<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>




































































  <rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
      <title>Comments On: &quot;Costly and inefficient&quot;
    
      by Mick Dumke</title>
      <link>http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient</link>
      <atom:link href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/Rss.xml?oid=945634&amp;id=comments" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />      <description>Comments On: &quot;Costly and inefficient&quot;
    
      by Mick Dumke</description>
      <language>en-us</language>
      <copyright>Copyright 2009 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Chicago Reader readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Chicago Reader.</copyright>
      <webMaster>wil@desert.net (Chicago Reader Webmaster)</webMaster>
      <pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0600</pubDate>
      <lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0600</lastBuildDate>
      <generator>Foundation</generator>
      <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
      
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952832]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952832]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[re pat g.]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Well, in the REAL world, as opposed to the taxpayer involuntarily financed fantasy world of public 'services', management, being in substantial, if not absolute, control of every area of a given company's business activities, is totally responsible for the successful and efficient operation of said business.
    
    Successful being defined as the providing of the highest quality, most satisfying to the customer product/service and efficient, as in at the lowest cost across the board, both to the consumer and for the business, still maintaining said quality and customer satisfaction.
    
    Of course, since we, the customers/taxpayers have yet to hold the managers of our government businesses accountable for their mismanagements, let alone for their gross malfeasances, 'optimism' isn't exactly warranted at this time.
    
    But, it's possible.
    
    If, and only if, we, the taxpaying customers ever pull our collective heads out of our asses and realize that there is fresh, clean air to breath available, were we only to HAVE NO DOUBT and VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT.
    
    Am I being fantastically optimistic?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re pat g.]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:47:51 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#959283]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#959283]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[pat g.]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[DYNAMIC--just guessing, but if the bus operators, etc, are required to report to the distribution centers fore & aft, doesn't it make more "efficient" sense to post shift changes as close to the reporting depots as possible? * as for the system you're advocating: looks like the burden of "perfection" simply transfers from labor to, um, management--now THAT's optimism for you!
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by pat g.]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:23:04 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#949820]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#949820]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Dynamic Management]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["a system like this can work perfectly well if everyone's on top of the job ... but if everyone's not, then NO system, however well planned out, will work in any case"
    
    How about being just a bit more optimistic?
    
    The CTA services consist of three basic formats:
    
    1. Trains
    
    2. Buses
    
    3. Door-to-Door Special Services
    
    
    Trains run from one end of their respective tracks to the other.
    
    Buses, as a rule, run from one end of their routes to the other.
    
    Special Service Curb Pick-Ups are scheduled, by request, and can be intelligently sequenced.
    
    Why don't the 'shift changes' of the operators of trains and buses occur at either end of their routes?
    
    With the operators of same required to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the time of said shift change?
    
    With the arrivals of said trains and buses being staggered?
    
    And with management prepared to change specific assignments of said operators, when necessitated by a given employee's tardiness, by bumping individual assignments as  needed?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Dynamic Management]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:12:29 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952753]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952753]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[pat g.]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[not sure what your example's intended to illustrate, since (a) this is how route changes have been handled ever since i've been riding the CTA (which is well over 40 years), the transition points usually marking the nearest point of connection to the area bus barn. and (b) the real fault belongs to the driver who's LATE, not the guy going off shift--what's he supposed to do? ... or, more relevantly, what happens when the replacement driver eventually DOES show up: does he call the police to report a missing vehicle? * stand around and have coffee? ...
    
    a system like this can work perfectly well if everyone's on top of the job ... but if everyone's not, then NO system, however well planned out, will work in any case
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by pat g.]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:43:52 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#961286]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#961286]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Tony Is The....]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Fellatian of this board.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Tony Is The....]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:25:55 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#950179]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#950179]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[re greek expert]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["He is Mephistopheles."
    
    C'mon, Daley's not that bad.......
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re greek expert]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:18:12 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#962018]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#962018]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Tony Peraica Is NOT Jesus Christ]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[....Like you fools make him out to be. He is Mephistopheles.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Tony Peraica Is NOT Jesus Christ]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:00:35 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#959887]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#959887]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Nut House Lounge]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[The anti-Peraica people on here are all the same uitfray.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Nut House Lounge]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:39:04 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#969032]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#969032]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Astute Observation]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["The anti-Peraica people on here are really crazy."
    
    Indeed.
    
    Besides their innate insanity, their total lack of integrity, honesty and common decency, what other causes may be stimulating this outpouring of venom?
    
    Might it be fear, of the possibility of the election of a Republican, one Tony Peraica, to the office of Cook County State's Attorney?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Astute Observation]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:10:26 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#947803]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#947803]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[tilt]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Gentle Ron Huberman has done a lot for CTA I hope he wiped him seat after he finished. Daley is still trying to up stage JAMES LASKI, WITH HIS BOOK "HOW TO BECOME A MILLIONARIRE AND HELP YOUR SON"
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by tilt]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:28:55 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#967258]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#967258]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Anon]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[The anti-Peraica people on here are really crazy.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Anon]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:17:10 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#966670]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#966670]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Obama Fan]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Obama has done a lot on everything.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Obama Fan]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:35:00 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#957975]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#957975]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[CTA rider]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[What has Obama done or not done on mass transit?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by CTA rider]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:30:21 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#972565]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#972565]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Peraica Is Lucifer's Friend]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[And the SAME ASSHOLES supporting this anal-retentive by KISSING ASS with him, That Staccato cocksucker extrodinaire.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Peraica Is Lucifer's Friend]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:20:46 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#960996]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#960996]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Hahaha]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA["Costly and inefficient"
    
    Daley's 2011 campaign slogan
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Hahaha]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:40:07 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#956167]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#956167]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Mayor Daley forever]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[I am sick of the Mayor Daley Frank Coconate "Star Muscle" fetish. Both of you apes should get into a closet and 69 until you respect each other. Everyone knows you are a bunch of cupcake eating sissys. A little lube and respect goes a long way in the political process.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Mayor Daley forever]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:36:41 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#962885]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#962885]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Keep Hope Alive]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Elect Obama President!!!!!!!!!!
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Keep Hope Alive]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:32:58 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#955274]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#955274]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[re Obama observations]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[That's the big question, isn't it?
    
    What will Obama do, if he succeeds in becoming our next President?
    
    Will he bite the hands that have fed him?
    
    Will he effectively manage to resolve the conflicts between those who see governments as a source of immense personal wealth, by the fleecing of the taxpayers, and those who are those same fleeced taxpayers?
    
    We have yet to take seriously any candidate not incestuously entangled in the Democratic or Republican Party political enterprises.
    
    Do we have an independent of the Democrats AND the Republicans candidate for President?
    
    One that any significant number of voters will vote for?
    
    One that can overcome the idiotic attitude held by many voters, that attitude being that they don't want to 'vote for a loser', so they follow the biggest herd, just so they can feel that they've 'picked a winner'?
    
    The voters really, really, really need to pull their heads out of their asses, face the fact that we, as citizens purportedly living in a Democracy, have failed ourselves, by choosing to be the idiots that those who manipulate us depend upon us to be, by failing to inform ourselves, in a myriad of ways, about the realities of life, by consistently buying into the abundance of lies, deceptions and pandering bullshit that we are fed, by the media, the politicians, the business community, et al..
    
    In a Democracy, the government's effect on the citizens' lives depends entirely on the natures of the individuals the citizens elect, and thus, empower, to 'govern'.
    
    Our elected officials constantly use the word 'govern' as a verb meaning to control, to impose, to direct, to compel, to instruct and to 'maintain civil order'.
    
    Is a Democratic government really meant to be all of these things? Really meant to be a force used to control the behaviors, actions and environments of the citizens of same?
    
    Is this really what a Democratic government is supposed to be? 
    
    And, is this really the nature of Democratic governing that we, the people, want?
    
    Garbage In, Garbage Out is what we have, here in our 230+ year old Democracy.
    
    As long as we, the people, are putting garbage in, what else but garbage can we expect to get out of our elected governments, be they city, county, state or federal?
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by re Obama observations]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:30:13 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#951584]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#951584]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[uh huh]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS IN
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by uh huh]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:27:56 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#971143]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#971143]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Dog gone-it.]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Dog gone-it.]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:56:52 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#960232]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#960232]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Same Ole' Same Ole']]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Same Ole' Same Ole']]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:56:32 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952133]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#952133]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Mark Fary]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Mark Fary]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:56:07 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#951450]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#951450]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Topic At Hand]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[There are 2 points of view at play here.
    
    1. Public Services, being paid for by the public, via taxes imposed upon same, should return value equal to said payments.
    
    2. Taxes paid by the public are 'free' to be spent as those in control of same see fit, providing only as much value to those paying same as is necessary to ensure reelection, with the goal being to enrich those in control as much as is practical.
    
    Two conflicting points of view, one held by the payers of taxes and the other held by the receivers of said payments.
    
    A free market this is not.
    
    Thus, the inherent forces of a free market of services do not apply.
    
    Customer/consumer satisfaction, not all that important.
    
    Efficiency of the operations providing said services, not all that important.
    
    Intelligence in the managing of said operations, not all that important.
    
    Quality of said services, not all that important.
    
    Competence of the managers of said operations, not all that important.
    
    Competitiveness of said services, not a factor.
    
    Reliability of said services, not all that important.
    
    The only factor of importance is the providing of services, in such a way, as to minimize dissatisfaction.
    
    
    Public Service operations, by definition, are not-for-profit enterprises.
    
    What is the definition of a not-for-profit enterprise?
    
    Total Cost of Operation determines Required Income.
    
