rharv -- Amtrak...actually it's shown a rider increase for about the last decade or so at least. Since it's inception in 1971 it has needed government subsidies to survive under questionable motives, i.e. hauling people around. Hauling people around in the US falls to automobiles mainly, as so we are OK with taxes on gasoline, tires, etc. to subsidize the building and maintenance of our highway systems. We don't ride trains very much. Note also that a lot of Amtrak income through ridership and subsidies goes directly into furnishing railroad retirement for people who never worked a day on that line. So the taxpayers are again subsidizing workers with very generous benefits with sacrifices of their own futures. Personally, I really don't like the government subsidizing GM workers who make twice my income and get great lifelong benefits using my tax dollars. But so goes socialism...

The term "going postal" has a definition world wide. Note that it's not "going Walmart" or "going Enron", etc. It's simply inefficient at what it's chartered to do. I rarely use it as I have a lot of unfortunate experiences with the unaccountability of the workers there. It's yet another case of not being able to be fired for not doing your job, and getting very good pay and benefits in the process.

Yes, I dislike the unholy alliance of politics and money, or more precisely, government and corporations. I have a libertarian bent, that's true enough. I am not a total libertaran, but freedom appeals to me, even if I have to do without some material benefits and security for it.

Fire, the wheel, and the I IV V -- foundations of civilization.