WalMart wants truckers working 16 hour days loud

BlackWater Better in what way? Given all the factors as they exist, trucks best trains in many ways that might not be true if some of the factors were changed.

That's probably not linear.

People might not run the tracks when the train is coming if they had more trains to deal with, saw what happens more on the news when you do run the tracks but get unlucky.

Of course there would be more money available to fix crossings if there were more trains to pay for them.

Ever hear the Seattle Mariners home games?

This is true. Of course rail cars can be made more robust than those on the road, to whatever degree is likely to be needed. Instant communication to all engines to stop all trains in the area if there is a derailment is clearly needed.

As long as the train isn't hit by another going the opposite direction, this should be containable.

They make that argument against gasoline pipelines but clearly over time the pipelines are safer, even allowing for the occasional megafire.

We've repeatedly seen problems on our interstates which take out all the lanes in one direction, and when flammable or toxic materials are involved, all the lanes in all directions. Blocking all the lanes of I-5 for day is not good for the economy and that's just a point source, one tanker truck and a sleepy driver.

I don't think so. If you could put your car on the train and take a trip, even one of 60 miles, that would be one less car on the roads. Trains could be used to make a major dent in the long haul traffic on our interstates. Trains can also use combined grid electrical power and generated power on board allowing the train to start up using power from the grid and slow down generating power to the grid.

-- Personal accounts are good because they lessen the liability against future taxes of the retiree while sequestering the funds he's been paying in so they cannot be used to mask current general fund deficits.