Help save AMTRAK

[Parche]

The Bush administration is trying to bankrupt our National
Rail System (Amtrak)
They have not submitted a budget proposal yet, and missed the deadline.
GW Bush has said in the past he wanted to "Kill" Amtrak.
Amtrak is vital to this nations transportation system, and it is
funded by the government.
If they can send $300 billion to Iraq to fund GW Bush's mistake,
then they can fund Amtrak.
I have written my congressman (David Wu) twice already, and
will write again.
Also I will contact my Senator Ron Wyden soon.
Please everyone contact their Rep or Senator right away, if congress
does not fund Amtrak this year, then it will go bankrupt, and we
will not have it around.
Email me also if you know of a way to help, or any strategy we can use.

[Vogon_Glory]

1. First, Point Out The Doublespeak

If you favor keeping a nationwide rail passenger network, point out the Republican doublespeak. Bush and his bunch may want to kill Amtrak, but they're hiding their intentions behind a "reorganizing" smokescreen.

Some of the Bush-Leaguers have been trying to kill Amtrak for years. Grover Norquist was back when he was head of the so-called "National Taxpayer's Union." So was Joseph Vranich. So is another person who used to be the so-called "transportation expert" for Reason magazine.

Also, there is a national advocacy group--the National Association of Railroad Passengers. They want to save Amtrak.

If Amtrak gets shut down, it is almost certain that we will never, ever have another nationwide rail passenger network. Moreover, if Amtrak goes down the tubes, not only the long distance trains will go down the tubes, but the Republi-scams will zero out the funding (in rapidly diminishing block grants) for operating the corridors.

Don't forget to point out that the national bus system is also going down the tubes. Greyhound doesn't serve nearly as many communities as it used to, and even with the diminished competition from Amtrak with each new round of train discontinuances, the Dog Cart is constantly on the verge of bankruptcy, too. And Greyhound, which once offered bus service several times a day on many of its routes, has cut back to one bus a day at most for many of them. (Articles in the print editions of Forbes and the Wall St. Journal could be Googled)

[Padraig18]

2. I already have, and continue to do so.

The only interstate transportation available to rural most Americans is either Amtrak, or a bus line. This is especially true as regards the poor. If we can shell out BILLIONS to help air travel, which you basically have to be fluent to afford, we can damned sure help out Amtrak.

:thumbsup:

[Swamp Rat]

3. kick

:kick:

[Sgent]

4. What rural help

does Amtrak provide?

At least in my state, it stops in exactly one city -- which has an airport serving far more destinations than Amtrak. As one of the more "urbanized" rural states (Mississippi) to say it is a support for rural states is a bit over the top. We have 5-6 airports with scheduled flights from multiple airlines, but 1 rail stop, in Jackson, our largest city.

[Parche]

5. Amtrak

Some states Amtrak does not serve, or very limited service
That does not mean we should not help save it.
We need to beat the Republicans on this one, they will go after
every other program that is vital for America next.