atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
- From: Rod Stuart <rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:43:52 +1000
I am sorry, but that is out of the question Geoffrey. I wouldn't want to
spoil the drama and excitement for you. Oz didn't appear in the trailer but
plays a significant role in the movie. Just relax and watch the show.
On 23 August 2010 09:41, Geoffrey Marnell <geoffrey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Rod
>
> I've got a few hours free this afternoon. Can I borrow your crystal ball. I
> promise to look after it and polish it before I give it back to you. I'll
> even give you half the dosh I will then be confident of winning in next
> Saturday's tattslotto.
>
> Yippeee
>
>
> 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:* Sunday, August 22, 2010 6:39 PM
>
> *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Subject:* atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
>
> 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
>
--
Rod Stuart
6 Brickhill Drive
Dilston, TAS 7252, Australia
<rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
M((040) 184 6575 V(03) 6312 5399
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