Originally posted by VoiceOfReason Ohh, but they will. Think about where the government gets its money.
Uhmmmmm, yeah!
Originally posted by normhead If the Government mandates changes that end up saving the environment and ultimately save consumers money as in more efficient vehicles... should the government then reap the rewards by keeping the savings? The Government seems to be somehow banned from making a return on it's investments... wat wid dat?
A government sets policy that saves folks billions and they are criticized for getting too big. A privates corporation does the same thing while taking half of the billions saved as profit, and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. There's a double standard here.
Uhmmmm, no!
[EDIT:] Actually, clarification. I often have this discussion in greater detail with friends and acquaintances. You'll understand, I think.
Government is a combination of regulations and restrictions on freedoms which are administered by people. On balance the restricted freedoms are deemed to have less value than the 'benefits' the restriction should return (some will always argue with the calculus of any individual case). The irritant always seems to come down to the people administering the restrictions.
But when people administer government with care and attention it works well.
To illustrate the point I nearly always relate an interaction I had with the Ranger at an entry point for the Quetico Provincial Park as the Adult Tour Leader for a group of American teenagers. I
could say restricting entry to 3,300,000 wilderness acres to 9000 canoers at a time (about 900 going in each day for ten days) is an overly strict regulation - but here's where it works --
- Our entry occurred 5 minutes before the Entry Point should have closed for an hour for the Ranger's lunchtime
- We were fully organized and prepared, with all our forms and permits and passports
- Our group was quiet, patient and politely waiting its turn
- