Posted on 12/22/2017 9:41:36 AM PST by MAGA2017
Machines and structures fail sometimes, but the human factor is at the heart of dangers we face time after time, from global warming to traffic collisions. People make mistakes.
The human factor likely played a role in Monday’s fatal Amtrak train derailment near Olympia. There will be a long investigation, but early indications are that the rails and the train functioned as they are supposed to, which leaves questions about the people at the controls.
When something goes wrong, the fault can be with the people who operate equipment, the people who design systems, the people who decide how much to spend on a project and how fast to move, or some combination.
Big systems are full of opportunities for human error, which becomes a larger problem with large public works, on which people are often not willing to spend sufficient time and money.
Most developed countries have those systems in place, but the U.S. rail system has long been neglected. Many other economically strong countries have high-speed rail systems with trains that travel 200 mph, and their systems are far safer.
We don’t have that. We don’t have a lot of things that we could easily have.
Many Americans are too cheap to pay for the kind of transportation system that other places take for granted, or for other public benefits that might raise their taxes without direct benefit to themselves. Shortsightedness is a human failing that Americans have more than our share of.
Congress, for instance, just overhauled taxes in a way that will raise the national debt and force further cuts in government that will hurt most Americans, particularly the young ones who’ll have to deal with the longterm consequences.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
Typical leftist BS. Where did all that “stimulus” money go for 8 years of Obamaism?
Classic Seattle Marxist Times. All the other countries which rely on rail to move people around, didn’t invest in an interstate freeway system. Rail transport also p,allows these countries to track the movement of their citizens.
But the Times will be first to push for more money for infrastructure that they just slammed as subject to human error.
“Common good” ???
Like they have in Venezuela.
People who provide aid and comfort to the tyrannical forces of Socialism should be convicted of a serious felony. They should permanently lose their rights to vote and bear arms.
Today this represents all Democrat politicians and their donors.
They are guilty of crimes against humanity with their promotion of baby-murder.
“Congress, for instance, just overhauled taxes in a way that will raise the national debt”
Where was this moron during the prior 8 year of Obama doubling the national debt to $20T?
so if OB did it it’s ok to keep doing it?
What a load of crap, barely a couple paragraphs in and the liberal whine-fest about their damn choo choo trains starts up. Infuriating!
Did I say that?
Just pointing out the selective bitching.
I set a higher standard for Trump than Obama. I knew from the start OB was destructive and a phony. Am sensitive to comments that go easy on our guy. Media and dem hypocrisy has been proven so many times. It’s becoming a daily event.
Best wishes.
“Good grief....”
Charlie Brown has it exactly right, doesn’t he? The writer’s name suggests he prefers to live “Large” on somebody else’s dime yet won’t face the fact that his leader raped this country into debt while using the word “infrastructure” to enable his larceny. Yet, little evidence exists of the “shovel-ready” projects except a few handicap access curb cuts here and there.
As to the train issue itself and the fast trains elsewhere, many other posters have captured key reasons why this doesn’t fit the USA as it does in the EU and Japan. I regularly point out on these threads that the US taxpayer paid for the initial work that put Europe out in front to develop such rail lines. It was this little thing called the Marshall Plan where we paid to put back together what we had blown to smithereens a few years earlier. This allowed them to reconstruct rail lines with very few grade crossings of highways, especially as compared to the US. This is the first, and most expensive, step to fast rail lines.
It’s a matter of: the national debt WILL rise, no matter what Trump does.
What he CAN (I hope) do is reverse the rate of increase, on track to reducing debt.
We need to hit the “inflection point”, and will need a seriously money-and-businesss-savvy leader like Trump to do it.
Ah, Seattle!
Land of Starbucks, Antifa, $15.00/hr wages, grunge rock, and everything Socialist.
don’t see this as a priority for any one including trump
Rush makes point. If you readjust taxes and still take min the revenue that’s not a tax cut. In order to reduce revenue you have to reduce spending.
I am optimistic employment will rise and that means less people on the public dole. But there are cuts that can be made and i just don’t hear the conversation
Leftists in a hurry kill
SMH
Who’s “Common Good” Jerry?
Porous borders, drugs, MS 13, criminals, unchecked immigration, Islamic terrorism, able bodied welfare recipients, taxes, taxes, taxes, fees, fees, fees, public “education” corrupt politicians, subsidized businesses . . .
Those examples, Jerry?
Indeed; we ultimately need 50% across-the-board cuts in all gov’t spending just to have a sane hope of eliminating the national debt.
Unfortunately, those making the decisions howl at the notion of even slightly reducing the rate of increase of spending. Have to overcome that before getting to actual reductions.
leaves questions about the people at the controls......No questions. AMTRAK= Unions. Period.
Sure, it easy to afford things when you are spending someone else’s money.
A responsible leader that jealously protects the public purse would suggest to Mr. Large that to pay for his improvements to the rail system that spending elsewhere in the public sector must be curtailed.
So, where Mr. Large would you suggest that we cut spending to pay for your easily had things?
Can’t think of a thing huh?
I thought not.
Better to get rid of AMTRACK and let the private sector try...
Amtrak sells hamburgers for $10 and loses money on the deal.
Amtrak loses money selling liquor. Who else in the world loses money selling liquor?
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