Open Thread - Thurs 02 Mar 2023 - They Knew It Would Happen, Didn't They?

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 5:00am

They Knew It Would Happen, Didn't They?

Max Alvarez, on Breaking Points, had a really good discussion two weeks or so ago about the Ohio train wreck in East Palestine and what rail workers thought about it.

The Derailment in East Palestine: from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2023_Ohio_train_derailment.jpg

Back in July, Alvarez interviewed a man named Jay, who is a long-time train dispatcher, qualified conductor, and has been in the rail industry since he was 19. Jay and other rail workers predicted the wreck(s) back then and earlier, because of the horrible condition the railroads are in. Jay couldn't tell us when, or where, a bad accident would happen, but he knew it would occur because of the awful circumstances the rail industry works under now, due to Wall Street and government collusion and lax supervision. Alvarez talks with him again on the segment of the Art of Class Warfare linked to below.

The East Palestine disaster was not some freak accident, it was foreseen.

The fire after the derailment: from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smoke_from_the_2023_Ohio_train_d...

Smoke from the derailment and explosion; picture by an airplane passenger. This image, posted on reddit, is rated 'True' by Snopes. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/topofreddit/comments/112u3cs/passenger_photo_wh...

The rail workers and their unions have been warning about the the Wall Street takeover of railroads which included/s cutting worker numbers, doing stock buy-backs, raising executive salaries and share-holder dividends instead of investing in the company, lowering the number and type of inspections, cutting operating costs, cutting corners, forcing the trains to run with only one or two workers, lauding the new breaking systems (at first) and then refusing to buy them and install them, forcing the rail worker unions into agreements by using Wall Street control of the government, etc. This was going to cause and will cause problems, accidents, and tragedies in greater numbers, according to the rail workers. This takeover of the rail industry by Wall Street has

been destroying the supply chain for the sake of record profits.

The takeover has been

driving record numbers of workers out of the industry and driving the workers who remain into the ground.

Now, I don't have any direct ties to rail workers, but this guy's points, and testimony, really hit hard. Here's the video. It's a bit long but well worth the watch, I think:

The Alvarez video

A Hopeful Pic:
Here's the seedlings in the greenhouse tonight. They are on their way! I planted late, but it's just as well, since we've been having very cold, unseasonable, weather. The seedlings will be ready to plant out when the weather is better! Even the basil is up, but the peppers and tomatoes are being a wee bit slow.

One of the flats of seedlings in the Greenhouse: broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, and herbs.

So, thanks for reading, let us know what you think about Alvarez's show

Here's the Open Thread - remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!

Tags:

Open Thread

#trains

#unions

#derailment

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:52am

Another Pic, and a Song... Happy Thursday everyone!

So, as I was getting ready to go outside and check the goats at 1 am last night, I was listening to the Coyote song on Pandora, and then this song by Johnny Cash came on. It fits with today's topic very well, albeit about 120 years earlier (for Casey Jones).

It's been a crazy week here. Father's been to the docs and the ER twice, will be three times by tomorrow night. So, here's a little calming fun. Coal, the goat, asking for a treat from 'Mommy' (me), on Monday.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Lookout on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 7:05am

Good morning...

After WWII, we forgot about our trains and build the interstate system for cars. I regret that decision every time I've been to Europe with their (at least used to be) excellent train system.

Now in the US all our infrastructure has been ignored and we're paying the price. There was another train derailment in FL this week
https://nypost.com/2023/02/28/train-car-carrying-30000-gallons-of-propan...

The Grayzone had a good interview with a reporter on the ground which reveals that the train has installed its own police in the village.

Reporter Jeremy Loffredo reports for The Grayzone from East Palestine, Ohio, where Norfolk Southern's detonation of a train filled with vinyl chloride has poisoned the town's waterways and left residents wondering if they have to permanently relocate. While there, Loffredo learns of private police and environmental consultants paid by Norfolk Southern to enforce the corporation's narrative of a successful clean-up.

Thanks for the OT. Your plant starts look great, and you're well ahead of us.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 3:53am

Companies with Private Police

@Lookout
Why am I not surprised? That was a good video from the GrayZone, thank you! I hate how our infrastructure is getting so worn out. I hate how good jobs for people who don't/can't go to college, good working jobs like my grandparents had, are totally gone in all the gouging and price cutting.

