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Though these ways that they see to provide efficiency may not be viable.
It's like outsiders see ways of improving k-12 education, but having no background in education, sociology, public policy, etc their so called improvements are often not viable.
Btw, the MTA has huge operational costs regardless of whether it keeps the public happy at all time. It's Con Edison's biggest customer. It has to buy and maintain rolling stock . It has to maintain stations. As all other costs always go up, so do the cost of labor, whether it's direct MTA employees, contractors, or from suppliers.
This is nothing special. Plenty of business within intensive CAPEX sectors have high fixed costs.
The MTA is no different than any other intensive CAPEX business. The truth is that the NYC subway isn't even the greatest problem. The commuter railroads have much higher per hour and per employee costs than the NYC subway.
People like you simply throw your hands up and claim that's just the way things are. If that was a solution to anything, we'd still be running around half naked, clubbing each other in the head with rocks.
It's funny that you mention education because no matter what anyone thinks about Success Academy (I'm not the biggest fan), that exercise has showed that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Of course people invested in any status quo will claim that this or that isn't "viable" because all these "non-viable" options means the end of them.
Last edited by wawaweewa; 05-07-2016 at 10:42 PM..
This is nothing special. Plenty of business within intensive CAPEX sectors have high fixed costs.
The MTA is no different than any other intensive CAPEX business. The truth is that the NYC subway isn't even the greatest problem. The commuter railroads have much higher per hour and per employee costs than the NYC subway.
People like you simply throw your hands up and claim that's just the way things are. If that was a solution to anything, we'd still be running around half naked, clubbing each other in the head with rocks.
It's funny that you mention education because no matter what anyone thinks about Success Academy (I'm not the biggest fan), that exercise has showed that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Of course people invested in any status quo will claim that this or that isn't "viable" because all these "non-viable" options means the end of them.
Success Academy does not deal with kids with learning disabilities, English language learners, behavioral issues etc. So they never take problem kids that public schools have NO CHOICE but to take in.
And that's exactly my point about ignorant people.
The other thing to consider about the MTA, k-12 education, and even the university system is that they are government funded job programs. Universities whether public or private receive substantial federal and state funding, and of course don't pay property taxes.
In NYC (the nation as a whole really) the middle class is disproportionately people who are working for the government or government funded jobs (hospitals get medicare and medicaid money).
The beloved efficient private sector that some of you love talking about? The percentage of financial sector jobs in NYC has declined. Technology made a number of jobs redundant, and deregulation led to mergers that got rid of many banks. Of course the financial collapse lead to the government taking over and auctioning off even more banks.
Oh and the corporate sector in the US has become very efficient alright. Efficient in offshore jobs where applicable, efficient in not giving out any benefits when applicable, and efficient in outsourcing work to temp agencies when applicable. As a result substantial percentages of people are stuck in low wage or temp jobs with no real hope of advancing. NYC has record homelessness and that is increasing, and this is true of other large cities as well.
Now please tell me how in this political climate, a climate that has led to de Blasio becoming mayor, Bernie Sanders becoming an influential figure, and Donald Trump winning the Republican nomination how any sane person is going to say the MTA is going to be privatized and made efficient. It's not happening, and voters aren't interested in efficiency. They are interested in jobs, not in theory from Ayn Rand's books (I love some of her stuff, but anyone who always tries to apply that stuff to the real world is just plain delusional). Even the Republican base voted for Trump, who promised to punish companies that offshore American jobs and has promised to help out working class voters.
Bingo.
It's why Trump is going to be a great president -- if he's able to beat the wretched human being Hillary first.
I think Hillary will win. But I do give the Republican base credit for rejecting neo liberal idiots like Jed Bush and Carly Fiorina (who ruined Hewlett Packard while Jed's brother oversaw a big economic collapse).
I think Hillary will win. But I do give the Republican base credit for rejecting neo liberal idiots like Jed Bush and Carly Fiorina (who ruined Hewlett Packard while Jed's brother oversaw a big economic collapse).
Republican base have been screwed over by mainline Republican establishment since the days of Ronald Reagan. I'm surprised it took these retards 30 years to finally smell the coffee.
Thread headline is a little misleading since article mostly discusses overcrowding. Unfortunately there won't be any real relief until second Ave line is fully complete and more modern signals are installed throughout whole system.
The other thing to consider about the MTA, k-12 education, and even the university system is that they are government funded job programs. Universities whether public or private receive substantial federal and state funding, and of course don't pay property taxes.
In NYC (the nation as a whole really) the middle class is disproportionately people who are working for the government or government funded jobs (hospitals get medicare and medicaid money).
This statement shows your limited view of the USA from the small taxpayer funded bubble you live in and defend.
Yes, the middle class make up the majority of jobs paid with tax dollars. Those jobs, however, pay middle wages because it's economical and efficient- and generally worth the value of the worked.
If all transit workers in the country were paid the same as MTA employees, there'd be quite a problem.
New York's economy is quite messed up, and civil servants are generally overpaid for their incompetence. The high cost of living should demand a quality employee. Keep removing the ones who aren't ranked well, and those who don't cut it will leave the city, ala the private sector.
This statement shows your limited view of the USA from the small taxpayer funded bubble you live in and defend.
Yes, the middle class make up the majority of jobs paid with tax dollars. Those jobs, however, pay middle wages because it's economical and efficient- and generally worth the value of the worked.
If all transit workers in the country were paid the same as MTA employees, there'd be quite a problem.
New York's economy is quite messed up, and civil servants are generally overpaid for their incompetence. The high cost of living should demand a quality employee. Keep removing the ones who aren't ranked well, and those who don't cut it will leave the city, ala the private sector.
I've lived in other parts of the US thank you, and you out of town right wingers won't be able to change a thing here. And if you don't like it, you don't need a visa to leave NYC. That's if you even live here.
NYC would not even be experiencing gentrification if it weren't for that fact that people from around the US move here, in part due to it's "taxpayer" funded services like mass transit, excellent hospitals, good universities, and three airports. In short much of the country apparently sucks and offers little economic opportunity for recent graduates, so many attempt to overcrowd the few areas that have good economies.
Republican base have been screwed over by mainline Republican establishment since the days of Ronald Reagan. I'm surprised it took these retards 30 years to finally smell the coffee.
Completely agree with you. But better late than never.
What was really amazing is that they could not see Reagan and Bush for the neo liberals that they were. Offshore as much work as possible. Outsource work left in the US to cheap temp companies. Let lots of illegals in to exploit them. All leaving working class American decimated. Things got so bad they had no choice to smell the coffee. You're laid off from your job and may not work for a long time, why on earth would you want to hear about giving rich people tax cuts? They got to the point where they were no longer willing to listen.
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