Do you agree with Warren Buffett's bet on the economy's future?

He is Buffett. Of course it will be a solid score.

It will be a great win for him! This is how people become really rich. They buy things when the economy goes sour and sell them big when the economy recovers! The sad reality is that the rich make sure that the economy goes bad again so that they repeat the same game and keep scoring! Reading the history of the Rothchilds is very informative in that regard!!

A very recent example for this is that the Federal Government announced $1.42 Trillion deficit at the very time that Goldman Sachs announced $5.39 Billion Profit in 3 months!! How do you explain that?!

BH already owns 22% of the company. The purchase allows BN to continue to do what it is that makes them a solid company which is efficiency through technology, not by cutting headcount.

Great move. A solid company with assets & a good management team in place. At this point in time, it is the kind of company that BH buys. Their Transcon railroad from LA to Chicago is running about 40 trains a day thru Streator, Ill. B-4 the recession, they were talking about as much as 120 trains per day on the Transcon. BNSF share holders should be real happy with this purchase. Buffett never buys "junk" companies. Read his bio called "Snowball".

-Dave

Buffett has more money than brains, it seems. The economy is still in bad shape, maybe not for the rich but it is for the people who have to suffer to make ends meet. If there wasn't so many greedy people in this country, the economy might just get better, but greed will bury this country one day and not all the money in the world will fix it. Any more, America is just a wanna be country and nothing more. One day, there won't be America. It's already owned by the Japanese. Money isn't everything, but to a lot of people, it is. Dream on, people.

Buffett is the man, but he rises or lowers on the tide just like the rest of.

This is probably the worst investment made in history of the stock market. Buffett has lost it recently, saying things about how the economy has not seen the worst of it, and now, purchasing a company that is in a declining industry? I fail to envision any potential in Burlington Northern. Their revenue heavily relies on transporting "cleaner low-sulfer coal"... the fact is, we are trying to move away from coal burning energy.. coal will always be coal, no matter how "clean" some forms are- most of the composition will still be the same. We are also seeing a trend towards local farmer's market products because they're fresher, meaning that there will be gradual decreases in sources of revenue for BNSF. Sure, BNSF has enjoyed recent increases in revenue... but ultimately, their fuel expenses have increased at greater rate than their revenue (28% compared to 12%).

Ive said for years that the next great president we have will because he/she was smart enough to rebuilt the rail system both freight and passenger well it looks like an old man that remembers the old system not to mention grey hound too ,understands what worked in the pass will work in the future . hell get trains to go 300 mph people will ride them just like the rest of the world , get on board ..

Railroads should have a great future as oil prices go up. They are far more efficient than truckong in miles per gallon per ton hauled. In addition, railroads could be converted to electric operation, eliminating the need for diesel completely. Just imagine wind and solar and nuclear energy powering quiet, elctric passenger and freight trains.

Money always follows after money. And He knows what He is doing and how to go about doing it..

You bet! The American drive and spirit to get ahead is beginning a new life. The Boomers are in shock, new collage grads and soon to retires that are afraid of the future . All will step up each in innovative ways to fix the economy. Big business and big government are always creating ways for the small private sector to spearhead any bail out. This is just one more hopeful spike hammer solidly in the ground to build from.

Is this the same Buffet that the government procecuted for using a ponsie scheam to cheat investors??? Who in their right mind would trust his judgement, he is a crook!!!!!

When you can control markets like Buffett can, it make no diffence what you bet on, you're going to come out ahead.

However, I think Buffett real reason was to try and help his friend in the white house look go.

Bad decission Buffett.

Considering the nation is attempting to become greener it is hard to support purchasing a company with 27% of its income coming from coal shipments. Unless there is strong reason to believe the competition will have it even worse so you can pick up what they are not left to carry. Watch out long-haul trucking industy... there may be taxes and government regulations around the corner putting you out of business.

Buffet's no fool. Buy low and sell high or buy when everything's in the tank is his general m.o. but if I'm not mistaken, he backed Presiden Obama so there may be something on the back burner here that's not public. i.e. government funds to rebuild the railroad bridges and rails, etc. or gov't loans for asset replenishment, etc.

I tend to believe that Buffet not only has his "6 O'clock" covered on this deal but has several, as of now, unforseen options which will be revealed in the near future. My bet is on Buffet on this one.

Investing in the rail industry is investing in the future not because of international trade but also domestic shipments as well as the industry is grabbing more intercity and interstate movements. Over half of J.B. Hunt trucking business is done by partnering up with the railroads for long-haul movements as the trucking companies take care of the short-haul. Swift, Schneider Internationl, UPS, FedEx, etc. will benefit from this investment. Rail Transportation is the country's future. It's not coal, agriculture, or industrial product shipments that the railroads are investing heavily in anymore. It's the transportation of shipping containers and truck trailers.

Investing in the rail industry is investing in the future not because of international trade but also domestic shipments as well as the industry is grabbing more intercity and interstate movements. Over half of J.B. Hunt trucking business is done by partnering up with the railroads for long-haul movements as the trucking companies take care of the short-haul. Swift, Schneider Internationl, UPS, FedEx, etc. will benefit from this investment. Rail Transportation is the country's future. It's not coal, agriculture, or industrial product shipments that the railroads are investing heavily in anymore. It's the transportation of shipping containers and truck trailers.

Monopoly comes to life... he's got the railroads, but can he scoop up Boardwalk & Park Place?

As a former RR Locomotive Engineer for freight trains it is the most efficent way to move goods.

There is a price to pay. It is essential to maintain track maintenance. The cost is high but will pay

off in the long run. go Warren you will add to your Millions

I export and import goods and use the rail several hundred times per month. There isn't any other way you can export goods from inland points in the U.S. and offer U.S. goods at a competitive price.

Hopefully, with his great skills and intelligence, Warren can figure out how to keep the cost down for the exporters and importers so that they may be more competitive selling to other nations.