Since he was educated in Indonesia, President Obama may not realize that there was this guy named Cornelius Vanderbilt who built the New York Central railroad, and the Pennsylvania RR was a privately owned corporation. If he did hear of Vanderbilt, it would only be that he was a “robber baron” along with John D Rockefeller and the other men who made this the richest country on the planet (he could have learned that in between hearing about the Triangle shirt waste fire, the Spanish Civil war and Chez Guevara)
When it was decided that the country needed a transcontinental railroad during the Civil War, it was built by private railroads. The role of the federal government was to give the railroads “land grants” to use the land as collateral and raise money through bond sales so the railroads could borrow money to do the actual construction. The 30 year bonds were repaid in full. The government didn’t build, own or operate the railroads. The reason Congress got involved at all was because of the Civil War and the need to improve the postal service (which is an enumerated power in the Consitution).
With the exception of the FDR era programs like the TVA and the Hoover dam, the Federal government does not build electric generation plants or or build power transmission lines.
The United States is not a European socialist democracy or Kenya – not yet.
“not yet” is correct, we are definitely being steered that way. With the Socialist-Islamic-Democrat cabal in full force we will need a revolution to straighten things out. Don’t count on the Republicans doing any better. With very few exceptions the Republicans surrender their values then pat their backs for the great job they believe they are doing. So is our country controlled be the Demoblicans or the Republicrats?
One of the few railroads that runs on time, is clean, comfortable and rider-friendly and financially solvent is the South Shore Line. It is also still privately run.
The Little Railroad that Could. I lived in New Buffalo for several years and was planning to ride it to work into Chicago when I went to part time. I broke my elbow the weekend before I was to start commuting so I stayed home. That’s the day and the train that was involved in the head on collision at the gauntlet bridge west of Gary.
My life seems full of close calls. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.