Likely at about age eight, a kid learns the maxim 'people see and hear only what they want to see and hear'. JGK had difficulty accepting that maxim, and from the personalities I have 'known along the way' who have been associated with KALPUB, employment and otherwise, knowing that maxim is key to survival within that organization.
Further, and possibly relevant to this discussion, is the wide awareness that has developed only within this century, of the spectrum comprising the autistic disorder. This spectrum that was developed by Dr. Hans Asperger during the 1940's was likely only discussed within the mental health community at academic level and had hardly found its way into clinical practice during the 1960's.
But since this Forum is not directed to discussion of Clinical Psychology, let us redirect towards JGK and the contemporary railroad industry.
As we consider JGK's thoughts that when presented surely ired all interests within the industry, be they management or organized labor - and even hobbyists - let us remember where the industry has come since JGK's writings.
We have seen an industry in which the normal crew consist reduced from five MEN to two PERSONS.
We have seen the concept of one train handling one commodity operating with one origin and one destination spread from simply coal to an array of commodities, especially oil extracted from domestic sources known only to geologists when JGK wrote.
We have seen an industry that no longer has to petition a regulatory agency to change a rate to remain competitive but now an industry that can be proactive in marketing rates and services to customers.
We have seen the concept of intermodalism developed to such extent that manufactured goods are loaded once at origin and unloaded at destination - and such movement could well encompass ocean shipping, rail, and highway.
We have seen a railroad formed from the remains of at least five others all within Bankruptcy Protection that became so viable that a Wall Street takeover bidding war erupted that had such in the same league as those in other viable industries.
We have seen a Federal agency first formed with the intent of providing an orderly removal of passenger train service now come to show that in certain markets intercity passenger service can provide meaningful transportation as distinct from political playthings.
JGK can look down and likely say 'I told you so'.
But all told, JGK was a product of the 'Mad Men' era; and terms such as 'think out of the box' had yet to replace some such as 'conformity'.
Last edited by Gilbert B Norman on Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.