Saturday, August 19, 2006
'As a progressive ...'
Why I like Blue Mass Group: They dare to raise subjects that don't conform to the normal liberal partisan/ideological agenda, such as posting about the possibility of privatizing the miserable T. Take on unions? Bust up a failed government monopoly? There's hope yet. ... But here's why this pro-free-market moderate conservative realist thinks T privatization wouldn't work in Massachusetts: This is Massachusetts. Ultimately, political culture matters when crafting policy -- and ours is one of a 1950s-like throwback hackerama par excellence. Do we really think a privatization plan would be approved by our Pacheco Legislature without throwing in gobs of crippling pro-union perks, patronage loopholes, no-bid fat-cat contractor clauses etc, etc. etc.? Have we learned nothing from our semi-privatized Big Dig adventure? Now think of the T under a 'privatization' plan approved by State House lawmakers. Our State House lawmakers. Oh my God. ...
FYI -- Privatization does work in some cities such as Hong Kong. It even works in Boston. The garbage collection isn't that bad here. But privatization has to be approached on a case-by-case basis -- and in Massacusetts that means Sal, Trav, Tommy, Brian, Diane, Marie etc.
Why I like Blue Mass Group: They dare to raise subjects that don't conform to the normal liberal partisan/ideological agenda, such as posting about the possibility of privatizing the miserable T. Take on unions? Bust up a failed government monopoly? There's hope yet. ... But here's why this pro-free-market moderate conservative realist thinks T privatization wouldn't work in Massachusetts: This is Massachusetts. Ultimately, political culture matters when crafting policy -- and ours is one of a 1950s-like throwback hackerama par excellence. Do we really think a privatization plan would be approved by our Pacheco Legislature without throwing in gobs of crippling pro-union perks, patronage loopholes, no-bid fat-cat contractor clauses etc, etc. etc.? Have we learned nothing from our semi-privatized Big Dig adventure? Now think of the T under a 'privatization' plan approved by State House lawmakers. Our State House lawmakers. Oh my God. ...
FYI -- Privatization does work in some cities such as Hong Kong. It even works in Boston. The garbage collection isn't that bad here. But privatization has to be approached on a case-by-case basis -- and in Massacusetts that means Sal, Trav, Tommy, Brian, Diane, Marie etc.
