‘Outrageous’: Amtrak Employees Likely Stealing $4-$7 Million in Food Each Year
- Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:35pm by
Erica Ritz
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(Photo: AP)
A report by the Government Accountability Office has revealed that taxpayer-funded Amtrak has lost more than $800 million in food and beverage sales over the last ten years, largely due to waste, theft, and a lack of proper oversight.
The New York Times has more information:
The railroad’s food and beverage service has never broken even since it was required by Congress to do so in 1981. The losses were the focus of a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Thursday that reflected partisan views over how Amtrak should be run. Republican lawmakers suggested that food services should be privatized. Democrats questioned the need for the hearing, saying the railroad was dealing with the losses.
Joseph H. Boardman, president and chief executive of Amtrak, confirmed the losses but said the railroad was taking steps to address the problem. “We are still looking for ways to improve our cost recovery,” he said.
According to audits by the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, and the railroad’s own inspector general, Amtrak loses about $80 million a year selling food. Since 2002, Amtrak’s food service has lost $834 million.
Amtrak said it was increasing the use of credit cards for food sales to cut down on cash thefts by employees, reducing staff, creating a better system to track inventory and to collect revenue. It has also set up a three-person loss-prevention unit.
[...]
“It’s an outrageous cost to taxpayers,” said John L. Mica, a Florida Republican and chairman of the House committee. “There has to be a better way. We can’t keep on paying this subsidy.” [Emphasis added]
The interior of a state-owned Amtrak passenger car is seen in Glenville, N.Y. , on Thursday, May 31, 2012. (Photo: AP)
So how is the subsidized rail line managing to lose more than $800 million dollars in food and beverage sales in just ten years?
According to the report, Amtrak’s own employees are likely stealing between $4-$7 million annually, or $40-$70 million over ten years.
Similarly, while the line sells soft drinks for $2, they actually cost the taxpayer $3.40. Hamburgers sell for $9.50, but cost the taxpayer a whopping $16. Therefore, even if Amtrak sold 100% of their inventory, it would still be impossible for them to turn a profit.
One Amtrak employee defended the unsustainable budget, saying: “You may just see us handing out hamburgers, but we do other things.”
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) held a press conference with a $1 burger from McDonald’s to demonstrate that if the private company can turn a profit with $1 burgers, a taxpayer-funded “Soviet-style” rail line selling $16 burgers should be able to at least break even.
“You may even see me on an Amtrak train with a sign that says, ‘Don’t eat the food, it adds to deficit spending,’” Mica joked.
But he’s serious about cutting taxpayer liabilities with Amtrak.
“They’re violating the law,” he said, “and I may look at some legal recourse to stop them from doing it.”
(H/T: Gothamist)
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Comments (225)
NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:07amAmtrak, Obamacare…same input, same results.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:26amYeppers….just more govt union jobs, less production, more waste, poor service and no medical advances…Obama want us to be the United States Kenya!
Looks like GE will be selling “green” appliances boxes instead of appliance in UNK the new home for the masses!..The new Jobs program and shovel ready cause the sewers won’t be working and you will be digging holes for your waste!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:11amTypical government operation, they don’t call it government work for nothing. There should be no government employees in anything, everything should be contracted to private business. For a business to be efficient, doing it right or wrong has to have consequences, government work has not consequences, they just ask for more money.
Report Post »AWAKENEDAWARE
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:40amAMTRAK is hideous. If this is what “high speed rail” will look like in USA, just FORGET about it.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:45amGreat tagline, I am going to hijack that and spread it far and wide.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:18am.
It’s the union way.
Take everything that’s not nailed down.
In 35 years, Amtrak has never broken even.
$16 hamburgers? And I’ll bet they suck.
Let McDonald’s run it.
Shut it down.
“We do other things too.” Yeah, like stealing beer and liquor too.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:34amThat’s pretty damn bad when you have to go strictly to a credit card system, because you cannot even trust your own employees. They, are most likely, stealing credit card numbers, too.
