Comments on: Study Shows Boise Amtrak Not In Financial Best Interest Of USA

By: dog

dog — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:46:04 +0000

The war in Iraq and Afghanistan are not feasible. Why didn’t the geniuses on this blog tell us that war is not feasible?

When did “feasible” become the litmus test for doing anything?
Are McMansions feasible?
Hummers?
No taxes?
Government?
The environment?
Starting a business?
Public education?
Having kids?
Paying for a funeral?

When gas goes to $5.00/gallon, and airlines quit routes and jack up fares, trains will become feasible to those who think they are unfeasible.

Unfeasible is building a subway in New Orleans.

Nothing stays the same.

By: John Mitchel

John Mitchel — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:37:07 +0000

Paul: Alot of this buzz about healthcare is misleading. World Health Org stats about mortality in the U.S. include murder, suicide and accidents. Other countries do not include these categories so the data is skewed. Infant mortality is another misleading stat. 40% of U.S. babies are born to out of wedlock mothers—mostly teens—and the result is LOW birth weight; AND it’s not about “being poor” because Latinos and Blacks actually have a LOWER infant mortality than whites. I don’t know if we have 100% higher medical costs but I do know you can get an MRI or CAT scan in less than 3 days here in Boise–don’t think you find that in “gov’t” run programs. Too little people with ins paying for those that don’t have insurance—that is one problem. Another is over utilization of the ER with runny noses and mild fevers. (solution: Community health clinics staffed with PA’s or Nurse Practioners). Third: address tort reform. Fifth: address personal behavior and responsibility (Health care is not always about health care; alot of it is about personal behavior and choices).
The problem with the current mentality on Capitol Hill is they want a one size fits all program—it won’t work. Agree that we need overhall but SMALL steps make more sense to me. AND just where are we going to get all the needed primary care physicians to take care of all those new patients?????? (We are retiring more docs in primary care than are coming on board).
Just my 4 cents.

By: JIMV

JIMV — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:38:16 +0000

“We pay 100% more for health care than most western countries. Our mortality is around 41st in the world and our infant mortality rate is about the fourth highest in the world”

Paul, the fact is those comparisons are apple and oranges. There are two factors never considered. 1st that every nations tables are subject to error. The USA and Japan measure in the 90’s BUT Europe measures in the upper 70’s and 80’s. Next they define terms like infant mortality and life expectancy differently. Some nations do not count accidental death and others only consider a birth ‘live’ after a period of hours or days…

By: TJ

TJ — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:21:20 +0000

Hey, Paul. What’s the deal about the bus business? Is it comfortable, safe and goes to places people actually want to go? I never hear about the bus system in this country and sort of thought that only people just released from jail or in other serious life circumstances use that service. I am an old person and don’t want to put myself into an unsafe situation. Do you know people who have taken long bus trips? Bus companies certainly never advertise their services. I would prefer that to driving but would like more information about the actual experience before I would expose myself to a long trip without a way to get out of a possible dangerous situation. Tell me how to research this possibility. Heaven knows I have researched rail travel and it is not convenient. The only connection to Kentucky where I have relatives would place me in some little town at three o’clock in the morning about 50 miles from my relatives. God damn the interstate highway system.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:12:13 +0000

Note to TJ:
Take the bus.

Note to JIMV:
We pay 100% more for health care than most western countries. Our mortality is around 41st in the world and our infant mortality rate is about the fourth highest in the world. That suggests to me an overhaul is needed.

High Speend Trains sounds just like the Japanese and HDTV techonolgy in the 1980’s. They were going to kill off the US economy with their HDTV technology. Japan hit the 1990’s with a swoon and lost decade to their economy.

Note to me:
There are a lot of really smart, creative and innovative people in this country and I have the faith that these smart people will continue to make this country a world leader.

We have some warts and blemishes to correct and improve upon but count me as one who loves all the noise and bickering about health care. The right to have a national discourse makes us who we are.

We are going to get not everything for everyone but some changes to our health system will happen before this is all said and done.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:30:42 +0000

I’m in no hurry to have a cheap transportation link between my neighborhood and nampa-caldwell… But it would be way cool to ride the train to the coasts on a long vacation

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:27:18 +0000

Since when did Amtrak and the government give a damn about losing money on a venture?

By: JIMV

JIMV — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:54:55 +0000

Folk squeal that we are the only industrialized nation in the world without a crappy national health care system. We are also the only one without a decent high speed rail, and high speed rail actually works…

By: cyclops

cyclops — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:13:01 +0000

So, Jim, Your argument is essentially “look at all the money we waste other places!We should be allowed to waste money as well!” Do I have it correct?

By: Den Brockway

Den Brockway — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:35:15 +0000

Mayor Bieter’s parents must have held back on giving Dave a Lionel set when a child; now he seems to be hung up on anything (at any cost) that involves steel rails. Enough, already! I’ll buy you an electric train set if you promise to forget the train or trolley.