For those still wondering what there is to do in Tyler we have an idea that will start in Tyler Texas (actually Mineola Texas) and then take you somewhere else. This trip is great for people who want to get the heck out of Tyler but still enjoy the scenery on the way out. You can leave Mineola in the morning and take a trip to Dallas or Fort Worth in less than 2 hours. Once at the train station you can hitch an inner city rail to downtown or be taken by taxi to your city destination. Once finished you can take a cab back to the train station and ride the scenic route back to Tyler Texas. This is a really fun excursion that will be something different and get you out of your familiar town for a little while. The Mineola train station is an Amtrak train station and is owned by the government.
Amtrak is unique in that it is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 because of declining revenue and union laborers fighting to keep a dead operation alive. The members of its board of directors are appointed by the President of the United States and are subject to confirmation by the United States Senate. Common stock was issued in 1971 to railroads that contributed capital and equipment; these shares convey almost no benefits but their current holders declined a 2002 buy-out offer by Amtrak.
This makes us wonder if these railroad companies like the idea of keeping what’s left of the capitalist side of the railroad business partially alive instead of letting the government completely take over another industry. To this end we are glad there are corporations that still have an ownership stake in a government take over. I believe it will keep things a little more honest as corporate executives must face jail time unlike many politicians who can use unethical business ownership for political ends.