Report Post »Just more crooked union thugs. Do an investigation, put these crooks in jail (they may be small-time, compared to other branches of govt., but you gotta start somewhere) add this to one of Romney’s videos about how corruption in government has blossomed since Oblameus became president.
mountainhiker
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:39amTotally on target, the product of a socialist mindset, Obama has increased the national debt more than all of the other presidents combined. Do we really need more Amtrack’s, no!
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:32amWe used to take Amtrak quite often until it got to be more trouble than it was worth. Unruly kids who’s parents spend day & night in the observatory car to avoid the pranks of the kids so they can bother all the rest around them.
Now they want to give 1/2 price off to get more kids riding amtrak. Good solution. Not all kids are bad, only the parents who expect everyone else to put up with them while they hid out in another car.
Not surprised at all that they are losing millions on stolen food. Just take a look at the people who work on Amtrak. About time those in charge figured this out. Well, just another loser industry that the American people pay for, and obama wants more railroads?
Report Post »Grandpa Dave
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:41amPEOPLE, PEOPLE… Get used to it. The Nanny-States are here to stay(PERIOD)
All of your hard earned money and wealth will be taken by the federal government for redistribution by the Dictator-in Chief. Our new motto: “ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL, but some are more equal than others.” — Grandpa
Report Post »TAXEVERYONE
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:57amWhat do you expect. These are people who couldn’t even get hired by the DMV.
Report Post »debvos
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:14pmHKS has got that right.
Report Post »Privatize!! A private business can not stay in business with the same records that the government businesses have. I am tired of being a “bank” for the wasteful. This is why this country is failing, we need integrity and the government surely doesn’t have that!!
dmerwin
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:53pm“We are still looking for ways to improve our cost recovery,”
Report Post »I have an idea, fire the thieves, better yet, prosecute them.
lukerw
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:45pmPut Chick-fil-a in charge of AMTRAK Food Services!
Report Post »midwesthippie
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:39pm…obama is right…we didn’t build THAT!…
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:18pmPut it up for bidders. McDonalds, Burger King or Taco Bell – whoever pays the most and got the contract would run it like a business. They would hire people at $8.00 to $10.00 an hour and all Amtrak employees would pay like you are I – $5.00 or $6.00 for burger and french fries. This needs to be done at the Post Office also. The Postal head should not make $850,000 ayear + paying for his moving expenses and home. Here in S. Oklahoma I know a retired Postmaster who makes $75,000 a year and an employee who just retired at age 55 making $60,000 a year. UPS or FedX don’t pay that kind of money and their managers get promoted by working hard, not kissing up to the bosses A_ss.
Report Post »NevergiveinNever
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:50pmthe word is out: Harry Reid has been seen wandering pushing a shopping cart full of food and beverages.
Report Post »schlitten15
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:25amI have a solution: “ Bring your own food”. Will see how much they save. Besides, if there is no food, nobody can steal any.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:47amHad enough? Really?
Popular republican candidate Ron Paul’s “Restore America” plan calls for a lower corporate tax rate, cutting spending by $1 trillion during his first year in office and eliminating five cabinet-level agencies, including the Departments of Education, Commerce, Energy, Interior and Housing and Urban Development.
Ron Paul 2012! STOP COMPLAINING AND FIX IT IN TAMPA! NO EXCUSES!
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:01amNot going to happen dude. Even if I could have gotten past some of Ron Paul’s over-the-top stuff (Iranian nukes, no support for Israel, etc.) it would still be too late. Ron Paul is out and his name won’t even be on the ballot. I agreed with a lot of his ideas but some of them, like the ones I listed) made him a poor candidate for me.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:21amNOT A CRAZY DISSECTED…
LIE:
“Not going to happen dude.”
TRUTH:
Only God above raises, lowers and knows WHO will be raised and lowered. But the fact that Ron Paul has an energized following… and Romney is ABSOLUTELY LOATHED… would lead me to favor Paul’s chances.
