Operating a local or regional rail service is not a life or death question.
It is rather a question about individual rational choice, in term of it’s good/bad for me so I am in favour/against of it, or a collective rational choice, in terms of it is good for the region as a whole, our communities, and therefor I support it. Striving for collective longterm benefits are rational too.
Having a plentitude of personal freedoms in our little paradise does not require to look for more of it, more entertainment, more personal benefits. Rather making inclusiveness our aim.
Enlightened thinking does not end there, at the thinking bit, but rather requires actions which translates into better outcomes on the ground.
Lazy thinking stops asking for something better, it falls for the obvious, the demagogues, it’s fascinated by slogans, in our case such as ‘no one will use it’, as the opposite is difficult to prove right away, or ‘no one will pay for it’.
Vision is needed and there is aplenty in our midst, to imagine a different future, pared with a strong conviction, to overcome any bribary/blackmail attempts, such as ‘you have to vote for this, or you loose any funding’.
Plus critical thinking to overcome the shortterm money grab mentallity cloaked in some form of fiscal responsibillity. And a sense for some communal benefits to strive for a rail service in the northern rivers, which has socio-economic benefits, that outweigh any costs.
Jens Krause, Byron Bay
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
