No private system has been able to match either of these sectors on a dollar for dollar basis.
You contradict that statement here...
Certainly private hospitals and private schools can offer better services, but not for the price that the public system offers.
Of course not, but for for lack of efficiency. But for lack of public purse strings.
One such service is public transportation. To my knowledge there are few private mass transit systems that are not owned or subsidized by government.
I agree, because I actually can't think of anyone I know that wants to take a bus. Poor scheduling, poorly placed stops.
In comparing basic infrastructure it is more than obvious that privately owned utilities usually charge higher fees than publicly owned systems and it is interesting to note that the private sector usually expects government to provide and maintain streets, highways, airports as well as water and sewerage systems.
Why wouldn't they?
So far as the internet is concerned, Bear, we are now in the 21st century. The internet is no more a luxury now than radio, TV, or telephone communication is a luxury.
Those are all luxuries.
It is a vast and growing part of the economy and the social life of Canadians as is evidenced by this forum and thousands of other internet sites. If you regard it as a luxury, then you are part of a tiny minority.
So be it, realism is on the down swing. I already knew that.
Nations like South Korea seem to have figured this out which is why the South Korean government is vastly increasing internet bandwidth.
How else can you get the propaganda to the mud huts?
Canada, which has let the private sector decide the speed and availability of internet services now lags behind nations that have a greater vision of the future.
That's because the Gov't has allowed private companies like Rogers to monopolize the system.
So far as the bulldozing of thousands of acres of land; I guess I missed the fact that it was government that did the bulldozing. Somehow I thought it was the private sector that was responsible for the building of Shopping malls and subdivisions.
You are aware that you need a permit to do that right?
Do you think these permits are just printed on the construction companies computer?
So far as economic meltdowns are concerned government is responsible only for failing to properly regulate financial sector. Instead of asking who repealed the Steagall Act ask instead who pressured the lapdogs that make up the US Congress to repeal the act. I refer you to this article detailing the act and its repeal.
Glass?Steagall Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Read it, as well as several others when the collapse happened.
In the end, the Gov't bears the responsibility. My kids can pester me for a video game, in the end it is I that has to weigh the value.
However, the latest financial balls-up in the US is only one historical example of the problems caused by private sector financial institutions operating in an uncontrolled manner. There is, of course, the Great Depression of the 1930s, which in turn was preceded by numerous economic crises in the 19th century; all of which were precipitated by the failure of the private sector to maintain a balanced economy.
And the Gov'ts that allowed that to take place, bear no accountability?
The point is that the private sector does some things very well. My computer is a top line gaming machine custom built for me at a private vendor. I would not ask or expect the government to provide that service for me.
However, I would hate to see health or educational services offered on a pure for-profit basis.
But at the beginning of your post you said...
Certainly private hospitals and private schools can offer better services, but not for the price that the public system offers.
Quite frankly, I was pleased as punch when I used an American hospital. It was fast for starters. I don't mind paying more to be treated quicker.
Where you see a lower cost in public health care, I see the effects of that in time of treatment and quality of service. That is of course here in Ontario. Not enough Doctors, due to salary caps. Not enough nurses because the guy in the big office needs to have a big desk and so on.
When it's a private firm with a big desk, in a big office, that's their folly. When it's a publicly funded firm, no. That money is ours.
The experience of the USA and other nations shows that this simply does not work very well so far as the average citizen is concerned.
That sounds like propaganda. I've never had an issue with getting excellent care from a private hospital in the States. Ever.
BTW why don't you let Lone Wolf speak for himself?
That's exactly what I said, is it not.
