You think its bad for PAT now, it's about to get A LOT WORSE! (Pittsburgh: teachers, employers)

[BrianTH]

I think it is important to understand that a lot of the negative effects of Corbett's policies will accrue in the future.

Take the issue of delaying road and bridge repair and maintenance. The costs of this policy will show up as higher transportation costs in the future, including higher repair and maintenance costs, which in turn means future taxes that would be higher than they otherwise could have been.

Generally many of Corbett's policies take the form of underinvesting, or wasting prior investments, in capital of various sorts (infrastructure, education, and so on). By definition the costs of such policies will be spread over many future years. The fact that these costs are coming in the future doesn't mean Corbett should be held blameless.

[Goinback2011]

Take the issue of delaying road and bridge repair and maintenance. The costs of this policy will show up as higher transportation costs in the future

They've been delaying infrastructure repair since WWII.

It didn't start yesterday.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

They've been delaying infrastructure repair since WWII. It didn't start yesterday.

No, it did not. Lots of politicians share the blame, but the ones that matter now are the ones in office.

[Mtl-Cns]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

Well, it mostly affects socialist types in a negative way, as it should.

Hahahaha wait you've gotta explain what this means please.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

They've been delaying infrastructure repair since WWII.

This isn't totally true. Dwight D. Eisenhower did one heck of a lot. He cut military spending and built a ton of infrastructure. I think you need to hit the books. Of course JFK destroyed everything after him and tripled military spending. Goodness, don't get me started.

Anyway, this PAT thing is totally overblown and 80% of the posts from Blackbeauty are just repeating the same thing over and over again. Interestingly enough, she lives in NYC, not Pittsburgh. Not sure why she is going wild over something that has nothing to do with her?

[BrianTH]

Yeah, it is shameful to care about what happens to other people. What would the Finns say?

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Yeah, it is shameful to care about what happens to other people. What would the Finns say?

Brian, you don't understand the massive difference in Finland and here. There are WAY too many people in the US that would take advantage of anything that is given. Totally different cultures. We can't have what they have. It isn't possible. I know for a fact that their system CAN'T work here. They have more working types as a percentage. We will have people lining the streets for handouts.

Anyway, the is about PAT and its failure. It is about more new taxes that didn't work, but are in place now and will pay for whatever the government feels like. It is about huge pensions and huge salaries. Some drivers making close to $100K a year with OT. It is about greed from the unions and strikes that have happened. This old dead thread is silly. How many pages is it? PAT is a drain. Best thing that could happen if it is privatized and helped with some tax dollars. PAT is a money pit that has no bottom. You know it and I know it. Getting people to and from work is the end result. PAT doesn't have to be a part of that. There can be another service that pays a more logical rate. I also know you are not going to agree with me. You are just going to tow the line that has been broken for decades. You want more taxation and more new taxes. I don't want more taxes. Each time they raise them, it seems we get less.

[BrianTH]

The employment to population ratio and labor force participation rate are generally higher in the U.S. than Finland, although just recently they have been basically even, thanks to their labor markets doing better in the global recession.

Generally, I just find it amusing that someone who claims to admire Finland constantly rejects all of their values and policies.

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Generally, I just find it amusing that someone who claims to admire Finland constantly rejects all of their values and policies.

I also find your uneducated view comparing the two amusing. Thanks for the laugh. Regarding Finland:

1. They have NO areas like East Liberty.
2. They have NO poverty and almost NO uneducated people. We are filled with them and have TONS of poverty.
3. They have very little crime in comparison to here.
4. There only big city is far and away above all of ours in quality of life. It isn't because the government, it is because their culture and them having respect for one and other. Governments don't provide that.
5. The total population is less than 6 million ours is over 300 million.

You are just trying to bait me into things. It is a waste of time. I work and am in East Liberty ever day. We have no hope of Pittsburgh being as nice as Helsinki. Sorry, but it is true. No chance. We can be a nice US city, but lets drop Europe. We don't live there. Better to compare us to Cleveland and Buffalo. That is logical.

[BrianTH]

You won't understand why this is true, but the reason we aren't more like Finland is because of you, and people like you.