What I posted on the St.L newspaper blog.....
So far, I’ve had two cruises on the Delta Queen and expect to make many more if the exemption is granted.
On the first cruise I was impressed by the attention to safety by the crew, the master (captain) and the safety-related features on the boat. Sprinklers are located throughout the boat. Fire extinguishers are located all around the boat, inside and out,. Passengers are provided with life vests and drilled on safety and abandon ship procedures prior to every departure. A crew member called a “watchman” walks the entire boat throughout the night hours looking for any signs of fire or other safety infractions and punches in at watch stations located inside and outside the cabin areas and decks and even below deck in the hull. No place I’ve ever been offers this level of safety protection. On my second cruise (in September, 2006), I found the same level of attention to safety. I’m ready to go again anytime.
There was one lady on that cruise who was on her 207th cruise: she virtually lives on the Delta Queen. Do you think she would have made all those trips if the boat is unsafe?
What’s most disturbing to me in this thread is that so many people here seem content to let some congressman tell you when, where and how you live your life. Do you really want a government dork restricting you from making your own decisions or enjoying life the way you wish?
Rep. Jim Oberstar, the congressman from Minnesota who is holding up the exemption, voted to grant the exemption the last time it came up for renewal. The union asked him to support it back then, now they have asked him not to most likely because their workers were replaced by others. This is the real issue in the battle but Oberstar won’t admit it. In the Senate, Senator Inouye (also holding up the exemption) is reported to have said he will do whatever the union tells him. Oberstar’s refusal to allow the issue to come before the entire House of Representatives amounts to a mini-dictatorship. Why is he afraid to let his fellow congressmen even vote on the issue? Rep. Chabot’s bill would do so but Oberstar is also holding that up from the entire House. Is this the kind of democracy you want?
Even if the exempton isn’t granted, the boat could still legally cruise with up to 49 overnight passengers. If she’s safe for 49, why isn’t she also safe for 174 passengers? (49 passengers do not cover the cost of operation so that’s impractical.)
MR. OBERSTAR, LET THE HOUSE VOTE ON THE EXEMPTION!
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