This was an e-mail interview I conducted with TRU member, Nat Lownes, Below are the answers to my questions about the SEPTA funding crisis that is currently happening.

1. SEPTA exists as a public service within the United States, which is ruled by selfish repulsive people who hate public services. Fairness should enter into the equation here but it won’t without a fight.
   
2. We’re at the point of a true public transit funding crisis for a lot of different reasons. One, the Democratic Party, the political party which allegedly supports public services, has failed to build and expand strong public support for public services. They’re complicit in privatizing public services, you see this in education when the Democrats support charter schools and even private school vouchers, or public-private partnerships, or contracting out public services like trash pickup. Democrats need to stop trying to be kinder, gentler Republicans and stand up for once.
   
   One thing that is encouraging is that now you see SEPTA actually fighting for its own survival, urging transit riders to contact state representatives, participating in rallies, things which have usually fallen on riders groups like Transit for All PA, Pittsburghers for Public Transit or the Philly Transit Riders Union. It might be too little too late, but SEPTA is finally realizing that if it wants to exist it can’t act like it’s above actively and openly fighting against the politics of the dismantling of the government.
   
3. I don’t know if public transit funding issue in Pennsylvania will be resolved this year. Its an issue that not only effects transit riders, but also large industries in Pennsylvania. The ruling class cares more about industries than people, so they’ll probably give up just enough to keep the industrial set quiet, but I doubt we’ll see any real change as transit riders. Another thing to be on the lookout for is privatization pitched as a solution to this matter. Republican PA Senator Joe Picozzi is proposing something like this, some three card monte privatization scheme or something. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen ’em all. It’s not a solution and it’s a common Republican tactic. The Democrats should stop going along with it.
   Philly will be an even more miserable and difficult place if there isn’t a real movement to snap the neck of all efforts at dismantling and privatizing public services.