So, our peppers and tomatoes are coming up now, about 12 hours after I said they weren't. I swear they stuck their peppery and tomatoey tongues out and me and said, 'See!!!!'.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 8:41am

When I worked for Penn Central

the freights had a caboose on the back
the double headers had 2 engineers, one for each locomotive
and a brakeman in the rear. One of our jobs as a section gang
was to watch the wheel bearing boxes of the cars, looking for
smoke as it passed. Then report sightings. That was 50 years ago.

Now, they have sensors set along the tracks every few miles to
check for 'hot boxes' and relay the potential problems electronically.
Which, in theory, is more efficient. Provided a crew checks the sensors
periodically, and signals are responded to by the dispatchers.

To squeeze maximum profits, steps taken for safe freight movement
are being skipped or overlooked. Track maintenance is being neglected,
skelton crews are stretched too thin and engine / freight cars are not
inspected or serviced in a safe interval.

If the Department of Transportation enforced tighter regulations and steep
fines for non-complance, the operators could be held more accountable.
Pretty big if with people like Mayo Pete in charge.

Coal looks like a cool goat.

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:01am

Wow, didn't know you'd worked on the rails...

@QMS
Long time ago, yea, but so very cool. Much respect. I think of jobs, workers, like that as so important to our society. I hate how the jobs are kinda disrespected and put aside. The train in the Ohio wreck was apparently throwing sparks from one carriage's wheel(s) for a bit. There some blurry footage of it going by a stationary camera showing that. But, it wasn't dealt with in time.

We need much more enforcement of the rules and regulations. But Mayo Pete ain't a-gonna do that.

Coal's a very good goat, you got that right!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:16am

Just as accident in Ohio or something more evil?

Deep state absolutely wants to kill you

Award-winning journalist Alex Newman, author of the popular books “Deep State” and “Crimes of the Educators,” predicted at the beginning is this year that the Deep State demons will have one crisis after another to keep people confused and afraid. The latest crisis is the economic and ecological disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Newman says expect many more disasters and explains, “All across the country we are seeing very bizarre things happen. Factories and chemical plants going up in flames, food processing facilities blowing up, airplanes crashing in mysterious ways, and I think we are heading into an era of really serious crisis. Last summer, I was putting together the wave of crises that the Deep State was preparing for us, and one of the terms I used was ‘polycrisis.’ Then, right before the World Economic Forum meeting this year, they actually put on their website is 2023 the year of the polycrisis? Of course, it will be the year of the polycrisis. I think we are prepared and being groomed for cyber-attacks, currency crisis, economic crisis and, of course, Russia/Ukraine and China/Taiwan. I think all of this is going to be used for a series of never-ending crises until we are ready to give up our freedoms, give up our national sovereignty and self-government, and move towards this crazy totalitarian, technocratic system they want.”

Newman says it’s not going to be a kind transition for most people. Newman says, “The thing that is so hard for people to understand is that there are very powerful people that are working together, and they absolutely want to kill you. That is not speculation. These people have been openly saying for a century that they believe there are too many people on this planet. . . . The eugenics movement never died. Margaret Sanger, the Rockefellers, Dr. Joseph Mengele was funded by the Rockefeller dynasty. These people are very much still around. Bill Gates is the perfect example. His dad was on the board of Planned Parenthood, the largest butcher of unborn babies in America. . . . Bill Gates says openly and frequently that there are too many people on this planet. He wants to use vaccines and healthcare to reduce the number of people on the planet.”

Has there ever been so many food processing plants burning or huge factories burning or all the other things that have been burning just these last few years? Yesterday in Columbus Ohio another huge fire with plumes of black smoke being poured into the air.

The economy is being rigged against us too. Last year blackrock said that it had $50 billion to buy up homes and then Powell moved to help them out. He raised interest rates so that first time buyers couldn’t afford to buy the over priced homes, but that allowed blackrock to buy them with cash and taking even more houses off the market that they started doing after Obama told them to start doing. So all that’s left for people to afford are the gawd ugly apartments that are all connected to the smart system that is another tool for WEF to use against us.

