Quote:Have you driven the interstate on a cross country trip? Lets not pretend that its consistently well maintained. Frankly the private sector would've done it better, but I've no objection to it as a neccesity to interstate commerce.
I'm talking about the original construction, including planning and specification development.
The private sector would only build and maintain highways essential to their profit, and without government regulation would cut corners wherever possible.
Quote:Private sector will always spend minimum on maintenance of infrastructure be it electricity or roads. Someone else can deal with the costs in 20 years time after they have had all their bonuses and share options linked to the impressive bottom line. Because people don't have adequate alternatives you need the regulation or public ownership. Free market and monopoly mix terribly for consumers.
That's just simply not true and exposes the probability you have limited if any work in management in the private sector. Every year millions if not billions is spent by the private sector maintaining their equipment and facilities. Why? Because not maintaining them means they'll e eventually have to replace the equipment or lose production when the equipment breaks. Unlike government entities keep production as high as possible is how the private sector survives, government thrives when production haults its the only time they can generate revenue in the form of taxiation. Want proof lets compare the conditions of privately owned roads and tolls to publically owned and managed roads and tolls.
Quote:That's just simply not true and exposes the probability you have limited if any work in management in the private sector. Every year millions if not billions is spent by the private sector maintaining their equipment and facilities. Why? Because not maintaining them means they'll e eventually have to replace the equipment or lose production when the equipment breaks. Unlike government entities keep production as high as possible is how the private sector survives, government thrives when production haults its the only time they can generate revenue in the form of taxiation. Want proof lets compare the conditions of privately owned roads and tolls to publically owned and managed roads and tolls.
That first line is funny from a car mechanic... But anyway:
Private sector will only ever be interested in profitable roads. Do you think they would be bothered about the roads with fewer cars on them between places. People will only use private roads while they are faster/better than the public alternative. If there is no public alternative watch the cost to the consumer sky rocket and the maintenance plummet. You can't have many different roads running the same route therefore the free market doesn't work. It could maybe work If the government is in control of pricing but no doubt you would hate that too.
Your problem is you are so ingrained into private sector = good government = bad you can't acknowledge the few industries where the private sector doesn't work in favour of the consumer like healthcare. When you study some economics in your business education you will realise with some basic examples like lighthouses and street lighting why you need a public sector.
Quote:That first line is funny from a car mechanic... But anyway:
Private sector will only ever be interested in profitable roads. Do you think they would be bothered about the roads with fewer cars on them between places. People will only use private roads while they are faster/better than the public alternative. If there is no public alternative watch the cost to the consumer sky rocket and the maintenance plummet. You can't have many different roads running the same route therefore the free market doesn't work.
Your problem is you are so ingrained into private sector = good government = bad you can't acknowledge the few industries where the private sector doesn't work in favour of the consumer like healthcare. When you study some economics in your business education you will realise with some basic examples like lighthouses and street lighting why you need a public sector.
I think you're the third person to refer to my profession as a slight against me. I just laugh when people think being a mechanic is something below them, I'm proud of the work I do, I'm good at it, and I don't see it as something to be ashamed of.
As to the topic at hand, yes less driven roads would receive less attention if managed by a private company. and If that company did such a bad job that no one wanted to drive on that road guess what, competition dictates someone else would do it better and put them out of business. The topic is kind of silly since our interstate system is already established and no one is arguing to change that, I just laugh at the statist when their default argument is always without government who would build the roads!?
You tried to slight me in your opening I was just pointing out it why it was laughable. I'm an Accountant (boring I know) with a Masters in business FYI just one of millions.
I have no doubt roads would be built on popular routes. But have you tried parking at the airport lately? Where usually a private company has a monopoly (in Australia anyway) great for the consumer that. In fact the private train to Brisbane airport about 15 ks from me costs more than the public train to the gold coast 100 ks away. Why could that possibly be?...
Quote:You tried to slight me in your opening I was just pointing out it why it was laughable. I'm an Accountant (boring I know) with a Masters in business FYI just one of millions.
I have no doubt roads would be built on popular routes. But have you tried parking at the airport lately? Where usually a private company has a monopoly (in Australia anyway) great for the consumer that. In fact the private train to Brisbane airport about 15 ks from me costs more than the public train to the gold coast 100 ks away. Why could that possibly be?...
Yeah... if you want us to celebrate the wonders of government you might not want to discuss the horrific publicly funded government monopolies in public transportation we have here. Price and quality are far inferior to what the private sector could provide.
Quote:You tried to slight me in your opening I was just pointing out it why it was laughable. I'm an Accountant (boring I know) with a Masters in business FYI just one of millions.
I have no doubt roads would be built on popular routes. But have you tried parking at the airport lately? Where usually a private company has a monopoly (in Australia anyway) great for the consumer that. In fact the private train to Brisbane airport about 15 ks from me costs more than the public train to the gold coast 100 ks away. Why could that possibly be?...
Its not a slight against you its an observation as to why you take the position you take. If you've worked in the private sector you know they spend billions maintaining their equipment and products the same is true with private transportation. It's simply a flase narrative to argue that government has more incentive to maintance roads than if a private company owned a road.
Quote:You tried to slight me in your opening I was just pointing out it why it was laughable. I'm an Accountant (boring I know) with a Masters in business FYI just one of millions.
