"JNugent" wrote the following
in:
wrote:
"JNugent" wrote:
Robin May wrote...
Do you have any credible evidence that it makes sense to
transfer loss making industries to the private sector, where
businesses must make a profit?
*Apart* from stemming the losses and allowing taxes to be either
reduced or used for productive purposes, you mean?
But that's not what happens is it?
Yes, it is.
What happens is that the business
continues to make losses, possibly together with providing a
lower quality service. The government then has to keep propping
it up with handouts and the taxpayers' money that used to be used
for productive purposes is instead used for the number one
priority of private companies, i.e. lining its shareholders
pockets.
Is that what happened with British Gas? Or the electricity
generating industry? Or RJB Mining?
Unlike public transport, those aren't loss making industries. Public
transport often doesn't make a profit not because it's badly run but
because it's just not a profitable industry. The tube was nationalised
in the first place because it wasn't making enough money.
(And the number one priority is always making profit,
not improving service.)
You say that as though the two were incompatible, whereas a glance
at the improvements in services offered by (say) British Telecom
in the last fifteen years proves you wrong.
But BT operate in an industry where it's possible to make a profit.
Where the industry is going to make a loss it's a lot more likely that
they'll reduce the quality of the service to make savings and increase
their profits.
One can only provide a service if it is paid for - somehow or
other. Free lunches don't exist.
Yes, but surely when an industry is necessary but loss making, it makes
more sense to keep it in the private sector than to hand it over to the
public sector and put government money in the hands of shareholders.
Then and than are different words!
My most common typo, I fear, but not made in the post to which you
are responding.
It's just part of my signature, not directed at anyone in particular.
Not enough people seem to be aware of the difference.
--
message by Robin May, but you can call me Mr Smith.
Hello. I'm one of those "roaring fascists of the left wing".
Then and than are different words!