Once is an accident, twice is suspicious, 3 times it’s a coordinated attack.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:26am

That’s right Sean you have no clue

about how we overthrew Ukraine’s president and installed not only a puppet one, but also supported the same Nazis of WW2 to start killing Russian people who refused to accept the new regime.

Sean Penn and Wolf Blitzer.

Propaganda that would make even Goebbels blush with embarrassment. #Pennlensky pic.twitter.com/Y5fWxqV3FG

— Patrick Henningsen (@21WIRE) March 1, 2023

Nor are you aware that we had been arming Ukraine and creating the biggest fighting force in Europe to fight Russia when we pushed them too far that it threatened the existence of their country. Maybe if you did some studying into this issue you might get that clue that you don’t have. Just a thought. Same goes for all the people thinking that Ukraine is blameless in this.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by studentofearth on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 1:01pm

Sean has been in Ukraine on and off since the start

@snoopydawg and at times providing significant encouragement. He does not get a free pass for being ignorant of the lives lost and destroyed by now turning on those he helped create a positive image.

Three months ago.

Thanks for the earlier clip. I would not have seen it if not posted here. It appears US is shaping the narrative for another Bad Guy to blame the fiasco in Ukraine.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:51pm

I guess it is obvious who is the better actor.

@studentofearth

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:08am

This!

@studentofearth
'It appears US is shaping the narrative for another Bad Guy to blame the fiasco in Ukraine.' Completely agree with you.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:06am

Sean Penn

@snoopydawg
Is icky and embarrassing. Why do people pay such attention to an actor? I don't get it. But as your comment above points out, it's one thing after another to grab our attentions and distract us. Penn's doing the same, even if he thinks he's doing 'right', the media and establishment are using him to distract us, to get us to agree with whatever it is Penn thinks because Penn was so great in -insert some movie title here-.

Thanks for the comment!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by humphrey on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 1:46pm

A brief summation of the the G-20 meeting.

#BREAKING US Sec. of State Blinken says he told Russian counterpart Lavrov during brief meeting: 'End this war of aggression' pic.twitter.com/X2pQRw5LxF

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 2, 2023

“I would like to apologize to the Indian presidency & colleagues from the global South for the indecent behavior of a number of Western delegations, who turned the G20 into a farce in an attempt to shift their responsibility for failures in economic policy to others.” — Lavrov pic.twitter.com/PwGakTn0p1

— pocalypsis pocalypseos (@apocalypseos) March 2, 2023

China opposes the US’ sale of weapons worth $619 million to Taiwan island, which violates the one-China principle and sabotages peace & stability across the Taiwan Straits. China urges the US to stop playing with fire, said the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. pic.twitter.com/LCSbnzVO0S

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 2, 2023

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:33pm

Comparing the 3 statements @ G20

@humphrey

Russia - apologies for mockery by the west
US - ? - end this war of aggression!
China - sabotages peace & stability across the Taiwan Straits

There are reasoned spokesmen and there is Blinken.
As the world watches ..

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:10am

Blinken sucks...

@QMS
There I said it .

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:12am

I gotta wonder...

@humphrey
when is a war not aggression? Hmm, Blinken? I mean, I guess there can be a 'war' of peace? Really? I dunno. The definition of war seems... aggressive.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:50pm

Great goat pic!

And your starters are looking great.
I am watching a Discovery video about the Alamo. It is Texas Independence Day, so we are observing some mighty incredible history as a h/t to the state.
I am awaiting a chat with my vet on the condition and future of the oldest outdoor cat evah. She was eating and drinking, but wobbly, hardly able to sit or stand without falling.
It was so sudden.
Depending on my mood, I will watch the video you linked, Sima.
Thanks for the OT, as always.
Edit/update: My Angel Cat had cancer. She left this world with a full stomach of her favorite food, hugs from everyone at the office.
RIP, Angel Cat.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:53pm

Condolences. At least she had a happy tummy.

@on the cusp

be well and have a good one all the same.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 3:36pm

We are burying her at the office

@enhydra lutris in one of her favorite spots to take naps in the sun.
The sweetest, not a mean bone in her body, cat I have ever known.
The horror of this will hit me later. I am still in shock.
I hope you are weathering the weather, friend.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 4:00pm

sorry about the cat

@on the cusp

happy are the days you remember her as content
sleep well friend

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 4:43pm

Thanks, Q.

