Why Would Any Mother Do This?

A young mother justifies placing her 4 year-old daughter on train tracks during the shutdown of the Port of Portland, Oregon protest, December 12, 2011.

Why do these people hide behind their children? Does she not realize what it takes to stop even a slow moving loaded train?

How Long Does It Take a Train to Stop?

Trains can't stop quickly or swerve. The average freight train is about 1 to 1¼ miles in length (90 to 120 rail cars). When it's moving at 55 miles an hour, it can take a mile or more to stop after the locomotive engineer fully applies the emergency brake. An 8-car passenger train moving at 80 miles an hour needs about a mile to stop. How does this compare to other vehicles?

According to the National Safety Council:

• A lightweight passenger car traveling at 55 miles an hour can stop in about 200 feet in an emergency—under perfect conditions—that is, if tires and brakes are in good condition and the road is dry.
• A commercial van or bus will need about 230 feet to stop.
• A commercial truck/trailer can stop in about 300 feet—that's the length of a football field.
• A light rail train requires about 600 feet to stop—the length of two football fields.

Compared to this, the average freight train we mentioned above traveling at 55 miles an hour may take the length of about 18 football fields to stop.

Trains can't swerve—they can only follow the track. The only thing the engineer can do is apply the emergency brake.

Source

This is nothing less than Child Endangerment.  It is typical Moonbat thinking.  "The Goodness of People." doesn't work when the engineer can't see your child in time.  In fact, had a train come along on the tracks it would be a good bet that your child would have died or been severely wounded.

But that never entered this idiot's mind.  She has been brainwashed to believe that only good thoughts and feelings can be had.  It is a wonder that she has survived to have a child.

Why hasn't she been arrested and this precious child taken from her?  For the safety of this child, CPS must step in.