house Bill H.R. 749
Should Amtrak Run More Like A Private-Sector Business?
Argument in favor
Requiring Amtrak to operate more efficiently will provide passengers with better service, and save taxpayers money.
03/27/2015
Amtrak and other similar services could become more efficient and get more users if they're privatized. The government could save a lot of money running these companies at the same time
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03/11/2015
The government does not have to show a profit, whereas if it is run like a business, a profit needs to be made . It would finally require responsible individuals running it .
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03/06/2015
Government is just lousy at running businesses. Give AMTRAK private sector incentives .
Argument opposed
This bill should outline quantifiable measures for cost savings, efficiency, and productivity so that Amtrak can have solid goals when pursuing internal reforms.
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03/06/2015
No. I support more trains and less focus on a transamerican Wal-Mart benefiting highway throughout North America. I'd like us to create less reliance on individual car travel.
04/02/2015
Because the private sector is doing such a great job with air travel, we want to give it rail service as well? So
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01/25/2017
As long as our highways and our airlines get hefty subsidies, let's include passenger rail at a FRACTION of what we shovel others, then fund them -sensibly- and free them to operate without so much Congresscritter micro-management.
Amtrak and other similar services could become more efficient and get more users if they're privatized. The government could save a lot of money running these companies at the same time
No. I support more trains and less focus on a transamerican Wal-Mart benefiting highway throughout North America. I'd like us to create less reliance on individual car travel.
Government is just lousy at running businesses. Give AMTRAK private sector incentives .
The government does not have to show a profit, whereas if it is run like a business, a profit needs to be made . It would finally require responsible individuals running it .
Because the private sector is doing such a great job with air travel, we want to give it rail service as well? So
Private-sector businesses make better financial decisions and have less waste. The government too should be run like that, to a degree.
The US government has a long and famous history of mismanaging train travel. From blatant corruption to price fixing, they have proven themselves incapable of keeping the common customer's best interests in mind. Privatizing this industry will create accountability and efficiency.
Private sector businesses have been proven far more efficient than any government entities.
As long as our highways and our airlines get hefty subsidies, let's include passenger rail at a FRACTION of what we shovel others, then fund them -sensibly- and free them to operate without so much Congresscritter micro-management.
Sub par service and dirty trains. Basically a post office on wheels. Needs to update and become more modern/attractive.
The Government should sell Amtrack to private enterprises, put it into the private sector
I think they can handle it, and it would give more tax dollars to more important matters.
Private sector does not want rail passenger traffic on freight railroads
All businesses should run without a single penny from the government.
Private air service SUCKS for anyone other than the ultra rich. Trains don't have to have the same fate.
Amtrack has been a failing business for almost its entire existence. It even loses money on its sale of food and beverages. Nationalizing businesses leads to complacency and a lack of competition; further leading to mediocre products and services. In addition, when the business financially tanks, the government expects the American taxpayer to bail them out. Privatize Amtrack and get government out of the American market!
We should have a more advanced rail system, especially a country as large as ours. Until that initiative is tackled by another bill or private company, we need to make sure our current rail system isn't deadly and unsafe.