Several magazines have been very critical toward Amtrak management over recent   
   cuts in food and lounge car service.   
      
   While I agree the cuts were hurt service quality and discourage ridership, I'm   
   not at all sure who is responsible.  The critics blame management.  However, I   
   can't help but blame Congress.   
      
   After all, Congress has criticized Amtrak's food service costs as too high and   
   demanded privatization (even though Amtrak is far more cost-efficient at it   
   than the prior 'private' railroads were).   
      
   I think some elements in the Republican Congress know exactly what they're   
   doing--forcing a decline in service quality to discourage riders, so as to   
   grease the skids for the ultimate elimination of Amtrak.   
      
   As previously mentioned, David Gunn, in a newspaper interview, described   
   various tactics they employeed to slow up repairs and drive up costs, tactics   
   announced to the public as to "improve efficiency".   
      
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