Google train wrecks, then click on images. You will not see pictures of every train wreck but you will see more pictures of train wrecks than enough. Train wrecks are not all that uncommon. We call them accidents but are they?
There is a specific cause for this one, the one earlier this month in Ohio. Actually there is more than one. And, it was not an accident. Most of these “accidents” were to be expected. There are identifiable culprits. The news is adequately covered with the plight of the victims and their community. So, this article will focus on the why, the how and the who . . . those responsible.
I’m going to say something that will rattle a quite a few readers. Not those familiar with where I’m coming from politically. A major culprit is capitalism – or at least those claiming to subscribe to that nonsense. WAIT!!! I view all ideologies as massive frauds. I find nothing appealing in capitalism, in socialism, in communism or any other such pretentious hogwash. All ideologies claim to have all of the answers. BS. None do. They are designed for, aimed at and adhered to by people too lazy or too limited to actually think. Now that you understand that I don’t play favorites among the various versions of intellectual garbage, let’s start pointing fingers.
Norfolk Southern, the corporation that owns the wreckage Is just one of the culprits. Why? Because the wreckage need not have happened. Perhaps the most common cause of these incidents are the brakes. Instead of using a somewhat more modern technology, these parasitic corporations rely on a braking system developed during the Civil War. Really? Absolutely. Experts says that the modern system would have greatly reduced the damage from the derailment.
Given that the other railroad corporations share the same willingness to sacrifice public health and safety for an extra nickel or dime, there massive derailments are common.
Who else is complicit? Well, there is America’s greatest grifter/liar, Donny the Rump. There was a regulation requiring the updating of the braking systems of trains. Little Donnie Trump revoked that regulation.
Republicans love to demonize regulations. The best synonym for the word regulations is protections. Are all regulations rational? No, but far and away most are needed to keep poisons out of out food, our air, our water. Airline passengers sometime benefit from regulations. People worshiping at the feet of the golden idol despise them because they cost money or prevent them from scamming and/or killing people.
What was Norfolk Southern’s initial response to the disaster they caused? They offered $25,000. No. Not to each person or family. That was $25,000 to the city of East Palestine, Ohio. Wow! $5 per person in that town. How many bottles of water will that cover? Complaints pushed them to offer $1,000 an “inconvenience” compensation. Nice gesture, huh? Would you sign away your right to sue them for that paltry sum? That company is run by vile scumbags, several scraping by on multi-million dollar incomes.
Their solution to elimination of the bulk of the toxic waste was to set it on fire and thereby indiscriminately polluting the air for a wide area after spilling a large portion to pollute the water.
Biden loves trains. So I wonder why, after two years in office, he has not addressed the problem as quickly as the Orange Clown performed his role.
If you found this educational, edifying, interesting or otherwise worth your time, this geezer would appreciate a little supplement to those Social Security checks, They forgot to factor in the cost of publishing a blog and a podcast. I would like to continue being able to afford my daily cup of coffee and pound of caviar.
Thank you,
Crawford
