Former White House Chief of staff and current Major of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, was once reportedly quoted as saying “You never let a serious crisis go to waste; and what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” The recent and horrendous AMTRAK train accident provides another example of this perverted sentiment.
Just last week, Senators, Congressman, and even the President referred to the accident as highlighting the need for increased AMTRAK infrastructure spending.
The reality is that the derailed train was traveling more than 55 miles per hour faster than the track was designed to carry, which means that the accident had nothing to do with whether or not the AMTRAK’s infrastructure is falling into disrepair. That is a separate question.
To use the horrific accident as justification to achieve some political goal is just reprehensible. Such statements by our politicians call attention to clouded thinking in our leadership, because it puts a political ideology over facts. It puts self-interest over public interest.
How do we know when to take these politicians seriously?
Shame on them for trying to capitalize on someone else’s tragedy.