services from the government and I paid for them RIGHT THEN. Just like buying a big mac from McDonalds. I give them ~$4, they give me a sandwich. Definition of SUBSIDY a grant or gift of money: The rail roads get tax money from people who have never even been on a train., That is a subsidy. Please look at table E-1..... http://www.laane.org/downloads/ShortchangedStudy.pdf |
Our great capitalist society...
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On 9/4/2013 12:41 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
Costs? What costs? Certainly not additional wear and tear, since a short passenger train weighs only a fraction of what a freight train ways, and there are only a couple of passenger trains a day between here and Florida. CSX's approach to track repair seems to be to repair it when a freight train derails. "What a freight train ways." Really? Expected from Donnie, but you, Mr English. Tsk tsk. |
Our great capitalist society...
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On 9/4/13 2:08 PM, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote:
On 9/4/2013 12:31 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:16:05 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: I have seen it on the beltway. In fact a guy I know wiped out on one of these "buckles" on a Sportster and I ended up fixing the bike for him. Not trying to indict John... just wondering about 5", seems even outside Boston that would be addressed somehow... They closed the beltway a lane at a time and addressed it after several serious accidents and stories on TV about it. Surprised more people didn't die.. I know if I hit a 5 inch edge with my Jeep, at anything over say, 30 miles an hour, there is no way I would maintain control... Knowing what I know about cars, I can say with almost certainty that that five inch "curb" at speed would collapse the front end of my jeep... I imagine the bike you fixed must have busted in half up near the neck... I suspect the boys here who are talking about 5" curbs across an entire highway are the same boys who tried to convince their wives that 2" was 5". |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On 9/4/2013 12:31 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:16:05 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: I have seen it on the beltway. In fact a guy I know wiped out on one of these "buckles" on a Sportster and I ended up fixing the bike for him. Not trying to indict John... just wondering about 5", seems even outside Boston that would be addressed somehow... They closed the beltway a lane at a time and addressed it after several serious accidents and stories on TV about it. Surprised more people didn't die.. I know if I hit a 5 inch edge with my Jeep, at anything over say, 30 miles an hour, there is no way I would maintain control... Knowing what I know about cars, I can say with almost certainty that that five inch "curb" at speed would collapse the front end of my jeep... I imagine the bike you fixed must have busted in half up near the neck... Just goes to show what you know about elementary physics..... Nothing. |
Our great capitalist society...
In article ,
says... On 9/4/13 2:08 PM, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: On 9/4/2013 12:31 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:16:05 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: I have seen it on the beltway. In fact a guy I know wiped out on one of these "buckles" on a Sportster and I ended up fixing the bike for him. Not trying to indict John... just wondering about 5", seems even outside Boston that would be addressed somehow... They closed the beltway a lane at a time and addressed it after several serious accidents and stories on TV about it. Surprised more people didn't die.. I know if I hit a 5 inch edge with my Jeep, at anything over say, 30 miles an hour, there is no way I would maintain control... Knowing what I know about cars, I can say with almost certainty that that five inch "curb" at speed would collapse the front end of my jeep... I imagine the bike you fixed must have busted in half up near the neck... I suspect the boys here who are talking about 5" curbs across an entire highway are the same boys who tried to convince their wives that 2" was 5". I've seen many expansion joints in concrete paved highways that have heaved or settled that much panel to panel. |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/13 3:31 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:22:21 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 12:16 PM, wrote: Every business in the US gets them too (even your little hobby). That is not the same as a direct cash infusion like we give passenger rail. A subsidy by any other name would not smell as sweet, eh? Wrong guy to bitch to about that. I am a flat tax guy. Not the issue under discussion. |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/13 3:40 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:41:09 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 12:33 PM, wrote: Avis makes a profit from my rental. CSX is not even covering their costs from Amtrak and that is actually tax money from people who never ride a train. Costs? What costs? Certainly not additional wear and tear, since a short passenger train weighs only a fraction of what a freight train ways, and there are only a couple of passenger trains a day between here and Florida. CSX's approach to track repair seems to be to repair it when a freight train derails. OK you may be right Amorak takes our tax money and gives it to CSX for the use of their track. How is that any more than another subsidy from people who never ride a train to the few who do? Our entire governmental system is based upon the many helping the few. Why should train travel be any different? Why should we be subsidizing the cost of flood insurance for those who purchase it? |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/2013 3:59 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:08:21 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: On 9/4/2013 12:31 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:16:05 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute wrote: I have seen it on the beltway. In fact a guy I know wiped out on one of these "buckles" on a Sportster and I ended up fixing the bike for him. Not trying to indict John... just wondering about 5", seems even outside Boston that would be addressed somehow... They closed the beltway a lane at a time and addressed it after several serious accidents and stories on TV about it. Surprised more people didn't die.. I know if I hit a 5 inch edge with my Jeep, at anything over say, 30 miles an hour, there is no way I would maintain control... Knowing what I know about cars, I can say with almost certainty that that five inch "curb" at speed would collapse the front end of my jeep... I imagine the bike you fixed must have busted in half up near the neck... Fortunately it wasn't on the leading edge side. It was a ski ramp. 11 guys made it, one guy, a fairly new rider, didn't. He squirreled out on the landing and went into the swale. Broken leg and a beat up bike. Yeah, nuts... I happened to be in Hartford today from 84 West to 91 South, to Route 9 South... Through Hartford I encountered only one entrance ramp where there were 2-3 inch wide and deep groove between the lanes where the merge was... Other than that, most of the roads around here are passable, at least at the posted speed limit if you keep your eyes open.... The worst stretch I have encountered in the North East consistantly is a stretch of 91 n/s through Springfield Mass. It's a bout a two mile stretch of elevated highway that is always just a ****pile.. I usually have to slow down to 45 or so with the trailer on to not bust something. The thing is I don't know why it's so patched and rutted... There is no infrastructure running under it or anything, seems they could just lay down one smooth layer once and be done with it... But it's like it's under construction with no signs or workers, for the last 20 years that I remember.... |
Our great capitalist society...
