[jeffbee]

I often advocate this position! The Union Pacific is surprisingly affordable and after you gain a controlling interest it's not as if you've just torched $80 billion, because you bought a valuable asset.

For the state of California to do a hostile takeover of the UPRR, spin off an operating company for the train part, and retain the rights of way while adjusting the attitudes of the executives, would save a large amount of money just by simplifying the High Speed Rail project. It would be well worth it and we can afford it.