The Government (Formerly G.E. Equipped PCCs)

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

DF Cramer wrote:

>     The citizens of the United States value their independence and one of
> the truest forms of independence is the private automobile.  With the
> personal form of transportation, we can go where we want to when we want to.
>     I live in rural Pennsylvania and a car is a necessity.

>
>     Until the mass transit systems of this country realize that not everyone
> works in downtown or fits the 9 to 5 schedule will they even begin to
> scratch the surface of profitability.  A new paradigm is needed.
>     Pittsburgh, a small city in the scheme of things, no longer has the
> majority of jobs in one area.

>  In times past, people used the trolleys as a means of spreading news and
> visiting with their friends and neighbors.  Today, on any given public mode
> of transportation , do not dare even look at another passenger.  Read your
> paper and ignore any and all inquiries.

>  There is no one to blame, we just happen to enjoy our freedom and I for
> one do not want to ever relinquish that.

And I, as a mass transit user and proponent must reply:

AMEN! Preach on, Brother Cramer!

I do not appreciate anyone attempting to legislate me into their idea of how to
live, what is good for me or what is best for society at large. It didn't work
in 1930s &'40s Germany, the Soviet Union nor will it work here. I find the bus a
relaxing way to travel when it is possible to use it. But the routings, headways
and schedules here are decided more by politcal considerations than by public
need.

We are about to get a monorail and perhaps some sort of guided rubber tired
busway system crammed down our throats. Light rail proposals are gently but
consistently evaded. Had this crowd been at the helm of PAT during the mid
1970's, there would have been Skybus.

The perimeters and definition of "monopoly" have been stretched and distorted
so much since the days of the "Robber Barons."

I would like to learn how the Feds managed to force private concerns such as St.
Louis Car, Pullman-Standard and their customers into these GE/WH equipment
splits on orders prior to 1942 and after 1945. Did they threaten to show a
conspiracy between, say,  the Railways and Westinghouse? Did they threaten to
pull or not award defense contracts to GE or WH if they didn't split orders?

Why didn't they tell GM or Ford they had to sell a certain percentage of
automobiles with Willys or Nash engines?  :-)  Ken J.