Sheldon Silver's Flights of Fancy

Unless he is like me and LOVES flying and tries to whenever he can, Sheldon Silver is DEFINITELY illogical.

The New York Post gives the Assembly Speaker a nice lashing, noting the ridiculousness of the flights. The man makes $121,000 as Speaker, and probably more with investments. He should be able to buy his own plane ticket, and not put it on the taxpayer's tab. Of course,

There's also faster ways too. I went on US Airways and got a price of $482 for a flight leaving September 15th (Sunday) and coming back on September 20th (Friday). This was a flexible coach fare. Only a few of the flights had first class. And flying on United, which is about the same price? Out of the question!

On the other hand, taking Amtrak's train numbers 241 and 236, in BUSINESS no less, costed a grand total of, yes, $126.00. And since Amtrak's owned by the feds, you don't pay tax on your fare. And faster too! No having to cross a congested bridge or hop on the LIE to get to LaGuardia, and much more comfortable than a cramped jump jet. Having traveled in business on Amtrak between Albany-Rensselaer and NYC, the business seats which occupy half of the cafe cars are nicer than the business seats on the Northeast Corridor trains. The ones on the Empire Service run are  Nice to see our speaker has no concept of common sense. It doesn't make sense to fly. Heck, my uncle, who isn't much of a train traveler, finds Amtrak more convenient than flying out of Newark, at least for travel up and down the Northeast Corridor.

Here's US Airways (which I hope doesn't swallow up American) :

 

And here's Amtrak:

 

Quite a price and time difference, right? I guess Speaker Silver's travel options are a reflection on the state's dysfunctional legislature as a whole. Speaker Silver should retire come next election.

*Yes, the Post is a liberal rag, but regardless, on that topic, they made a good point.