atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
- From: Rod Stuart <rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:38:40 +1000
Your comment seems to place "GFC" in the past tense. Actually, what we
witnessed in 2008 was just the trailer. The full length movie is coming to a
theatre near you in a few months. Take lots of popcorn. It's a full length
feature and runs to 2020 or so.
On 20 August 2010 14:48, Mark Nebauer <nebz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Geoffrey,
>
>
>
> My understanding is that the GFC was a result of criminal manipulation of
> so-called government watchdogs in the US. So yes, of course I think that
> there needs to be government oversight of criminal activity in the private
> sector. Still, I don’t think this should impede “survival of the fittest”,
> only dull the cutting edges of tooth and claw.
>
>
>
> But I still fail to see why the public sector should be more efficient when
> it lacks the natural attrition of the open marketplace.
>
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> *From:* austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Geoffrey Marnell
> *Sent:* Friday, 20 August 2010 2:26 PM
>
> *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
>
>
>
> Hi Mark,
>
>
>
> Re you comment "surely you have also seen a lot of sloth in the hidden
> recesses of government departments?". I said that I had, in the first
> paragraph of my posting.
>
>
>
> Do you really want private-sector evolution regardless of civil and ethical
> outcomes? It sounds like you want to leave everything to markets. Even
> economists have largely abandoned that idea. The GFC was largely the result
> of unfettered evolution of capital markets. Without government intervention,
> where might we all be now?
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
>
>
> Geoffrey Marnell
>
> Principal Consultant
>
> Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
>
> T: +61 3 9596 3456
>
> F: +61 3 9596 3625
>
> W: www.abelard.com.au
>
> Skype: geoffrey.marnell
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Mark Nebauer
> *Sent:* Friday, August 20, 2010 12:44 PM
> *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
>
> Hi Geoffrey,
>
>
>
> Interesting thoughts on private/public sectors Geoffrey but I’m still
> inclined to think that the private sector is at least subject to the laws of
> evolution – it’s all about survival of the fittest. This is what should keep
> the private sector lean and mean. If private enterprises are getting
> sluggish then something is wrong – they are not operating in the real world,
> probably because of monopoly-type environments and I think electricity,
> transport and water suppliers could fit into this category. There is no such
> dynamic in the public sector which makes me surprised to hear your
> observations – surely you have also seen a lot of sloth in the hidden
> recesses of government departments?
>
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> *From:* austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Geoffrey Marnell
> *Sent:* Friday, 20 August 2010 10:26 AM
> *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
>
>
>
> Hello Rod,
>
>
>
> It's good to see the passion return to this list, but can I ask a favour.
> For the edification of all those still interested in this thread, can you
> provide some solid, empirical evidence that the private sector is always
> more efficient than the public sector. Here is my anecdotal evidence to the
> contrary. I have, over many years, been employed by both sectors and have
> contracted to both sectors. While inefficiency (encompassing waste,
> mismanagement and general ineptitude) has been fairly evenly spread across
> both sectors, the instances of greatest inefficiency I has witnessed were in
> the private sector. Two segments in particular stand out: start-ups (who
> seem to think that money grows on trees) and the large, long-standing,
> highly profitable behemoths (lulled by blinding complacency into thinking
> that they must be doing the best they can). Nothing came close in the public
> sector.
>
>
>
> Secondly, do you think that the private sector can always provide services
> more cheaply than the public sector? I mentioned yesterday that governments
> can fund their activities more cheaply than private companies, and they are
> not driven by shareholder appetite for profits and ever-increasing profit
> growth. But let's look at some examples. The anti-government government of
> Jeff Kennett privatised electricity in Victoria, assuring voters that this
> would lower electricity prices. Of course, the exact opposite occurred.
> Likewise water distribution. And take a look at Melbourne's privatised
> public transport system. Grossly inefficient, more and more expensive and
> incapable of retaining private-sector interest without the government
> tipping in a few hundred million dollars every year. So here's a case where
> necessary infrastructure is of no interest to the private sector unless it
> gets a government grant. (Or perhaps you consider a railway system not
> necessary infrastructure at all.)
>
>
>
> To my mind, reliance on the private sector is a recipe for the Hobbesian
> jungle.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
>
>
> Geoffrey Marnell
>
> Principal Consultant
>
> Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
>
> T: +61 3 9596 3456
>
> F: +61 3 9596 3625
>
> W: www.abelard.com.au
>
> Skype: geoffrey.marnell
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Rod Stuart
> *Sent:* Friday, August 20, 2010 8:39 AM
> *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
>
> And the best way......no, the ONLY way to make life easier for the end user
> (that's all of us) is to get government our of everyone's face. We're
> over-governed, over-taxed, over-regulated, and on top of that INEFFICIENTLY
> governed taxed and regulated.
>
> On 19 August 2010 22:20, Anne Casey <writan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> At 10:03 PM 18/08/2010, you wrote:
>
> So what you are saying Anne is that the whole nation should have to cough
> up just so that you can get broadband? Living away from infrastructure has
> its price.
>
>
> Actually, Bruce, you are wrong. I (deliberately) live close enough to the
> local exchange to get ADSL2, according to Telstra - except the local copper
> is so poor that I can only get unreliable ADSL. Telstra has no interest in
> fixing the problem. It's not about what I am prepared to pay, but whether a
> private company could be bothered.
>
>
> I'll be generous though Anne, I'm happy to say "those using it when there
> is copper nearby should pay for it" if that helps, but it still sounds like
> you want the nation to pay for a safe, well-built, fully paved road to every
> farm and outlying doorstep. Oh hang on, I still haven't read that you were
> willing to pay for my road toll costs.
>
>
>
> You didn't ask; you just assumed I'm only interested in my own welfare. I'm
> not in favour of toll roads. On the other hand, I could say that the fact
> that you're required to use a toll road is because you chose to live away
> from infrastructure (heavy rail) - and you have to pay the price. I on the
> other hand choose to live walking distance from a train station; and yet I
> would support a rail extension to improve your access to public transport.
>
> I've come to realise over the last couple of days that there is something I
> look for in a technical writer, apart from the usual skills list - the
> ability to empathise with end users; to some extent to want to make their
> lives easier.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Anne
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Rod Stuart
> 6 Brickhill Drive
> Dilston, TAS 7252, Australia
> <rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
> M((040) 184 6575 V(03) 6312 5399
>
--
Rod Stuart
6 Brickhill Drive
Dilston, TAS 7252, Australia
<rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
M((040) 184 6575 V(03) 6312 5399
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