Rail advocacy: it's ok to do or post whatever you want to :-)

[beautifulplanet]

Many might think that it is legit to advocate for or against anything, and also advocate in the way one wants to. So some might have been surprised a few weeks ago to read a post on this forum with some thoughts about how exactly rail advocates are supposed to behave, and only post ideas on this forum under certain conditions. While of course many might think that it's legit to have that position and to post it here, many might think the same would apply to anyone else posting whatever they want it (within the boundaries of what the moderators allow).

To some, it might seem weird how there would be a statement like mentioning five certain steps, and only if one went through those steps first, then afterwards one is allowed to post something here in the forum:

And if you can bring yourself to do all this, then you can post your ideas on this forum.

Of course there might always be something somebody else may post that one might disagree with, still most people might think that should not lead to discouraging other people from posting, just because it might be an inconvenience, like expressed here:

I am so freakin' sick of people who just think that a train is a good idea and we should ask for it [...]

Many might think, that it would be great if people asked for rail, as it means they support rail, and if someone has an idea for some theoretical future rail service, then possibly might not be so helpful to the cause of advocating for rail in general if that someone then is directly greeted by something like: "I am so freakin' sick of people who just think that a train is a good idea and we should ask for it".

Who is going to pay for it? If the answer is "They" stop. If the answer is Congress and you don't have an in, stop. If the answer is the state, and you don't have an in, stop. If the answer is a municipality, and you don't have an in, stop.

Some might think it especially might not be helpful to tell people to stop with any rail idea they have, just because the idea includes public funding (and the lack of "a way in" or "influence" to a person in a legislature or administration). Some might think it might not be helpful in general, to tell people who have a rail idea to stop.

"Where are they going to get the money? [...] A tax? On what?"

Contrary to what is being indicated by above quote and similar statements in proximity to it, many think of course it is legit for f.e. one single private person, to not already have the full funding secured already (including contingency funds), for any rail idea they just had. Many might think, it might be quite the opposite as rail services are public services, so the public can state its need for services, and f.e. then it would be up to representatives of the public, to not respond to that need, or to actually respond to that need, and in the latter case also to take care of all the details including funding. Some may think, that not everybody just having any rail idea will present it like Parsons Brinckerhoff, and already come up with a legislative and executive approval for full funding at the same time, and that this might be ok, as not everybody has to follow some arbitrarily chosen 5 step process and/or become a hobby rail engineer or contact a real one. Some might think any expression of support for rail would be a good thing, and even if it's something that won't be realized at all or it might be but not in the exact shape or form, that statement of support for rail then is still a statement of support for rail.

Of course many might think that if there is an idea for a commuter rail service, in the shape of a "dirt-cheap operation", to try to turn that into a reality by advocating towards a "friend who has a ridiculous amount of money" to back the idea, or by trying to "get certain wealthy businessmen and their related politicians to sponsor" the idea, then nearly everyone might be thinking that this is great and that they wish a lot of success. Still at the same time, there might be people thinking that there are others who have ideas for rail, no matter if it may be a local rail idea or an inter-city rail idea that won't fit into the "dirt-cheap operation" category. Still many might think it might be legit to have these ideas as well, and to write a post about them on the forum. And then some might think of course there are also other ways to advocate, f.e. with public expressions in support of rail already being one of these ways, others could include membership and activity in organizations, communication with elected leaders or the attempt to include the business community.

For some, the many successes of rail advocates (also in regards to projects that have been realized that exceed "dirt-cheap operation") within the United States of America as well as in other countries point to the fact that it also seems to be worth it to proceed, even when not following the instructions of that recent post on this forum.

Many might think, if you have a rail idea, post about it here, or also contact others that would like to hear about it, like the National Association of Railroad Passengers or other organizations that might work in the same direction. Many might think, that existing or possible future rail advocates should not be told to stop, instead being encouraged.