From: rcp27g@gmail.com
On 2015-03-19 20:06:53 +0000, Robert Heller said:
> At Thu, 19 Mar 2015 11:49:01 -0700 Nobody wrote:
>
>>
>> On Thu, 19 Mar 2015 03:06:20 +0000 (UTC), John Levine
>> wrote:
>>
>>> In article you write:
>>>> http://www.aei.org/publication/mind-the-gap-us-and-european-train-safety/
>>>
>>> "If we end federal subsidies to Amtrak, and require it to liquidate,
>>> then private companies would buy up its stations and routes. These
>>> companies could then begin running our trains with a level of
>>> professionalism that Americans now experience only when traveling
>>> abroad."
>>>
>>> Wow.
>>
>> I was gonna pick out the same portion.
>>
>> As if Euorpean passenger-rail services run without government (i.e.
>> taxpayer) investment/assistance/subsidies/handouts (check your
>> favourite expression).
>
> Are there any *privately* owned passenger-rail services (other than 'tourist'
> railroads) *anywhere* in the world? Ones that operate without ANY government
> subsidies?
>
> Actually: are there any *privately* owned passenger services of any mode that
> operation without ANY government subsidies (direct or indirect)?
Considering that things like compulsory purchase powers over land are a
form of subsidy (because the buyer of that land is forcing the owner to
sell it at less than they would otherwise chose to sell it at), I would
extend that to any transportation infrastructure of any kind.
Transportation infrastructure is the classic case of the economic
benefits being almost entirely external to the owner of the
infrastructure. In cases like this, it is pretty much universally
recognised that government provision (or interference in the market to
bring about the required objective) is beneficial to all.
Robin
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