Bah humbug! (Amtrak withdraws from Toys for Tots)

[NorthShore]

So why is it that the defense department can afford billions to spend on warships and militarization, but they can't spare a few bucks to pay for the costs of the train?

If the marines want a train, rather than a truck, let them pay for it.

 

[ehbowen]

Because the billions go to campaign donors and cronies of the congressional delegation. The actual servicemen themselves have to scrounge pens. rubber bands and paper clips every August before the end of the fiscal year rolls around. BTDT.

 

[akbrian]

Why doesn't Amtrak just top off this PR nightmare by sending all those kids a lump of coal?

 

[zephyr17]

Toys for Tots is an exercise in PR and branding.

Apparently Anderson wants Amtrak's brand image to be "Screw You!"

Wait, he came from the airlines. He wants the same brand image his former industry has. Makes sense.

 

[Blackwolf]

Toys for Tots is an exercise in PR and branding.

Apparently Anderson wants Amtrak's brand image to be "Scrooge You!"

Wait, he came from the airlines. He wants the same brand image his former industry has. Makes sense.

Fixed.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Speaking of political pressure and state partners, the plot thickens.

NY reps to Amtrak: Keep Toys for Tots train on track

A bipartisan trio of New York congressional representatives hopes Amtrak will reconsider its decision to cancel the Marine Corps Toys for Tots train that operated in parts of upstate for nearly two decades.

U.S. Reps. John Faso, Elise Stefanik and Paul Tonko sent a letter urging Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson to restore the Toys for Tots train.

It may not have teeth, but these are your state partners asking. If you turn them down, how will it look when you claim you want to work with and expand operations with your state partners? How will it look when you ran a "tulip special" at he request of one partner but you won't run a train for a charity and the Marines at the request of another state partner....particularly a partner that worked hard to help you secure 99 yr lease on a piece of railroad from a host?

 

[zephyr17]

Really making friends all over, isn't he?

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

Why doesn't Amtrak just top off this PR nightmare by sending all those kids a lump of coal?

well, Trump did promise to revive the coal industry. He would surely take the credit for taking this first step.

 

[LookingGlassTie]

Technically, Anderson may be a savvy businessman but he keeps showing that his PR skills suck. Amtrak might just be better for all the things he's doing but the optics are horrible.

 

[tricia]

Technically, Anderson may be a savvy businessman but he keeps showing that his PR skills suck. Amtrak might just be better for all the things he's doing but the optics are horrible.

Not just the "optics" but also the ethics are lacking.