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Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,329 posts, read 54,381,135 times
Reputation: 40736
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake
Title pretty well says it. Government does a lousy job providing what services they do provide, do so at a horribly high cost, and government workers are never held accountable. Yesterday, a freshly rebuilt (to the tune of $180 million taxpayer dollars) railroad track was operated by the government. On the very first train run on that track, the government drone driving it went into a posted 30mph zone at 80mph, derailing the train, killing 3 people, injuring dozens. Even worse the main N/S west coast highway is still closed due to a railroad engine laying across it.
And...some people think turning health care over to the government-and government workers-is a good idea? Are you serious?
Given how many military plane crashes we see a year, I guess by your (il)logic we shouldn't turn aviation over to the government either, right?
Status:
"“If a thing loves, it is infinite.â€"
(set 2 days ago)
Location: Great Britain
27,175 posts, read 13,455,286 times
Reputation: 19466
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake
Title pretty well says it. Government does a lousy job providing what services they do provide, do so at a horribly high cost, and government workers are never held accountable. Yesterday, a freshly rebuilt (to the tune of $180 million taxpayer dollars) railroad track was operated by the government. On the very first train run on that track, the government drone driving it went into a posted 30mph zone at 80mph, derailing the train, killing 3 people, injuring dozens. Even worse the main N/S west coast highway is still closed due to a railroad engine laying across it.
And...some people think turning health care over to the government-and government workers-is a good idea? Are you serious?
The trouble with your argument is that many Amtrak lines are important to the US, however many Amtrak lines are not profitable and need some Government intervention to keep them running.
The alternative is just closing much of the US rail system, which would have implications for the US as a nation.
The rail disaster could have been avoided if speed restriction technology had been in place, indeed such technology is set to be in place next year, which begs the question as to why this new service was started before such technology was in place.
Right, because private corporations never, ever make mistakes or screw up. The partisan ignorance in the OP's post is juts so laughable.
The only difference is that if the government screws up, you might be able to vote them out of office, while private corporations are accountable to no one.
There is only ONE thing our government can do competently--make itself RICHER, BIGGER, and MORE POWERFUL. Politicians understand that government exists for itself, and only itself. If it were to fulfill its obligations and reasons for existence, it would have a harder time convincing taxpayers to pay even MORE next year.
You will understand everything our government does when you understand that what is good for Big Government is bad for the citizenry. The more money government has (good for it), the more it has to take from those who earn it (bad for you). The more power government has (good for it), the less freedom citizens have to pursue life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (bad for you).
You are wrong on every level.
First of all, it is private corporations that make themselves RICHER, BIGGER, and MORE POWERFUL every year since they are accountable to no one.
Second, since the government is supposed to BY the people and FOR the people - a stand against crooked oligarchs and petty tyrants - what is good for the government should be good for the citizenry. You can argue the effectiveness of government, sure, but it is completely intellectually dishonest to pretend the government is the "enemy of the people," particularly when right-wingers NEVER have any viable alternatives proposed, other than the usual pipe-dream nonsense of "letting everyone do whatever they want." If you want that type of hellhole, feel free to move to any one of dozens of wrecked, 3rd world nations that are free of government and taxes. You wouldn't last a month before some local gang or warlord destroyed everything you have.
Title pretty well says it. Government does a lousy job providing what services they do provide, do so at a horribly high cost, and government workers are never held accountable. Yesterday, a freshly rebuilt (to the tune of $180 million taxpayer dollars) railroad track was operated by the government. On the very first train run on that track, the government drone driving it went into a posted 30mph zone at 80mph, derailing the train, killing 3 people, injuring dozens. Even worse the main N/S west coast highway is still closed due to a railroad engine laying across it.
And...some people think turning health care over to the government-and government workers-is a good idea? Are you serious?
Even though you and I agree much of the time, this is really a dumb comparison. It's like saying because you fell off your bike as a kid, you're not qualified to drive a car.
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