Hey, I've been thinking this over. This could be the way to solve this yearly Bush vs. Amtrak budget fiasco.
We, as a nation, convince Mr. Bush that he should first visit Mars, since he and only he seems so intent on this venture, considering that the price tag is a 1 followed by more digits than I have space here to type.
Now this is the really cool part. It's only when he's strapped into the rocket, during the final countdown, that we, as a nation, inform him that instead of the 1.8 billion dollars that was earmarked for his solo flight, Congress has only approved 365 million bucks, and that's only for the initial part of his journey. This is way too cool. A collective insider's joke. I'm laughing my a off.
Just about the time that the rocket's red glare is starting to glow, he'll say, "But that will only get me part of the way....." we then explain to him about budgetary cutbacks...blah blah blah.
And we will all as a nation, in unison yell....."See! Right Back Atch'ya!"
Oh the humanity! Oh the comeupance! Oh the....whatever.
For those of you trying to figure out earlier about $$$$ in Iraq/Afganistan vs. Amtrak....Amtrak repeatedly asks for close to 2 billion dollars or so in funding. This money is not requested to buy all new, glossy pewter trainware, as was the case back in the early days of rail travel, it's meant to shore up bridges and track and crossings and insurance premiums, and to pay for rail usage charges.
And at the same time, it costs $35, 000,000.00 for us to operate 7 hours in Iraq. Don't get me wrong folks, especially those of you who have loved ones over there. We're there, and need to finish what we started, I know.
But....of the 250 billion that is close to being spent there, we could have a nation complete with education.....care for the elderly.....drug treatment programs....as well as all new Superliner III's for all of our favorite routes. Many more routes! Expanded routes! Multiple daily stops!
The fact that our president spent at least 40 million dollars on his hour long inauguration, and yet states that 360 million dollars should be allocated to Amtrak for an entire year is a disgrace. It would be laughable if so much were not at stake.
Write your state representatives at once. Tell them how ludicrous this situation is. Tell them how much you would like to see Bush and Mineta both strapped into a Delta rocket aimed at Mars, with only enough fuel for a one way journey.
Or, take a bus or drive or fly everywhere you want to go from now on.
Frank