The auto companies tried this with EPA emissions regulations in the 70’s & 80’s. They claimed car prices would increase by over $1000 (20-25% of the cost of a car then) and there would be massive lay-offs. The regulations were enacted, car prices increased only about 2% and thousands of jobs were created producing catalytic converters and other emissions control devices. By the 90’s most car companies realized that it was better to work with the regulators than fight them.
VW didn’t go that rout, they simply cheat the emissions tests. I don’t know why anyone would trust anything from that company.
The cost of the regulations that got rolled back were 1% of the amount the railroads spent on stock buybacks. Stock buybacks are primarily for the C-level types who get a large part of their compensation in stock options. They are in the position to spend any free cash on making their “100,000 shares at X” worth 2X instead of benefiting the business
This was not a regulation failure. This was a mechanical failure due to a bearing on one of the trucks. The real failure is the lack of information about a train’s cargo which should be regulated. Under Federal Motor Carrier regs a truck driver must have a list of his cargo and placards on hazardous materials. Railroads do not do this….tanks are placard but there is no manifest for first responders to access at the scene or even contacting the company. All they can tell you is the number of cars the train is pulling. They nothing as far as what are the contents of the train.
Don’t you just love capitalism? It’s the best economic system ever. In fact, it’s the only economic system that “works”. Prioritizing profits over LITERALLY anything else? What could go wrong?
Capitalism is probably the best way to go to encourage business development. The problem isn’t capitalism. The problem is UNREGULATED capitalism. If everyone is given as much incentive to get rich as possible, more money is going to get into the GNP. The problem is when a person wants money with no responsibility, and is able to use the money to buy votes that allow them to destroy whatever is in their path.
Not too far off reality, as far as the arguments from Robber Baron Hound. The US Dept of Labor, under Elaine Chao (back in late 2007 and 2008) proposed updating the value of a worker, based on age, income, etc. That was one time that the slow pace of regulation adoption was useful. Usually that slow pace just hurts people. The regulation character must be based on the economists and attorney at the Office of Management and Budget, which makes all agencies come up with cost and benefit data and then usually requires “fixes”.
I think the deaths of more than 40,000 people from earthquake-related building collapse in Turkey should be a worldwide wakeup call that SAFETY IS NOT AN OPTIONAL AFTERTHOUGHT.
A pitch like, “We WANT to make our service/product cheaper and safer, but all these dang REGULATIONS prevent it!” shouldn’t work on anyone over the age of six, but here we are.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member over 1 year ago
It’s also cheaper to buy politicians who block any regulations.
GaryCooper over 1 year ago
Except it’s not one town at risk, it’s every town or city or farm that has train tracks through it or near it.
Catherine Spencer-Mills Premium Member over 1 year ago
What did they think would happen when the regulations were repealed?
P51Strega over 1 year ago
The auto companies tried this with EPA emissions regulations in the 70’s & 80’s. They claimed car prices would increase by over $1000 (20-25% of the cost of a car then) and there would be massive lay-offs. The regulations were enacted, car prices increased only about 2% and thousands of jobs were created producing catalytic converters and other emissions control devices. By the 90’s most car companies realized that it was better to work with the regulators than fight them.
VW didn’t go that rout, they simply cheat the emissions tests. I don’t know why anyone would trust anything from that company.
Kurtass Premium Member over 1 year ago
Regulations and taxes are only for the Lucky Duckies. You can add in laws as well.
Masterskrain over 1 year ago
And No-F*** Southern just dropped ANOTHER train, this time into the New River in W. Virginia, WITH toxic chemicals…
TheWildSow over 1 year ago
Norfolk & Waypal!
meetinthemiddle over 1 year ago
The cost of the regulations that got rolled back were 1% of the amount the railroads spent on stock buybacks. Stock buybacks are primarily for the C-level types who get a large part of their compensation in stock options. They are in the position to spend any free cash on making their “100,000 shares at X” worth 2X instead of benefiting the business
Vet Premium Member over 1 year ago
This was not a regulation failure. This was a mechanical failure due to a bearing on one of the trucks. The real failure is the lack of information about a train’s cargo which should be regulated. Under Federal Motor Carrier regs a truck driver must have a list of his cargo and placards on hazardous materials. Railroads do not do this….tanks are placard but there is no manifest for first responders to access at the scene or even contacting the company. All they can tell you is the number of cars the train is pulling. They nothing as far as what are the contents of the train.
eolan59 over 1 year ago
The drug cartel in Mexico, that kidnapped and killed some Americans, apologized faster than the railroad company that had the accident.
jvo over 1 year ago
I flat out refuse to believe that lucky ducky would ever get a penny from houndsworth.
Decepticomic over 1 year ago
Don’t you just love capitalism? It’s the best economic system ever. In fact, it’s the only economic system that “works”. Prioritizing profits over LITERALLY anything else? What could go wrong?
……………………….Capitalism #%$*ing sucks.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 1 year ago
Capitalism is probably the best way to go to encourage business development. The problem isn’t capitalism. The problem is UNREGULATED capitalism. If everyone is given as much incentive to get rich as possible, more money is going to get into the GNP. The problem is when a person wants money with no responsibility, and is able to use the money to buy votes that allow them to destroy whatever is in their path.
NicooLkwd over 1 year ago
N&S should buy out anyone who wants to move from the region around the toxic crash at the pre-crash value of their home or business!
smuttyrutabaga over 1 year ago
For-rent Repubs have been tearing down citizen protection for decades now. Why don’t we learn?
jpozenel over 1 year ago
I wonder how many people in the U.S. don’t live within a mile of railroad tracks (as the crow flies.)
Funny_Ha_Ha over 1 year ago
This is fine.
msprinker over 1 year ago
Not too far off reality, as far as the arguments from Robber Baron Hound. The US Dept of Labor, under Elaine Chao (back in late 2007 and 2008) proposed updating the value of a worker, based on age, income, etc. That was one time that the slow pace of regulation adoption was useful. Usually that slow pace just hurts people. The regulation character must be based on the economists and attorney at the Office of Management and Budget, which makes all agencies come up with cost and benefit data and then usually requires “fixes”.
AtomicForce91 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Or they could have maintained the tracks and not kept the funding out of Ohio.
mistercatworks over 1 year ago
I think the deaths of more than 40,000 people from earthquake-related building collapse in Turkey should be a worldwide wakeup call that SAFETY IS NOT AN OPTIONAL AFTERTHOUGHT.
GreggW Premium Member over 1 year ago
I really want Hollingsworth Hound’s last appearance to be a particularly unpleasant one for him.
byobg over 1 year ago
A pitch like, “We WANT to make our service/product cheaper and safer, but all these dang REGULATIONS prevent it!” shouldn’t work on anyone over the age of six, but here we are.
proclusstudent over 1 year ago
Cannot see the cartoons from gocomics.