@QMS A week ago, I had a friend haul off an old compressor. It had been sitting on a cement pad. Hubby put the pad over her grave. We will blow up one of her pictures, put it on the pad, cover it with shellac.
This is gonna make me cry, but we could tell where her favorite nap spot was. The grass was pressed down, just in her shape and size.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 4:50pm

Good remeberence location

@on the cusp @on the cusp

We generally cremate, then spread the cremains in the spots back in the woods
where they would play hunter and attack us and other unsuspecting prey.
Funny little critters.

Submitted by mhagle on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:13am

so sorry ...

@on the cusp

... about your kitty ...

—

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:18am

The goat is a good little guy!

@on the cusp
I'm so sorry about your cat. She had food and love when she went over the rainbow bridge, and that is a loving and wonderful thing you did for her.

The Alamo brings to mind a song, but all I can hear in my mind is the refrain, and I can't remember the singer! Sheez. Getting old, or, I'll blame it on stress, yea, that's it, stress!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:50pm

Good afternoon Sima. Great picture of the smoke

from the bomb train against the clouds. Nice goat too, though i'm really more of a cat, bird, or snake person (I know, not a good combo). I'm always impressed by folks with flats of started seeds. Pretty much never succeed at that myself.

be well and have a good one.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:24am

Yea, that pic from above really struck me

@enhydra lutris
I searched to see if it was 'real' since it was first posted on reddit or whatever. And it is real.

I wasn't sure I'd like goats either, until we got them. I'd had horses when young, loved them very much. I wanted to use draft horses on the farm, but never got beyond learning how to harness them, drive them, etc. I tend to like all animals, even coyotes! And bald eagles (one killed one of our chickens yesterday!)

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 11:19am

Must've been one hungry eagle, their food preferences are

@Sima

more or less carrion fish they steal from ospreys, fish they catch, small mammals and only then birds.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:50pm

Hungry Indeed

@enhydra lutris
Around this time of year, they start going after chickens. Our neighbors raise meat chickens in those moveable chicken coops (coops on wheels) and they are free range. They had chickens taken by eagles about 5 to 10 times or more a year. Once, early in the morning, I saw a bald eagle swoop down, ignore their eagle deterrents (flags, anchored kites, sails, and lights and so on), grab a chicken and fly off over the field towards my house. Now, the neighbors put netting over the free range area of their moveable coop. They also have a pet goose, which helps tons. Like a rooster the pet goose gives warning when an eagle is coming in.

We had two chickens get attacked by eagles, and then eviscerated right outside their coop (our chickens are free range too) a few years ago. We've got a rooster now, and he does his job well, but the chicken we lost a couple days ago was a separatist, and insisted on nesting outside the coop. She hated the rooster and was a loner who would never be around the other chickens. And of course, there's the ode I wrote about Jaska fighting off the bald eagle which one of our now departed roosters was battling. It's here from a year or so ago: https://caucus99percent.com/content/open-thread-thurs-10-feb-2022-someth... .

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by mhagle on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:16am

loved your pics

Especially your cute goat and plants!

What do you use for starter soil?

—

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:30am

Starter soil

@mhagle
When I do the seedlings in the flats, I use commercially bought, organic, planting soil. I don't care if it's for outdoor or indoor plants, it needs to be 'sterile', and it must be organic. Then, as soon as the seedlings leave the flats for bigger pots, they get planted in the soil we've created in our compost heaps. That soil mixes composted goat manure with everything else from the garden/farm, like clippings, rotten veggies, old plants, rakings, lawn mowings, etc. It's all organic, once again. We use no non-organic chemicals on the farm. We do, at times, use plant feed, like organic Miracle-Gro, for plants that live their whole lives in pots (generally 8 or 10 inch pots) such as tomatoes and peppers. It's too cold here to get a good harvest if we plant those outside, so they go into a hoop house we built out of pvc pipes and greenhouse plastic.

For some reason we are pretty dang successful with starting seedlings. I don't know why, entirely. But, I'm not gonna refuse the luck!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by mhagle on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:37am

Thank you so much for sharing your soil tips!

