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The last thing that America needs in the way of transportation is even fewer options.
That was made clear millions of times earlier this month when a video of a man being forcibly dragged off an airliner caught the nation's attention. The video was viewed millions of times just online. It was also all over the network and cable news for days.
How many people vowed to take the train after viewing that hideous, bungled removal of a paid fare? It didn't help the airlines, that's for certain.
Bus service in this country has been shrinking for years, and lately subsidies for airlines that serve small rural towns are drying up.
Now, or rather, once again we should say, Amtrak passenger service is being thrown on the chopping block. This time by President Donald Trump.
As reported in Saturday's edition: "The Empire Builder is among several Amtrak routes that appear to have been targeted in a proposal in (President Donald) Trump's budget, Amtrak officials said. If Congress agrees with what the Trump administration has indicated, there would be no service - no train."
No train? On the contrary, now more than ever we need Amtrak long-distance train service. In fact, we say improve Amtrak, don't kill it. It's easy to tear things down; hard to resurrect infrastructure once it is neglected. Already vital to U.S. citizens living in the heartland, Amtrak must be improved to attract even more riders. The loss of passenger trains is still unthinkable, it's too soon for that.
Ironically, the latest assault on Amtrak comes from a president who preaches jobs, jobs, jobs. And there are many, many, many at stake - direct and indirect jobs from coast to coast and throughout America.
Trump is wrong this time.