    Yet, much individual, personal gain, ie. personal profit, can be had through inflated salaries, bloated contracts, excess employees, unnecessary inventory, theft, kickbacks, useless expenditures, 'creative bookkeeping', etc....
    
    Those whose point of view is primarily their own personal gain are 'managing' a not-for-profit enterprise as if it is a 'for-our-personal-profit' enterprise.
    
    Those who have the potential power to impose, (upon those imposing taxations upon them), their desires to be authentically, efficiently and honestly provided said prepaid-by-taxes services, namely the taxpaying public, have failed to exercise their Right to Vote in an effective manner.
    
    We, the taxpaying public, get not only substantially NOT what we're paying for, but also NOT what we are regularly promised, by those who seek our votes on Election Day, to be receiving.
    
    
    Here's an amusing little parable I found on the Second City Cop blog:
    
    "What the politicians and JFed are all about:
    
    While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. 
    
    His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
    
    'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 
    
    'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'
    
    'No problem, just let me in,' says the man. 
    
    'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. 
    
    Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'
    
    'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says
    the senator. 
    
    'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'
    
    And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. 
    
    The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. 
    
    In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
    
    Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. 
    
    They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.
    
    Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. 
    
    They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
    
    Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
    
    The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.Peter is waiting for him. 
    
    'Now it's time to visit heaven.'
    
    So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
    moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. 
    
    They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
    
    'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'
    
    The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 
    
    'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.' 
    
    So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
    
    Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
    land covered with waste and garbage. 
    
    He sees all his friends, dressed
    in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
    
    The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
    
    'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 
    
    'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?'
    
    The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning........ Today you voted.'
    
    2/14/2008 03:28:00 PM" 
    
    
    So very true to life.
    
    
    HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Topic At Hand]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:40:45 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#970952]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#970952]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[Obama Fan]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[Obama is a great asset to Illinois.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by Obama Fan]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:22:51 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
          <item>
    
    <title><![CDATA[Re: "Costly and inefficient"]]></title>
    
    
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#968350]]></link>
    
    <guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2008/02/14/costly-and-inefficient/#968350]]></guid>
    <author><![CDATA[WHAT HAS BARACK OBAMA DONE ON THE CTA]]></author>
    <description>
      
      <![CDATA[I am not sure that Barack Obama has brought all these new people into the political process.
    There are certainly more young people that are pro-Obama but they may have well gone for another candidate if Obama was not in the race. Ralph Nader, and more specifically Ron Paul this election have brought new people into the race.
    
    I think this point is right on the money. Everything that Obama talks about in broad strokes of rhetoric he has not done at home and has not only turned a blind eye but participated in or put his head in the sand like an ostrich.
    
    The early primary in Illinois, ostebsibly to help Obama, that Obama supported--was an incumbent protection plan that made a primary and more importantly campaigning in a short and cold truncated process. It does not allow challengers to get their names out there or to build name recognition or even an effective campaign.
    
    The level of political discourse, outside the internet depth at times and policy orientation left to right of the Kos or conservative bloggers or the Ron Paul bunch--most people only hear monologue platitudes from Obama (not to say he is not intelligent nor has policy white papers written for him with details) BUT the Obama camp has had "Obama girls" and trampy girls doing campaign ads and the so called young participation has not been substantitive. It kinds of reminds me of the MTV Rock the Vote when Madonna was dancing with the American (US) flag (something many felt disrespectful) scantily clad and disrespectful with two well built effeminite black men telling them to vote--yet she never registered to vote. It is great to bring young people involved and talk about hope but there must be substance.
    
    The issue of corruption is hypocritical with Obama to the extent he has been part of the Machine and has knocked off canidates off the ballot like progressive Alice Palmer in 1996.
    He was a student of Sen President Emil Jones who has given his step son 50,000,000 in computer contracts, girlfriends jobs, and partronage, nepotism, pinstripe patronage, contracts galore.
    Jones has been in bed with utilities, gaming, and lobbyists--not a peep from Obama.
    
    Obama has endorsed TODD STROGER and not a peep on layoffs, quality of health care, or corruption.
    
    Obama has RAISED THE MOST MONEY of any Democrat and Republican and not from "average folk" but from high powered lawyers and lawyers and companies that want things. Plenty of articles exposing that including the Sun Times. The fundraisers and chairs are big names who get benefit from government and are wealthy oligarchs from families who play the system not reformers.
    
    Barack Obama has been silent on Rod Blagojevich and their shared fundraiser Tony Rezko and activities including real estate deals that were very recent only to say it was a mistake and lapse in judgment.
    
    Barack Obama has been silent on Richard M. Daley and influence and lobbyin and corruption and cover ups including the torture by Jon Burge and detectives at Area 2 and Area 3.
        
        <br />
        
          Posted by WHAT HAS BARACK OBAMA DONE ON THE CTA]]>
    </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:09:18 -0600</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://www.chicagoreader.com">Chicago Reader</source>
  </item>
        
      
    </channel>
  </rss>