LIE:
“Iranian nukes”
TRUTH:
Ron Paul DOES NOT seek “nukes” FOR ANYONE, but will discourage development with diplomacy and a STRENGTHENED NATIONAL DEFENSE, by retracting from our UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BANKRUPTING, BLOODY nation-building.
LIE:
“no support for Israel”
TRUTH:
Ron Paul supports Israel by retracting UNCONSTITUTIONAL foreign aid FROM ALL… thus giving GREAT ADVANTAGES to Israel (on top of autonomy) and offers GENUINE friendship in a CONSTITUTIONAL manner.
LIE:
“Ron Paul is out and his name won’t even be on the ballot.”
TRUTH:
The nominee will be selected in Tampa in a few weeks by delegates. Ron Paul, judging by the GOP’S DAILY, UNRELENTING DELEGATE CHEATING (blacked-out by the fake-conservative media), seems to stand a great chance of nomination!
DOUBTFUL:
Report Post »“I agreed with a lot of his ideas”
TRUTH:
FAKE-conservatives always couch their propaganda and lies with a line like this, to FALSELY position themselves as rational decision-makers who just “can’t vote for Paul,” due to BS excuse X, Y or Z.
v15
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:55amBrother Winston Smith, Ron Paul is not the magic bullet to prevent Washington from driving this country over the cliff. Paul‘s approach to A LOT of issues are unrealistic and his radical approach to politics has definitely appealed to all of the extremists who want this country to burn because they feel it’s necessary. Smith, I follow your posts and you are a fanatic full of hate and rage. And you are so stubborn that you don’t care if your vote helps Obama. You WANT chaos. You just sicken me, dude.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:05amWHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION BROTHER !!!
Report Post »Snap out of your psychosis man it’s eating you up inside they do have help for you at your local mental health facility.
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:14amv15 DISSECTED…
LIE INSINUATION:
“Ron Paul is not the magic bullet”
TRUTH:
Nobody ever claimed he was.
COWARDLY LIE:
“approach to A LOT of issues are unrealistic”
TRUTH:
1. Ron Paul IS VERY CAREFUL to explain his objectives ARE NOT implemented overnight. 2. Ron Paul’s stepped solutions ARE MORE “REALISTIC” THAN EVERYBODY ELSES’ UNCONSTITUTIONAL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING, BASED ON A CREDIT CARD THAT IS QUICKLY DISSOLVING.
LIE:
“radical approach to politics has definitely appealed to all of the extremists”
TRUTH:
Ron Paul’s message of Constitutional law and liberty is appealing to Americans OF ALL SECTORS. This is the reason he is THE ONLY ONE who can beat Obama. But the republican/democrat Central Government Planners appeal to the extremists (socialists) WHO DON’T GIVE A DAMN IF THE “COUNTRY BURNS,” as long as they get their Medicare, “Disability,” HUD, WIC, Unemployment “Compensation,” etc.
LIE:
“hate”
TRUTH:
My comments spring from LOVE. LOVE of nation, LOVE of humanity, LOVE of law, liberty and LOVE of the patient God that is guiding my fingers as I type.
CORRECT:
“rage.”
TRUTH:
This emotion can often be found in Americans who are getting repeatedly raped by a government who has absolutely NO RESTRAINT, as commanded by our founding docs.
LIE:
Report Post »“your vote helps Obama.”
TRUTH:
YOUR cheat-nomination of Romney will NOT ONLY “help Obama”… it will GUARANTEE his reelection.
historyguy48
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:47amComrade BWS; Personally I like and respect Ron Paul and believe that, if his policies, returning to our constitution, had been implemented when Carter was president we wouldn’t be in the situation we are in today. Unfortunately for him, and us, he wasn’t president then and it is far to late to stop what is coming no matter what we do!
Report Post »Yes Romney can’t stop what is coming, not even if it is a huge victory and we take a super majority in both houses. Why? Because there is still no political will to do what must be done!
The cuts we must make will make the cuts done by Coolidge seem tame so our elected representative will not do what must be done, so we will fall off the cliff.