@Sima

I will remember them for next year. This year I am already deep into my current "hail mary" projects. They are far far away from your noble efforts, which have been yielding great results for many years I'm sure. I'll let you know if I have success.

—

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 7:14pm

I bet you are successful!

@mhagle
I would not be at all surprised if your "hail mary" projects work out great!

One of the things I've found is that the soil the seedling is planted into doesn't have to be sterile but the soil the seeds are put into does. We used to try to sterilize our own compost but... it's a real pain in the keyster. Heh.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by randtntx on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 3:31pm

I finally watched

that Alvarez video you posted. You're right, it was worth the time, thanks. The thing that strikes me as so sad is that there was a chance that this disaster may have been prevented. If the railroad workers would have been awarded the contract that they were demanding for a safe workplace this may have been averted. They were asking for an increase in number of staff, an increase in equipment inspections, an increase in days off for illness. All those things are necessary for a safe, healthy workforce. It's just common sense.

By forcing the workers to accept a bad contract, the White House and the Congress ensured dangerous working conditions and so are culpable in this horrific accident.

The person in the video who was being interviewed asked the pointed (rhetorical) question..."where are we as a country when we allow corporations to dictate to the regulatory bodies what they will and won't do".

Here is an article in WSWS that makes a similar point:

Railroad workers have long understood that ruthless cost-cutting to increase the profits of the rail industry—already the most profitable in the country—made a disaster like this inevitable. That was a main reason why they voted last year by 99 percent to strike. The response of the Biden administration and both political parties, however, was to join forces to ban a strike and impose a sellout contract. The impact of this will be even more job losses and even more cuts, which will make conditions on the railroads even worse.

It is constantly claimed that there is never enough money to pay for basic social needs such as housing, health care and workplace safety. However, when it comes to bailing out the rich or financing the ever expanding wars waged by the United States abroad, hundreds of billions of dollars can be found by the Democrats and Republicans without a second thought.
In the railroad industry, billions of dollars in profits are wasted on share buybacks every year—that is, it is funneled into the bank accounts of the hedge funds that control the companies. This money comes from ever-greater exploitation of the working class.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/03/02/rail-m02.html

A couple of articles in Naked Capitalism makes a strong case for the idea that same unsafe workplace noted above is the problem:

Railroad workers on the ground understood the hot box issue, understood how trains are built (“blocking”), and understood the effects of Norfolk Southern’s vicious speedup, Precision Scheduled Railroading, which has slashed headcount by 30%, cutting maintenance generally, and cutting inspections which might have prevented it.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/lever_news_silences_workers_voic...

A possible solution noted in another Naked Capitalism article as well as in the WSWS article, suggest making railways publicly owned.

At least one railroad union was suggested nationalization. From Governing:
Last month, Railroad Workers United (RWU), an umbrella advocacy group for rail-industry union workers, did something it’s talked about doing for 10 years: It called for the sprawling network of rail infrastructure in North America to be publicly owned.
The reasons why, according to a resolution adopted by RWU’s international steering committee, include the railroad companies’ hostility to workers’ unions, steady reductions of workforce over the years, disinvestment in railway infrastructure and an obsessive focus on profits over service.
Other countries, including Japan, China and parts of Europe, have extensive, high-functioning rail networks that are publicly controlled, RWU members note. And they say public ownership of other transportation infrastructure in the U.S. shows there’s no inherent reason why railroad tracks should be private.
“I don’t think it’s too radical to think that this can be done in a different way,” Grooters says. “To create the railroads, there was a lot of public investment that made that happen. Right now that’s being liquidated.”

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/how-precision-scheduled-railroad...

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 7:24pm

Wow, this is a great comment!

@randtntx
I've read one of the posts you linked to (the wsws, but not the ones at Naked Capitalism. I'm heading over there now to read them. I can't disagree with anything you've said in this great comment. Publicly own railroads would be great. I was so pissed off when Britain privatized their railroads. And you can frapping tell now, 30 or so years later. Public owned was so much better!

