Greetings Jorge,



   25-Apr-96 21:03:34, Jorge Garcia wrote to Sandy Fitzgerald

   Subject: Politics



 SF>> Can't say that I'm a great follower of Government owned businesses

 SF>> particularly with the corruption and massive free handouts which

 SF>> would never be given to private ent.



 JG> The truth of the matter is that no private enterprise would have

 JG> really been interested in the supplying such things as Telecom-

 JG> munications, Rail Hospitals, Electricity, Sewerage and Water, etc,



   You appear to have missed the point which I was making in my opening

   statement. If you read it carefully you will note that I was refering

   to the massive handouts & perks which govn employees appear to

   receive which would not be given to private ent. people.  Another

   instance is were their has always been the job for the boys in govn

   guaranteed till retirement.



 JG> The truth of the matter is that public ownership has served Australia

 JG> well over the years. That is not to say that this is not in need of

 JG> review for some sectors. However, privatisation should not be carried

 JG> out without proper thought, on an ideological whim, or to pay for

 JG> election promises made on environmental issues.



   I have no objection to that at all.



 SF>> .....govn run fleet of limousines charged out their
hourly rate

 SF>> at $80.00 per hour.  Considering they pay no sales tax on their

 SF>> vechicles, their drivers are on saleries not the hourly rate and

 SF>> their fuel and running cost would be almost half that of private

 SF>> ent, yet the private ent charge out rate is $55.00 per hour.



 JG> TV is a bad teacher.



   Why do you say that when all it was doing in this instance was

   relaying the facts.



 JG> In fact gov enterprise could always undercut priv ent. because of

 JG> all of the things you already stated. The fleet of lemos would be

 JG> there for another (primary) function. The letting out is an



   Again you have missed the point which I was making.  Why should the

   taxpayer be subject to paying an extra $25.00 per hour when p/e can

   do it cheaper.  No-ones asking the govn to undercut cut p/e.  I'm

   well aware that the govn could easily undercut p/e, all I'm saying

   is that it should at least be competitive or get rid of it.  There

   must be millions of $ tied up in vehicles laying around the country

   side which are being both underutilized and could well be liquidated.



 JG> additional extra.  However, **it is government policy** (the decision

 JG> is made by politicians not public servants) that gov ent should not

 JG> compete with priv ent.



   Don't give a dam who makes the dcision just get the money back to the

   people.



 PE>> It's not Telecom's job to run a charity, it's the governments.



 JG> Your point is well made, but since Telecom owned by the government

 JG> anyway, does it really matter if Telecom does some charitable work?



   Yes because we the taxpayers and users have to pay for it in higher

   phone charges.



 JG> The truth often lies neither in the black nor the white, but in the

 JG> shades of grey.



   Lost me here.



   Ciao for now, Sandy F.

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