Why Can’t We Ever Learn From Past Mistakes?

Like ours, the Canadian government is facing financial difficulties. So their Department of Finance is looking at selling off some government owned and government supported entities … such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the National Arts Centre.

(Picture for just a brief, horrible moment, what would happen if someone like Rupert Murdoch , the owner of Fox News, outbid eveyone else and took over our PBS!)

Included in their list for possible privatization is VIA Rail, Canada’s equivalent to our Amtrak.

This is a very bad idea.

Privatization does not, will not, cannot support a money-losing enterprise, and nowhere else in the world does a national passenger rail system make money.

Case in point: Ten years ago, the Mexican government privatized all the passenger rail service throughout the country. Today only one passenger train remains, running twice-daily from Chihuahua to Los Mochis through the scenic Copper Canyon. And it would almost certainly shut down without the tourists who pay top dollar to ride it.

Privatize VIA Rail? Stupid … short sighted … and destined to fail.

What the hell are they thinking??