On Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 12:18:43 PM UTC-4, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

> Ok, you can't keep repeating that. Anyway, stupidity isn't the explanation.
> If I had to go with a one-word simplistic explanation, I'd say cowardice:
> Fear of Washington in fighting and criticism if a signal death occurs
> that wouldn't have if FRA had stuck with American buff-strength standards
> instead of implementing European standards.

This is true.

If there is any tragedy, the government officials will be blamed and
punished.  So, it is there motivation to avoid tragedy, and thus we have
cover-your-butt attitudes and onerous regulation.  This applies to any
industry or service that is regulated.  
If, for example, some kid dies in foster care, then they'll issue lots of new
expensive and likely bad rules for foster care, which, in the end, will make
things worse.

At the same time, if there was sensible regulation and the industry was
economically healthy, there are no rewards for the bureaucrats for doing a
good job.


> Still, it's wrong to point the finger at FRA (and ICC before that).
> It's never really the administration's fault. It's Congress. The law
> authorizing the federal railroad safety regime fails to order that
> economics and safety with respect to transportation as a whole and not
> just on railroads to be considered. That's why the standards will
> always be counterproductive.
> FRA and ICC before that are doing what Congress demands.

Also true.

Further, after a tragedy, Congressmen like to jump into the fray and demand
additional regulations, regardless if those new rules make any sense or not.

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