Gosh, Jeff, don't start blaming the Tea Party, it opnes the door to blaming Bush. Metra is a govenment run transportation system, is it not? Board members appointed, likely a nice perk for some support, is it not? Its Illinois, the state that lays claim to more governors sent, or to be sent to the big house in the past, what fifty, sixty years, than have not? Illinois, vote early, vote often, pay to play, etc. etc. etc.. Now, if you want to fault the Tea Party -try to note the sarcasm- why not try the Illinois Toll Commission, or the Illinois Lottery where all funds were to support schools -remember that pledge? Jeff, its Illinois.

To answer your question "can it get any worse?" Yes, it can and could if we don't have any Metra at all or if only the commuters pay for their own service. We live in a community and benefit from services such as Metra and schools and roads whether we use them or not. I think that overall Metra does a good job. The trains are clean, are dependable and make it possible for people who live in Geneva to have a job in Chicago and be able to get there without spending two hours on some tollway or another or even go to a Cubs game without having to buy their car back in parking fees.

The tea party should like public transportation because it is labor intensive, think of the jobs Metra creates. Look out the train window and see all the Union Pacific workers keeping the tracks maintained.

We should blame ouselves for electing corrupt officials who appoint corrupt officials and governors who believe you can have a balanced budget by giving alot of old ladies free rides. I can say that because I am an old lady.

You either willfully or unintentionally misunderstand what the Tea Party movement is about ---- federalism. States and localities are allowed to make their own decisions since we have (relatively speaking) more direct representation (ie: can we vote the bastards out? If not, shame on us for allowing them to set up a structure where they're unaccountable.) So if this were a poorly run federal transportation system, hemorrhaging billions of dollars annually (any come to mind?), then the Tea Party would be more likely to be active.

This reminds me of the light rail in Minneapolis / St. Paul, which runs from the airport north into the city and a little bit south to the Mall of Conspicuous Consumption. They've got payment kiosks everywhere, but not turnstiles, and apparently few if any personnel checking people for tickets. So you can walk right on the train, go anywhere you need to, and get off. It appears only tourists and visitors (like me) are dumb enough to actually pay.

So if you want CTA-type turnstiles and thousands more Union employees taking tickets, checking tickets, searching bags, frisking kids and little old ladies - that can be arranged; indeed, one political party would love such apparatus. I believe the sane among us would prefer the present arrangement, and yes, I'll turn you in if I see you aren't paying.

Patrick,

Then Tea Party is about their own self interest and fear of black president. That's it! Nothing more.

Jeff

When you blame the Tea Party you are blaming like minded individuals that have had enough of elected officials spending their money without regard to the best interest of those individuals. The Tea Party was not formed by one person or party but just plain people that will no longer let the "government" waste their hard earned money on programs and entitlements that benefit only a few. I would not blame any one political party, but I find the following comment by Mr. Ward.... "Instead, they embrace deadbeat dads like Congressman Joe Walsh and focus all their vitriol and righteous indignation on the president." very telling of where his perspective originates. Maybe the people that voted in the current Illinois administration and the federal admininstration should take a close look at their leaders. They are wasting our money at the speed of light and that light is landing on solar panels and other democrat supported money pits. The Tea Party is just shining a bright light on the corruption that is our government. Look out the window today at the trees blowing, that is the winds of change coming.

Metra held their fares even during the go-go years as ridership increased, the number of cars and staff remained the same. Once the economy slowed, ridership dropped off dramatically. But their expenses remained about the same. No doubt a fair increase is overdue, and 30% is whopping. Good politics would increase it 10% a year for 3 years in a row, it wouldn't stand out as a sore thumb so bad then.

Glenn,

Excellent point! Apparently Metra took a cue from the Tollway folks!

Jeff

“Can this possibly get any worse?”

Yeah, you could be stuck driving and paying for downtown parking. The new CEO is raising fares so Metra won't need to worry about whether to ask you about raising taxes. Other results from that survey included that most people would rather pay higher fares than risk any cuts.

