John,
Here are some responses to your:
Part 3 of the Seven Point Action Plan:
'The Co-operative Way - A Seven Point
Action Plan'
3) Maximise necessary service provision (health, education, libraries, transport and
so on) on a free-at-the-point-of-use basis, retaining money as
>a mechanism for access to discretionary purchases.
John, in the health field, there is strong evidence that provision of preventive and
primary services is cost effective, reduces the demand on services in the long run,
and allows for a more efficacious use of such services where they are turly needed.
What is needed is similar evidence for education, libraries, transport. The evidence
may exist. I am simply not aware of it but do know that suburban malls pay for shuttle
buses to run to the inner cities to bring workers to the malls so they must see them
as cost effective. New Orleans has one of the largest retail downtown areas in the
country compared to population and they also have one of the best public transport
systems. It would be interesting if someone could show a relationship although a
single case study is always tough. Joel Garreaux, in Edge City, has made some points
for free transportation and more and more cities are providing free shuttle services
in the downtown area.
The case for education is more difficult since I question how much of education, the
way it is conducted, is of use. I am my own best example having spent 50 of my 59
years either studying in or teaching in academic facilities and feel that a lot of
that time was wasted [it is a good life, however [:>)}.
Bill Ward
Research Director
Arthritis Research Institute of America
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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