Look at what they are getting ready for. Not riots, but a massive insurrection of the citizens. Like every other totalitarian government on the planet they fully intend to retain power the old fashioned way, using blood and bullets. This has absolutely nothing to do with our constitution, or something called “the American way of life” this is about what it is always about; pure, raw, naked POWER! Only our guys are good, like Adolph, Mao, Lenin, Fidel, before them it is “for the people” always “for the people” even when they are executing the “people” it is still “for the people”.
Welcome to your New America, a police state, where what I just wrote, will cause me to be eliminated.
Your rights? What rights?
The coming election? We’ll see. If Dear Leader will lose, what election?
Ron Pau
SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:54amMy comments spring from LOVE. LOVE of nation, LOVE of humanity, LOVE of law, liberty and LOVE of the patient God that is guiding my fingers as I type.
You are definetly showing signs of schitzophrenia you really should seek help as left untreated the delusions become so great it may manifest into hallucinations therefore seeing things that are not real.
Report Post »txbigfoot
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:13amRon Paul losers, are you still at it? Even the man himself called it quits… you can too.
Report Post »Stop living a pipe dream and GROW UP
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:20amThe unique thing about Ron Paul acolytes is that they never have to worry about winning an election. They get to comfort themselves with platitudes and self-righteous cliches about being the only ones really fighting the good fight. They can protest every candidate, or every bill, but never get their own candidates elected, or get their own bills passed. They are the quintessential man outside the ring, looking at the two boxers fighting, telling the other bystanders around you how bad the two men fighting are. It is pathetic.
These potential Obama enablers (who only live to destroy the Republican Party and divide) are the “minutemen” of todays society (and I don’t mean that in a positive way). They are mostly young and are the collateral damage of this country’s devastating Liberal education system. It’s truly a shame that they have latched onto a politician who espouses liberty, freedom and Constitution but who is nothing more than an snake-oil salesman peddling a diseased ideology based on nothing more than an anti-war platform (it’s not about economics with Paul, and those that believe that nonsense are fooling themselves, mentally challenged, or just don’t care). Liberty movement my @ss.
It‘s great that America’s youth are interested in politics and change… it’s sad that they have fallen for this cranks musings beyong the fed. It is…. truly pathetic and a shame.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:42amWhile RP is not a thieving DEMOCRAT, he is king of Earmarks. Brutha is a Barry follower, so ignore this canard. Any Brutha that apologizes for gov. thieving is just a DEMOthief.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:22pmTIME2END – DISSECTED…
LIE:
“self-righteous cliches”
TRUTH:
The LEFTIST gop has cornered the market on “self-righteous cliches.“ Like the repeated gibberish ”take ‘merica back”… without articulating (strategic omission) exactly… where.
LIE:
“man outside the ring”
TRUTH:
Ron Paul has been SHOVED OUTSIDE THE RING, because the WEEZING, CHEATING title-defenders KNOW they will get ANNIHILATED the moment he steps inside. …still waiting for that Romney/Paul debate… Hell… I’m still waiting for the McCain/Paul 08 debate…
LIE:
“Obama enablers”
TRUTH:
The LEFTIST gop and their “better evils” ELECTED OBAMA, and if CHEAT-nominated for 2012, will REELECT Obama.
LIE:
“mostly young”
TRUTH:
We are young, old, military, black, white, constitutionalist, libertarian, independent, etc… AND VERY, VERY ENERGIZED.
LIE:
“Liberal education system”
TRUTH:
Our education system is LEFTIST, and ILLEGAL – democrat/republican UNCONSTITUTIONAL Central Government Planning. Like republican NCLB.
DESPERATE, LAUGHABLE LIE:
“snake-oil salesman peddling a diseased ideology”
TRUTH:
This describes, EXACTLY, the LEFTIST democrat party and the LEFTIST republican party.
CORRECT:
“anti-war platform”
TRUTH:
Yes, as opposed to the republican/democrat CHICKENHAWKS who will violate EVERY LAW, spend EVERY DOLLAR and waste EVERY AMERICAN LIFE… (how did you put it…) “peddling a diseased ideology.”