Thanks for such an awesome addition to this post!

that Alvarez video you posted. You're right, it was worth the time, thanks. The thing that strikes me as so sad is that there was a chance that this disaster may have been prevented. If the railroad workers would have been awarded the contract that they were demanding for a safe workplace this may have been averted. They were asking for an increase in number of staff, an increase in equipment inspections, an increase in days off for illness. All those things are necessary for a safe, healthy workforce. It's just common sense. By forcing the workers to accept a bad contract, the White House and the Congress ensured dangerous working conditions and so are culpable in this horrific accident. The person in the video who was being interviewed asked the pointed (rhetorical) question..."where are we as a country when we allow corporations to dictate to the regulatory bodies what they will and won't do". Here is an article in WSWS that makes a similar point: Railroad workers have long understood that ruthless cost-cutting to increase the profits of the rail industry—already the most profitable in the country—made a disaster like this inevitable. That was a main reason why they voted last year by 99 percent to strike. The response of the Biden administration and both political parties, however, was to join forces to ban a strike and impose a sellout contract. The impact of this will be even more job losses and even more cuts, which will make conditions on the railroads even worse. It is constantly claimed that there is never enough money to pay for basic social needs such as housing, health care and workplace safety. However, when it comes to bailing out the rich or financing the ever expanding wars waged by the United States abroad, hundreds of billions of dollars can be found by the Democrats and Republicans without a second thought. In the railroad industry, billions of dollars in profits are wasted on share buybacks every year—that is, it is funneled into the bank accounts of the hedge funds that control the companies. This money comes from ever-greater exploitation of the working class. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/03/02/rail-m02.html A couple of articles in Naked Capitalism makes a strong case for the idea that same unsafe workplace noted above is the problem: Railroad workers on the ground understood the hot box issue, understood how trains are built (“blocking”), and understood the effects of Norfolk Southern’s vicious speedup, Precision Scheduled Railroading, which has slashed headcount by 30%, cutting maintenance generally, and cutting inspections which might have prevented it. https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/lever_news_silences_workers_voic... A possible solution noted in another Naked Capitalism article as well as in the WSWS article, suggest making railways publicly owned. At least one railroad union was suggested nationalization. From Governing: Last month, Railroad Workers United (RWU), an umbrella advocacy group for rail-industry union workers, did something it’s talked about doing for 10 years: It called for the sprawling network of rail infrastructure in North America to be publicly owned. The reasons why, according to a resolution adopted by RWU’s international steering committee, include the railroad companies’ hostility to workers’ unions, steady reductions of workforce over the years, disinvestment in railway infrastructure and an obsessive focus on profits over service. Other countries, including Japan, China and parts of Europe, have extensive, high-functioning rail networks that are publicly controlled, RWU members note. And they say public ownership of other transportation infrastructure in the U.S. shows there’s no inherent reason why railroad tracks should be private. “I don’t think it’s too radical to think that this can be done in a different way,” Grooters says. “To create the railroads, there was a lot of public investment that made that happen. Right now that’s being liquidated.” https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/how-precision-scheduled-railroad...

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by randtntx on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 3:39pm

I meant to add

Sorry about the stress of repeated ER trips. I know what that is like as we did the same thing several months ago with my MIL. Those trips are always stressful and for us seem always to turn into all-nighters...so they are exhausting as well. My condolences, I hope things work out OK.

Your veggie starts look fabulous...kudos. And that goat!
Hang in there through the thick and thin...and thanks for the OT.

Submitted by Sima on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 7:21pm

Our ER trips end up being overnighters too...

@randtntx
It's nuts. I'm sorry you've had to go through this as well. The stress is crazy. I bought 4 candy bars today, just because. I won't eat them, but heck, just in case I need to eat to get ease the stress they can stay in the cupboard and relax me every time I see them

Thanks for the comments, and the tomatoes and peppers are up! Things grow even in times of stress and exhaustion.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by randtntx on Sat, 03/04/2023 - 9:40pm

I may

@Sima , have to try your candy bar in the cupboard trick. I think though the strategy would backfire on me and I'd eat all the damn candy bars and then still be stressed!

That's good on your tomatoes and peppers! We're late with tomatoes this season so we went and bought a few plants. I do have a few hot pepper plants that seem to have made it through the winter. I was hoping they would perennialize (not sure that is even a word) and it looks like they might. Three cheers for Mother Nature and veggies that grow.

Thanks for your kind words above. Hope things calm down for you and you can relax a bit asap.