There were absolutely no railroads or education of children or anything of value before the federal gov’t created a department of _______________ (fill in the blank). Yeah, right!
The transcontinental railroad did not happen by private enterprise alone. It required great financial support by the federal government (Lincoln, at the time, giving away a lot of free land to the railroad companies). What’s your point, Desultory? Just that you’re ignorant of history and how capitalism works?
Desultory: The railroads were granted from 6 to 8 sections (a square mile) of land for every mile of track they laid. Those railroad grant lands were so they could sell the surface, and recoup their “costs”. They DID sell the surface, but kept the mineral rights! THAT is why so much oil and gas is being produced from “private” land, it’s RAILROAD MINERAL ESTATE, and it’s also the reason why Santa Fe International is an ENERGY company, far more than a railroad. Also Burlington NOrthern, now merged with Santa Fe. U.P. and other railroads did the same thing, and are now “energy companies”. OUr rail infrastructure has gone to pot, precisely because those grants also said the companies (in most grants) were supposed to run and MAINTAIN those rail lines in perpetuity- they have NOT! Also Many, many, miles of line have been pulled out, and the companies have NOT given back those lands, or mineral estates.
Congress needs to enforce those grants, and take the minerals back on every section where the rail companies have not maintained good, solid, and serviceable beds, for HIGH SPEED RAIL!
Colbert covered Romney’s pledge to abolish FEMA…“Right, we should make disaster relief the sole responsibility of the states. Who better to respond to what’s going on inside its own borders than the state whose infrastructure has just been swept out to sea?”……………http://americablog.com/2012/11/stephen-colbert-on-romneys-pledge-to-abolish-fema-video.html
Mitt’s yacht, “Cracker Bay”, flies the Cayman Island flag.……………..http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/romney-party-yacht-flies-cayman-islands-flag/story?id=17105028
DesultoryPhillipic over 11 years ago
There were absolutely no railroads or education of children or anything of value before the federal gov’t created a department of _______________ (fill in the blank). Yeah, right!
ARodney over 11 years ago
The transcontinental railroad did not happen by private enterprise alone. It required great financial support by the federal government (Lincoln, at the time, giving away a lot of free land to the railroad companies). What’s your point, Desultory? Just that you’re ignorant of history and how capitalism works?
Cat43ullus over 11 years ago
Appears that Willtt is planning a three hour tour.
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
Desultory: The railroads were granted from 6 to 8 sections (a square mile) of land for every mile of track they laid. Those railroad grant lands were so they could sell the surface, and recoup their “costs”. They DID sell the surface, but kept the mineral rights! THAT is why so much oil and gas is being produced from “private” land, it’s RAILROAD MINERAL ESTATE, and it’s also the reason why Santa Fe International is an ENERGY company, far more than a railroad. Also Burlington NOrthern, now merged with Santa Fe. U.P. and other railroads did the same thing, and are now “energy companies”. OUr rail infrastructure has gone to pot, precisely because those grants also said the companies (in most grants) were supposed to run and MAINTAIN those rail lines in perpetuity- they have NOT! Also Many, many, miles of line have been pulled out, and the companies have NOT given back those lands, or mineral estates.
Congress needs to enforce those grants, and take the minerals back on every section where the rail companies have not maintained good, solid, and serviceable beds, for HIGH SPEED RAIL!
feverjr Premium Member over 11 years ago
Colbert covered Romney’s pledge to abolish FEMA…“Right, we should make disaster relief the sole responsibility of the states. Who better to respond to what’s going on inside its own borders than the state whose infrastructure has just been swept out to sea?”……………http://americablog.com/2012/11/stephen-colbert-on-romneys-pledge-to-abolish-fema-video.html
feverjr Premium Member over 11 years ago
Mitt’s yacht, “Cracker Bay”, flies the Cayman Island flag.……………..http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/romney-party-yacht-flies-cayman-islands-flag/story?id=17105028