MORE ALINSKYITE NAME-CALLING:
Report Post »“mentally
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:36pm13th Imam’s repeated lies… DISSECTED…
DESPERATE LIE:
“he is king of Earmarks.”
TRUTH:
Ron Paul relays the requests OF HIS CONSTITUENTS (his job as their rep), but NEITHER SUPPORTS NOR VOTES FOR ANY PORK.
DESPERATE LIE:
“Brutha is a Barry follower”
TRUTH:
I am a Constitutional Libertarian Tea Partier who has posed quite a sticky problem for BOTH lying democrats and lying republicans.
DESPERATE PLEA:
“so ignore this canard.”
TRUTH:
While 13th Imam CAN NEVER REFUTE what I write… AND CAN NEVER BACK UP IT’S ACCUSATIONS… AND FAILS AT ALINSKYITE NAME-CALLING… the last natural resort it to plead with people “not to listen.”
ALINSKYITE LIE:
Report Post »“apologizes for gov. thieving is just a DEMOthief,”
TRUTH:
“apologizes for gov. thieving“ accurately describes a ”better evil” voter.
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:17pmBRO. Your, ahem, DISSECTION was a whole lot of nothing and a DISTRACTION. Lol. Good try though. You certainly ARE unique in your DISRUPTION…
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 4:57pmBrother Winston, keep up the good work, you are a good voice for liberty. I see that all the (Conservative???) Republicans on here can do nothing but bash you with name calling with nothing to bring to the table to refute what you say. The reason is, there is nothing that they can present to refute the truth. God speed to you and your message, and Time_2 is right on one thing, You are unique in your disruption of progressive thinkers and a lot of people here like it.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:00pmThere’s nothing to refute Ron Paul is a wimpy old man afraid of his shadow I bet he was right next to John Kerry while he was throwing his medals over the WH fence.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:30amGovernment workers doing what government workers do best.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:39amI’m sIcKOFIT
Report Post »USA5
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 3:03pmIt used to be ‘Good Enough For Government Work’
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:27pmGeeze folks. These Amtrak employees were in training to run for congress with all they learned about skrewing the public to the tune of millions+. We, the American people, subsidized Amtrak all these long years while the employees were stealing their weight in whatever they could lay their hands on. Wonder how many people had their luggage gone through? Those people who were being paid generously (by us) should be charged to refund our money.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:22amPopular republican candidate Ron Paul explains Amtrak/GM:
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02PUwk-BOsY
RepubliCorp
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:31amPopular?……… thanks for the laugh!
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:40amr3VOLution… crowds. Of course, not including the coming Tampa crowds.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuTXPWec_LU
Winedude
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:42amRon Paul is popular only in yours and others limited little minds…a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Barack Obama.
Report Post »ShyLow
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:48amWhy aren’t all you free-market lovers helping me out with Free Market Transportation and pushing to get gas sipping ATV’S licenced for the street?…I need help here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn9cmPtOWb8&feature=related You might not want em but other people do,and they are legal in actual free countries…America really is just free in name only
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:55amAN ABSOLUTE LIE, Winedude.
If the LEFTIST GOP CHEAT-nominates LEFTIST Romney… THEY, I repeat, THEY will split the vote to REELECT OBAMA, same as THEY, I repeat, THEY ELECTED HIM, by cheat-nominating LEFTIST McCain in 08.
WE MUST NOT LET THE LEFTIST GOP REELECT OBAMA!!!!!!!!
Ron Paul 2012! OR STOP COMPLAINING!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:04amBWS – Romney is no McCain. He may not be perfect but he is not a communist and he is not B.O.. A vote for anyone but Romney, at this point, is a vote for the America Destroyer. Vote for Romney and live to fight another day.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:25amCorrect, NOT A CRAZY. Romney is no McCain. You have to SUBTRACT the war-hero thing and the pro-life thing. HE’S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN LEFTIST McCAIN!!!!!!!!!!
