As far as we know (however, we have not done a complete survey) no government program, other than the Salt Lake Olympics, has ever made money. All one has to look at is the Post Office, which is now out of money, or the following article about Amtrak losing millions on food and beverages.
How in the bloody heck can we expect government to run a significantly more complex enterprise such as health care when they cannot run a fairly simple service such as food and drink on a train or taking a letter from point "A" to point "B"? It cannot be done and it will not be done. All the estimates will be understated and the costs will be 20-100 times the CBO estimates which already have tripled from the time of the debate and the law has not been fully implemented.
We must end ALL government service programs (Amtrak, ObamaCare, Post Office) that cannot be break even propositions. If it cannot take in the same amount that it spends (or less), it needs to be eliminated. If the service is important and can be profitable, then an entrepreneur will provide it.
Bottom line, we cannot continue to spend like drunken sailors and do "nice" things for people when they do not at least make money. It is time to thin the herd and lets start with the Post office, ObamaCare and Amtrak.
Conservative Tom
Amtrak lost $800M on cheeseburgers and soda
Taxpayers lost $833 million over the last decade on the food and beverages supplied by Amtrak, which managed to spend $1.70 for every dollar that received in revenue.
“Over the last ten years, these losses have amounted to a staggering $833.8 million,” said Rep.John Mica, R-Fla., in a statement previewing a House hearing today. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15. Riders pay $2.00 for a Pepsi, but each of these sodas costs the U.S. Treasury $3.40.”
"Amazon.com is currently selling 24-packs of 12 ounce Pepsi cans for $8.94 -- which averages to about 75 cents per can."
Amtrak President Joe Boardman tried encourage House investigators by telling them that last year's losses represent an improvement over previous years. "Our ongoing programs have certainly delivered measurable financial efficiencies," Boardman told Congress in his written testimony today. "In 2006, our food and beverage service recovered 49 percent of their costs. In 2011, these services recovered 59 percent of their costs," he testified.
The food service is legally obligated to break even, but Amtrak lost $84 million just last year. “The rail service’s food and beverage operation has 1,234 employees, and taking into account Amtrak’s $84.5 million loss last year, that’s $68, 476 per employee," Mica said.
“Over the last ten years, these losses have amounted to a staggering $833.8 million,” said Rep.John Mica, R-Fla., in a statement previewing a House hearing today. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15. Riders pay $2.00 for a Pepsi, but each of these sodas costs the U.S. Treasury $3.40.”
"Amazon.com is currently selling 24-packs of 12 ounce Pepsi cans for $8.94 -- which averages to about 75 cents per can."
Amtrak President Joe Boardman tried encourage House investigators by telling them that last year's losses represent an improvement over previous years. "Our ongoing programs have certainly delivered measurable financial efficiencies," Boardman told Congress in his written testimony today. "In 2006, our food and beverage service recovered 49 percent of their costs. In 2011, these services recovered 59 percent of their costs," he testified.
The food service is legally obligated to break even, but Amtrak lost $84 million just last year. “The rail service’s food and beverage operation has 1,234 employees, and taking into account Amtrak’s $84.5 million loss last year, that’s $68, 476 per employee," Mica said.
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