Mission Statement: This blog reviews the news of the day in light of 242 years of American history. "Nationalism," a modern day pejorative, has been our country's politic throughout history, until 2008. Obama changed that narrative. Trump is seeking a return to our historical roots. Midknight Review supports this return to normality.
Boehner blasts the media for asking a stupid question, initiaated by the Administration, about funding and the cause of the Amtrak derailment. Listen and learn (see the video).
U.S. investment in infrastructure has become a national embarrassment. The United States used to lead the world in infrastructure innovation and development, and the more Republicans decided public investment in “government programs” is necessarily bad, the more other countries have surpassed us.
But specifically on this week’s Amtrak disaster, to dismiss this as nothing more than a tragic case of “human error” is to overlook the relevant details.
According to Boehner, “obviously it is not about funding.” In reality, it’s also obvious that a Positive Train Control system could have prevented the accident.
It’s equally obvious that PTC is not free. If Congress wanted to invest in the system, it could have. Indeed, it can make those investments now. At least for now, however, Boehner and his party don’t see it as a priority.
The 2009 one trillion dollar stimulus included 180 billion as a set aside for "shovel ready projects." Turns out that Obama did not know what he was talking about, and wound up spending less than $200 million . . . . . . . next to nothing.
The "relevant details," of which you write, are these: the tracks were in good repair; the train was traveling at 102 mph going into a 50 mph turn, the speed reduction device that could have prevented this accident, had been purchased month ago and was waiting on the FCC to solve some sort of bandwidth issue. Nothing as to this incident had anything to do with the GOP . . . . . . . . not withstanding the idiotic claims of the self serving Progressive/Utopians.
U.S. investment in infrastructure has become a national embarrassment. The United States used to lead the world in infrastructure innovation and development, and the more Republicans decided public investment in “government programs” is necessarily bad, the more other countries have surpassed us.
ReplyDeleteBut specifically on this week’s Amtrak disaster, to dismiss this as nothing more than a tragic case of “human error” is to overlook the relevant details.
According to Boehner, “obviously it is not about funding.” In reality, it’s also obvious that a Positive Train Control system could have prevented the accident.
It’s equally obvious that PTC is not free. If Congress wanted to invest in the system, it could have. Indeed, it can make those investments now. At least for now, however, Boehner and his party don’t see it as a priority.
The 2009 one trillion dollar stimulus included 180 billion as a set aside for "shovel ready projects." Turns out that Obama did not know what he was talking about, and wound up spending less than $200 million . . . . . . . next to nothing.
DeleteThe "relevant details," of which you write, are these: the tracks were in good repair; the train was traveling at 102 mph going into a 50 mph turn, the speed reduction device that could have prevented this accident, had been purchased month ago and was waiting on the FCC to solve some sort of bandwidth issue. Nothing as to this incident had anything to do with the GOP . . . . . . . . not withstanding the idiotic claims of the self serving Progressive/Utopians.