"iBoaterer" wrote in message ... In article , says... "iBoaterer" wrote in message ... In article , says... Because they weren't intended to be interstate bridges. ------------------------------ A bridge on *Interstate Route 95" is not an interstate bridge? Whoooosh...... I'll try again. In cities, where interstates were extended, added, spurs, etc. were placed long after the original interstate system was in place. A lot of these add ons were aligned to take advantage of in-place roadways including bridges, tunnels etc. These in-place infrastructures were not intended to carry the traffic that interstate travel imposes. ----------------------------- Sorry. I don't buy that at all. As pointed out in a previous post, a roadway or bridge that is "added" to the federal interstate roadway system must be built or upgraded to the specifications contained in DOT and specifically the Federal Highway Commission requirements. The requirements and specs today are much more stringent than they were back in the 50's and certainly more stringent than those for non-federal, local roads. Go ahead and type your four-letter word starting with "C". I've never used Scotty's word, where do you get that idea? Also, I posted an example of a bridge that was re-purposed and certainly does not meet federal DOT guidelines. Where did you get the idea that they must be upgraded to meet those guidelines? ------------------------ About 30 seconds of proficient Googling will yield the answer to your question. |
Our great capitalist society...
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Our great capitalist society...
"F.O.A.D." wrote in message m... On 9/4/13 12:16 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:09:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 10:59 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:15:00 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: Let's not forget the depreciation allowances airlines get for buying equipment. These are subsidies. What business doesn't get depreciation allowances? You didn't answer but I bet you took an accelerated depreciation allowance on your new printer. If you didn't, fire your accountant. You folks are really stretching to find these mythical subsidies but the fact is the passenger is paying more than the government gives them back. That is far from true in rail where the ticket price doesn't even cover the cost of running the train. There's nothing mythical about depreciation allowances, and they are subsidies. Period. Every business in the US gets them too (even your little hobby). That is not the same as a direct cash infusion like we give passenger rail. A subsidy by any other name would not smell as sweet, eh? ------------------------- I don't understand what you are talking about. I go out and buy a brand new piece of equipment for my business .... call it a fork truck. I pay the full value of the fork truck to the manufacturer. I use the fork truck in the business. Over the years it depreciates in value. I use the depreciation tables as to it's value when filing taxes. How the hell is *that* a subsidy? |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/13 4:44 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
"F.O.A.D." wrote in message m... On 9/4/13 10:59 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:15:00 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: Let's not forget the depreciation allowances airlines get for buying equipment. These are subsidies. What business doesn't get depreciation allowances? You didn't answer but I bet you took an accelerated depreciation allowance on your new printer. If you didn't, fire your accountant. You folks are really stretching to find these mythical subsidies but the fact is the passenger is paying more than the government gives them back. That is far from true in rail where the ticket price doesn't even cover the cost of running the train. There's nothing mythical about depreciation allowances, and they are subsidies. Period. ---------------------------- My business made significant investments in manufacturing and engineering equipment. They were depreciated as allowed under tax laws every year. I never knew they were a "subsidy". Same sort of subsidy as homeowners get on their mortgage interest. |
Our great capitalist society...
On 9/4/13 4:51 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
"F.O.A.D." wrote in message m... On 9/4/13 12:16 PM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:09:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: On 9/4/13 10:59 AM, wrote: On Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:15:00 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote: Let's not forget the depreciation allowances airlines get for buying equipment. These are subsidies. What business doesn't get depreciation allowances? You didn't answer but I bet you took an accelerated depreciation allowance on your new printer. If you didn't, fire your accountant. You folks are really stretching to find these mythical subsidies but the fact is the passenger is paying more than the government gives them back. That is far from true in rail where the ticket price doesn't even cover the cost of running the train. There's nothing mythical about depreciation allowances, and they are subsidies. Period. Every business in the US gets them too (even your little hobby). That is not the same as a direct cash infusion like we give passenger rail. A subsidy by any other name would not smell as sweet, eh? ------------------------- I don't understand what you are talking about. I go out and buy a brand new piece of equipment for my business .... call it a fork truck. I pay the full value of the fork truck to the manufacturer. I use the fork truck in the business. Over the years it depreciates in value. I use the depreciation tables as to it's value when filing taxes. How the hell is *that* a subsidy? Special tax breaks for depreciation are tax expenditures because they are government spending programs that give out tax breaks instead of direct payments. |
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