>> When taxpayers buy a public service, it is important for our public >> dollars to buy as much as possible. The only thing that will achieve >> this >> is open and competitive bidding. > > Where else do we do this for in-person services (not construction) and > actually have it work? Why start at transit? > Why leave out construction? Public buildings and roads are all built by private companies. It works well. Private companies are subsidized to deliver services for in-home personal care, as well as care in nursing homes. Private parties also deliver quality day care services for children and elderly. Section 8 subsidized housing is also delivered by private enterprise. The system of public Colleges and Universites in the US is not run by private business, but the competition among them for the best students has the same effect. People can choose a good school over a bad school. I will acknowledge in advance that there are abuses in these systems, but overall they work.
You ask why start with transit? Like you, Scott, I support a strong and effective public transit system. The reason we should consider this with transit is because the union has chosen to cripple the system by striking. The union tactic hasn't been very effective, because transit isn't very effective right now. Imagine, however, if we really had a system where 25 or 30 percent of the population used transit to get to work. If the transit union struck against a system like that, it would cripple the metro economy, and gridlock the roads. Should any union have that much power? My answer is NO. If we are going to have successful public transit system, then no union should be able to stop the delivery of the service. I feel the same way about Police, Fire Service, and Public School teachers. No union should have the power to hold their own customers as hostages to negotiations. Essential services should be strike-free. If they want the right to strike, then they should acknowledge the need for competition. Without it, the union would have unopposed power, which is never a good situation. Bob Treumann, St Paul _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
