atw: Re: National Broadband Network and empathy
- From: "Mark Nebauer" <nebz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:44:25 +1000
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: <http://www.abelard.com.au/> 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
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