And as for the fare collection, for us folks that don't go all the way downtown, given that each conductor is responsible for several cars and doesn't always have time to completely scan all their cars between each and every stop, there's a bit of an honor system going on. The conductors typically try to keep an eye on who is getting on at these stops, but with the number of people getting on and off at the busier stops, they can't possibly catch 100% of them, especially when somebody asks them a question. I'm a regular so I know my usual conductors and their patterns and they recognize me. I try to sit near the car where they usually open the doors so they can check my pass when I'm disembarking to give them one less thing to worry about. But yeah, if they wanted to, a non regular could bum a free ride for a short trip. Without putting up CTA like turnstyles before getting to the platforms or hiring a conductor for every car, there's a bit of good faith going on that everybody pays.

Jeff,
You might follow this link. I think you will find it refreshing and may just make you think.
http://hermancain.wildfireplat​form.com/
Dave

This discussion reminds me of my surprise when I rode the U-Bahn in Munich. I was amazed that it runs on the honor system. There are ticket machines that allow you to buy tickets, get on, ride to your destination, and get off without anyone checking if you paid. Did I also mention that it was very clean, no graffiti, anywhere. Now, I am not suggesting we follow the path of European government. Their taxes are quite a bit higher than ours. Have you seen the gas prices in Europe? However, I do wish our citizens would start respecting their homeland. Enough blaming parties from the past or present. Americans need to work together and not against each other. It is unfortunate that Metra may need to hire more staff to check tickets, or that employees have been taking advantage of the system. I do not feel it is wrong for Metra to suggest that riders should make sure their tickets are clipped. You want prices to remain the same, pay your way, and be a good American.

Ward:
So what is your point here? There was a problem about uncollected fares that is being addressed by METRA...and you hack them for it? And along the way you take swipes at the Tea Party for...what? Not acting as fare monitors on the 6:00 a.m. Express?
Frankly, your writing style leaves a lot to be desired, and seems mostly aimed at eliciting reactions... so you can respond and see your name in print again. The last brilliant work of yours on internet anonymity proves my point: at one stage your responses accounted for nearly 30% of the comments.
(By the way, a key to your personality was contained in the first lines of that column, where you admitted wanting to know what someone had said about you in a deleted comment. Really, Jeff? Skin too thin?)
Your "raging curmudgeon" act has had its day; no one can take you seriously when in column after column you're incensed - not thoughtful, not balanced...just always mad as hell whether the subject is fire pits, train fares, or teenage girls.
Whatever credibility you had is gone as a result of your indiscriminate rants.

Jeff,

First your full name thing is an arrogant joke. I'm on here posting complaints against the teacher's union, and yes, I fear, and would expect, discrimination and retaliation against those that 'buck the union', or their children. (see Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey).

Second to pull the tea party into your editorial is just a reach. You can thank the Tea Party for helping stop un-needed Bullet Trains boondoggles in Wisconsin and Ohio. Joe Walsh?? Are you kidding?? But I noticed you didn't mention, "where are the Democrats" who actually control this state, and approve of and implement these type of wasteful systems. It was a good editorial up until that point. Then you jumped the shark.

Third - The fares should be raised high enough so taxpayers can stop subsidizing an antiquated industry. It should be supported by fees of those who use it.

Thanks,

Theodore Clarence Bartkowski

Dear Ted,

It's not a reach at all! Remember, I'm not blaming the Tea Party for What's going on at Meta. What I'm saying is, if they were consistent, this is exactly the kind of thing they should be protesting.

And, Ted, I take on the Democrats all the time. Here's a prime example:

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/ward/6267110-418/foster-wed-like-to-miss-you-for-a-change.html

Though Illinois Democrats exemplify why it's the part of the Jackass. The folks that appoint the Metra board are generally collar county chairmen who are all Republicans! Which may be another reason the Tea Party ignores Metra.

Jeff

Dave,

If the Illinois and national Tea Party organizations back Herman Cain, I will publicly recant my statement that they're generally racist.

But the basic problem still exists. Carpentersville Trustee Allen Skillicorn is one of the very few Tea Partiers I've ever heard say, "We have to act locally first and we have to be willing to take on Republicans who stray."

If I start seeing something like that, I'll be the first one to enlist!