I have no doubt roads would be built on popular routes. But have you tried parking at the airport lately? Where usually a private company has a monopoly (in Australia anyway) great for the consumer that. In fact the private train to Brisbane airport about 15 ks from me costs more than the public train to the gold coast 100 ks away. Why could that possibly be?...
The government takes a cut of the. Private fair to subsidize the public fair?
Quote:That first line is funny from a car mechanic... But anyway:
Private sector will only ever be interested in profitable roads. Do you think they would be bothered about the roads with fewer cars on them between places. People will only use private roads while they are faster/better than the public alternative. If there is no public alternative watch the cost to the consumer sky rocket and the maintenance plummet. You can't have many different roads running the same route therefore the free market doesn't work. It could maybe work If the government is in control of pricing but no doubt you would hate that too.
Your problem is you are so ingrained into private sector = good government = bad you can't acknowledge the few industries where the private sector doesn't work in favour of the consumer like healthcare. When you study some economics in your business education you will realise with some basic examples like lighthouses and street lighting why you need a public sector.
You do realise this thread exists because public sector officials and regulators through sheer apathy allowed an entire towb to drink sludge and then threatened to take away their children if they didnt pay the vill right?
If the public sector was so efficient at allocating resources why did the ussr collapse? Why is cuba still driving cars from the 40s?
The State was saying the drinking water was safe, GM stated it wasn't safe to be used on car pistons. Geeezuss....what was in this product we call a necessity of life?
Rather than trying to fix this and keep people from anymore harm, they spend more time covering this up.
There's a special place in hell for these greedy bastards...and sadly, when many want govt out of their lives, we need someone to keep tabs on these situations, including being ruled by big biz and their donations.
While we try to heal, fix and donate to the world...our own is being flushed down the toilet....or the sink in this case.
Can we start fixing our own infrastructure before building another mega billion dollar naval vessel . Sending money to other nations. Training the Iraqi army...lol....like training a dachshund to fetch ducks...yet still keep on.
Aargh huh...beer thirty!
Quote:You do realise this thread exists because public sector officials and regulators through sheer apathy allowed an entire towb to drink sludge and then threatened to take away their children if they didnt pay the vill right?
If the public sector was so efficient at allocating resources why did the ussr collapse? Why is cuba still driving cars from the 40s?
This is again where you anti government lot are being over simplistic. Not many people want the government involved in most things, just natural monopolies and non free markets. Healthcare, roads, utilities etc.
Quote:Its not a slight against you its an observation as to why you take the position you take. If you've worked in the private sector you know they spend billions maintaining their equipment and products the same is true with private transportation. It's simply a flase narrative to argue that government has more incentive to maintance roads than if a private company owned a road.
You don't know what you are talking about. Companies hire people like me to work out how to cut costs without affecting the bottom line. They will maintain to a level which increases profitability in the short to medium term or what they are regulated to do. Alternatively they can just raise the price extortionatly if people need to use the road and don't have a choice.
Could you guys answer my question on airport parking and why my train costs more?
Quote:Could you guys answer my question on airport parking and why my train costs more?
I don't know why
your train costs more, mine costs more because it can't make any money.
Airport parking here is run by a government institution and private sector run parking is a lower price with twice the service. You get a hot or cold drink, a newspaper, a porter to move your bags and a ride to the terminal.
Quote:I don't know why your train costs more, mine costs more because it can't make any money.
Airport parking here is run by a government institution and private sector run parking is a lower price with twice the service. You get a hot or cold drink, a newspaper, a porter to move your bags and a ride to the terminal.
I think it's actually a little more expensive. It's 8/day at the airport and a quick google search showed 8.25/day at Wallypark, which is off site and you have to wait on their shuttle service.
I park at the airport.
Quote:This is again where you anti government lot are being over simplistic. Not many people want the government involved in most things, just natural monopolies and non free markets. Healthcare, roads, utilities etc.
This is where u statist lot miss it.
Government entities are more prone to waste fraud abuse apathy and incompetence because they are not subject to market forces (the ultimate monopoly) and because of public sector unions rarely is anyone fired.
Their role should be small and clearly defined as to minimize the impact of inefficencies. In this case there was q virulent systemic failure to do the most basic function of ensuring public safety and 90% of the officials involved were your beloved statists.
Quote:You don't know what you are talking about. Companies hire people like me to work out how to cut costs without affecting the bottom line. They will maintain to a level which increases profitability in the short to medium term or what they are regulated to do. Alternatively they can just raise the price extortionatly if people need to use the road and don't have a choice.
Could you guys answer my question on airport parking and why my train costs more?
I did. When an entitt has the power to tax the price mechanism can easily be distorted. Free government phones arent actually free. An accountant should know better.
Answer the question about the ussr and cuba.
And profits dont magically appear. You have to produce a product people want like or need. When that ceases to be the case then consumers shift thr allocation of capital. Most instances of entities being given inordinate market share in the face of poor performance is a direct result of state intervention.
Quote:You don't know what you are talking about. Companies hire people like me to work out how to cut costs without affecting the bottom line. They will maintain to a level which increases profitability in the short to medium term or what they are regulated to do. Alternatively they can just raise the price extortionatly if people need to use the road and don't have a choice.
Could you guys answer my question on airport parking and why my train costs more?
You want an example compare the US postal service to fed ex or UPS