A vote for Rombama or Obamney is a vote to CONTINUE the democrat/republican destruction of America.
Report Post »soybomb315_II
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:05amAmazing – Ron Paul is ALWAYS ahead of the mainstream ‘conservative’ curve
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 5:19pmI love how all these (Conservative????) Republicans throw out “A vote for Paul is a vote for Obama.” That is entirely incorrect, a nomination of Romney will be the vote for Obama. Latest polls with only three months left:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html Obama ahead by +3 !!!
Romney will not pick up any Democrat votes, they will hold their nose for Obama, as Romney scares them. Independents have been moving rapidly away from Romney, especially after his disastrous overseas trip. Paul supporters, who make up a large percentage of Independents, will vote for Johnson or write Paul’s name in, The GOP has told the Republican youth they are not wanted, so they will stay home or write in Ron Paul. Romney cannot even get 100% support from Republicans for cryin out loud, How Is He Going To Defeat Obama, especially by a landslide which some of you think? He Cannot. The sooner all of you do your own research and figure out the truth, the better.
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:20amThis is my shocked face that a railway that would have been bankrupt decades ago if not for massive government subsidies is stealing millions of taxpayer dollars :<O .
PS: The government is looking into this, so if you have concerns… it's only because you're a racist.
Report Post »BlackRacist
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 7:31amWall mart, Burlington, and every major retail stores are going broke from the rampant theft that’s occurring so its not just the government jobs. Where I live most of the employees are AA the ratio being 80/20 black/white in every major name in Columbuse Ga. Same with the Gov Jobs 80/20. America is being set up by black racist. Whites are evil blacks are good. Its a damn shame. Black refusal to admit violence and theft towards whites is scary to think about considering the laws are tuned towards giving freebees to these supposed minority’s while the are oppressors of The greatness of the white American race.We tried to integrate with you but then you develop over 100 national dialects of Ebonics with white hate rap music black mob violence.These free housing that supposedly is not only for black people are so anti white whites are in intimidated into not accepting this help. So whites like me who only make 16000 a year are poor but can not accept the consequence of my actions if i have to Trayvon Somebody. Jusus Its time to rewrite the regulations on affirmative action. Its time the even the blacks admit they are the racist.
Report Post »Dde13
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:18amAnd the democrats want bigger government????
Report Post »I hear fair share and tax increases and this goes on everywhere in government.
They can’t run a hot dog stand…..
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:23amNo, actually democrat AND republican want bigger government.
Report Post »midwesthippie
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:45am…yup…GOP = old fart establishment (R)’s vs. young conservatives, independents, libertarians, and constitutionalists…oh, i just described the TEA party…thus = no chance for romney in 2012…
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:14amWant a lunch pack it at home !
Report Post »Oh I forgot this is Govmint perhaps a no home packed lunch rule is enforced or the food nazi’s will confiscate it for non regulatory nutritions.
Brasil2520
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:09amHealthcare + Amtrack + Post Office = Bankruptcy
Report Post »valleyfever
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:51amThis is the same government that wants to run our healthcare.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:07amThis is the same government that runs the POSTAL system.
HOW much money did Hillary give to Eygpt?
Report Post »Prayers for the Christans being persecuted over there
God help us all.
OMG 2012.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:48amOnly that much? Congress uses that much to wipe their butts every year.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:01amya you are right try hunders of millons
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:47amThe inevitable fruits of democrat/republican Central Government Planning.
Had enough?
Ron Paul 2012! TAMPA! NO EXCUSES!!!!!
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:09amwhat are you going to do after the election i may have a job for you
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 6:19pmBWS! Go away!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »ShyLow
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:46amThe common folk want to licence their gas sipping ATV’S http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRfAvo2aDZM&feature=related Trains are for cargo…Free Market Transportation now!!!
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:45amIn reading this, it has finally dawned on me…this country is over. Short of absolute revolution with guillotines in front of every City Hall…there simply is no way to stop this detestable corruption & deliberate incompetance.
Though minor in the grand scheme of things, this is the proverbial straw.