Jeff

See, this is Jeff's problem. He tries to foster an interesting discussion, even offers his sometimes provocative point of view. But then he goes what is usually one ridiculous step too far either with an overly broad conclusion (for which there is no reasonable alternative in his opinion) or with a nonsequitur point that takes the entire discussion in a different direction that is not at all (and, at best, tangentially) related to the article's topic.

What was supposed to be a thought provoking article about Metra is now a dialogue about the tea party and racism? Why? Because Jeff just can't help himself.

Those issuing his paycheck might want to do a performance review.

Last I checked, nobody asked your opinion Duncan Idaho. You are obviously glued to every article Jeff writes so admit it, you love his work.

I'm an investor in AOL, and I'm concerned by your reckless behavior and the bizarre desire for you to drive readership from the sites. Indeed, I believe the purpose of blogs was to generate opinion an thought, but you and the other guy have reduced the site to a junior high blog. It is not personal Jim, it is about business. If AOL does not own the site any longer (or never did) then my apologies.

The results of your opinion/poll up above speak volumes.

The bigger question here is why is an ad salesman for the Patch jumping in - especially one with as aggressive an attitude as Hankes? I think his time would be better spent taking care of his own responsibilities...as in taking down the ad for the long-finished Kane County Fair and making sure the businesses pictured on the home page exist. (T-Bone restaurant and Mr. Beef & Gyros were recently featured; can Rex's Cork and Fork be far behind?)
If the Patch wants to shove Ward at people 5 times a week, that's their call. But many of us feel that's way too much of his ax-grinding and childish ranting. Having someone who sells ads, supposedly to influence us readers, post insults to non-Ward worshipers seems an odd tactic.

It's amazing how quickly a discussion about costly flaws in the METRA management system has turned into an ad hominem argument, which I assume that everyone knows is a fallacy in and of itself.

And we wonder why there is such vitriol in our public discourse. Perhaps we would be able to accomplish more if we always try to place principals above personalities.

I've been on half filled trains where no conductor was visible in my car between Geneva and Chicago. Not good, obviously, but also not limited to government.

For some reason over the last 50 years or so it has become fashionable to blame government for all of our problems. This is neither accurate nor fair. After all, government is us in the US. We are responsible, not some foreign entity over which we have no control. And I would propose that government institutions are no more inefficient or crooked than private enterprise.

Some bureaucracies are efficient and do a wonderful job, some don't. Same with business. After all, it is generally acknowledged that fast and loose (and illegal?) business practices got us into this economic mess.

It might be well to conclude that human institutions, in and of themselves, are fallible. They are also fixable. Can we concentrate on doing that instead of just calling each other names?

You are absolutely correct in your observations. However, as I understand it, Jeff is just doing his job: making as many people as possible angry in order to draw readers and, bottom line, increase the Patch's bottom line.

The media in general have a long and maybe not so distinguished tradition of doing this. Witness John Kass in the Trib and his predecessor, Mike Royko. Also Fox News and MSNBC. Not to mention William Randolph Hurst.

All that I am saying is that we don't have to play that game. We readers can base our comments on ideas and facts as we understand them without resorting to personal attacks.

As my Mom was fond of saying (about a million times) "Just because someone else does it does not mean that you have to do it too". Someday I hope to start following her advice.

I have to agree with Jeff on the fact that the Tea Party is missing in action on the local issues. You would think that at state,county and city level the Tea Party could have an impact but instead they seem focused on the national issues. For many of us the taxes and fees at the local levels of government have a bigger impact on us then the federal taxes.
Consider the out cry for our elected officials to read the bill before passing the healthcare law. Have you ever followed a local issue and asked questions about some bill that is being voted on? In my experince the same failure to "read the bill" is taking place at the local level but where is the outrage?
Jeff's columns are a little like going to Ed Debevic's. It is as much about the snappy insults the wait staff dish out as it is about the food.

Metra is an accident prone mismanaged commuter rail line that has paid out hundreds of millions in legal judgments and settlements, property damage, legal costs, and overtime to their locomotive engineers that often average more than 70 hours a week while working split rush hour shifts. Their trains have been involved in about 600 accidents, with hundreds killed or injured, over a recent 20 year period. START RUNNING A SAFER RAIL SYSTEM! Well rested engineers and two people in locomotive operating the train would be a good start.