When did Americans start being born without any concept of personal honor and self-respect? Without any understanding of the word “shame”? Without a conscience or even remorse?
It is time to face the truth…this IS the new America. And as such, I can honestly say…I am ashamed to be American.
From this day forth, those who steal, manipulate and abuse the “system”…will no longer be my enemy. I will now applaud them.
For all they are doing is stealing scraps from those who stole the whole refrigerator.
All I do by being hardworking, honest & God fearing, is aid and abett, feed and water the evil & greed darkening our country.
Better a man feeding his family by poaching on my land, than it all being stolen by the king’s men.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:51amwell said
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:20am@Almighty- As my husband says “If you can’t beat them, then join them.” I will not let that happen even though it is so tempting. I try and try to find the positive in everything and everyone (I am no Polyanna) but just try and turn the little things into something positive, and it is hard, but I will keep trying.
Report Post »Logistician
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 8:52amYou are wrong in so many ways. Attacks on every city hall? Really? The problem is the federal governments failure to abide by its constitional limitations, not the admitted imperfections of some or perhaps even most city, state, and local governments. Regardless, the solution is not the pure anarchy and french-revolution-like scale of death that you endorse. That is an endorsement of recklessness which would fit right in at an occupy wallstreet gathering. Thanks but no thanks.
Report Post »zman173rd
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 11:11amFor some time now I’ve been saying “It’s too late”. I used to send emails to GB in 2007 before he was big time with that moniker. It‘s sad to think what’s in store for the next generation. I have three step kids, young too; 9 10 and 12. I have toruble trying thinking how they will survive. Sad but true. Will they turn us in for food?
Report Post »Sambeaux77
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 12:47amYou just keep doing the right thing !!!..& you’ll be rewarded !!. Remember that “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord”.. the evil doers will get their just due.. & it’ll be a far greater penalty than you or I could ever imagine or put on them ourselves !!! But I understand your frustration all too well !!.. I was Clerk for 5 years then a Conductor for over 25 years.. I’ve seen it all when it comes to the Railroad..It’s a lot different as a Freight Conductor.. than it is as an Amtrak Conductor.. I’ve heard a lot of stories from coworkers who worked for Amtrak at one time.. they all say it’s a bad place to work & they were glad to get on at our Railroad !!…You hear about stealing from time to time. I guess that’s at every place of employment.. but I never saw employees stealing.. The Railroad pays us way too well to jeopardize our job over stealing.. I can‘t see how it’s worth it !! As for the Union.. I personally like our union, medical, dental & a descent wage.. That’s not too much to ask for.. especially when everything in America gets to the store by truck.. & everything in America gets to the truck.. BY TRAIN !!! .. In my opinion, Amtrak is being kept around for nostalgia reasons. I hated having to put my train in the siding to let Amtrak go by.. all 5 cars…lol.. if they took half the money they spend on Amtrak & gave it to Greyhound.. & the other half towards a White Bus System.. Then America would be much a better place to travel through in peace and comfo
Report Post »Carol1955
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:25amIf the government can lose this much money on a relatively simply product like concessions, which most high school classes and t-ball teams seem to be able to run for a profit, what oh what, will they do with the health care industry? How can ANYONE read this crap, and still favor Obamacare?
Report Post »Valuable
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:55amExcellent point Carol1955!!
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:18amAmtrak is a complete Government fraud, this is a prime example of the future of healthcare, the govt can’t even manage some choo choo trains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You see the article that for every soda sold by Amtrak, it costs taxpayers like $2 ! For every sandwich its like $9, you’ve gotta be kidding, haven’t these idiots ever heard of COSTCO!!!!!!!!!!!!! A can of soda costs like 70 cents in bulk and they could purchase ready make sandwiches and food for a 1/10th the cost they are paying!!!!!!!!!!
Amtrak needs to be ceased and privatized, the whole govt company is a farce and a fraud, companies would be put out of business for what Amtrak is doing and private company officers would all be shackles for what Amtrak is doing!!!
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:36amnot knocking you but dealing with any goverment office is very costly. if you bid on supplying amtrak with any thing it will cost you thousands of dollars just to comply. you have to buy from minorties you have to have so minorties in your compney you have to prove all this and the odds are you wont get the bid any way. ya the kick back. it takes thousands of dollars in labor just to bid on somthing from amtrak. plus they are going to audit you and shake you down for some more kick backs
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:53amIt is not just government. I work for Walgreens Drug Stores. A few years ago, in Florida & Arizona…the bigigs came up with a concept called POWER. They removed pharmacists and techs from the stores and left skeleton crews to see to the patients care. They put them in giant facilities where the prescriptions are packaged and sent out daily to the stores.
They have destroyed customer service and patient care in more than a thousand stores by doing this.
What is worse? The stores are charged $1.00 per prescription to pay for this. That is about $20,000.00 a month at my location. The problem? It actually costs $2.60 per prescription to run the program.
An absolute failure…yet they persist in using it.
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 10:09amComrade just how do you expect America to survive without European style high speed trains? Why trains are a much more efficient means of moving people from point A to point B at a minimal cost. With trains, we can eliminate roads and other motorized vehicles, making us healthier when we get to walk from the centralized train depot to our actual destination?
Report Post »And trains are so much faster. Why to go from Cleveland, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio, by the proposed high speed train will only take a mere 4 hours. By much slower personal car, that trip takes an incredible 1-1/2 hours!
So, since I have now made the point that high speed trains are far better look at the cost advantages.
After spending a mere 3 billion dollars instituting the above train, Government will realize that nobody actually will ride it, so they can then spend an additional 1 billion dollars, per year, subsidizing it!
Isn’t this wonderful and a good use for the taxpayers money?
I wonder why private industry hasn’t done this?
v15
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:11amWe fight decade-long wars that are cheaper than one area of government waste
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:07amWe “The People” have 100% absolute crooks runing this country.
Report Post »I laughed at the slogan “I will not comply” when it appeared after Barry Care was passed but the more I think about it I think its time to put those words into action…..Government Agencies are out of control ie, GSA, EPA, State Dept, Dept Education, FDA, etc etc have over bloated wasteful budgets. If they have known this was going on for ten years with Amtrak then why do anything now? It says to me that oversite committees have failed the Dear Taxpayers once again. But let some working class stiff owe the IRS and you can rest assure they will use every bully tatic to get it from them, I know I’ve been on that short stick before.
marcus_arealius
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:06amI might have some possible evidence that Harry Reid and Chucky Upchuck Schumer have large off shore bank accounts from the Amtrak losses.. I might.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:24amI heard that too .. must be true … or they should prove that it isn’t. ;-)
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:04amThis is the perfect example of what Obama wants for America.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 12:02amOh, would that AMTRAK’s wasteful cost to the taxpayers were measured in the seven figures annually. Sadly, that shrinkage exists in the toilet paper budget of the Capital Building alone, just to name one.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:52pmJust another finding that Congress will brush under the carpet and no one will goto jail….NEXT?
Report Post »v15
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:51pmDoes the government even follow GAAP?
Report Post »kcsparky
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:49pmIf initial food purchase costs are that out of control, a change in vendor is warrented. A soft drink should NEVER cost $3.40 wholesale. Supply vendors are ripping off the government, as happens in all areas of government purchasing, in large chunks. Until purchasing costs come under control and down to a realistic level, nothing in this area will change. As for employees stealing, tighter inventory control, audits and a more aggressive level of punishment for violators appears to be way overdue.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:14amtry bidding on supplying amtrak and see what it cost just to put a bid then make your statement you have no clue
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:45pmJust was on the Drudge Report regarding Amtrack’s new PR campaign to woo Gay/Lesbian riders….now this story? Must be Amtrack didn’t pay-off a reporter or two?
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 1:29amI know a great chicken place that could cater those trains. HEHEHE
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 11:44pmThis is a Government-run operation. Where’s the surprise here?
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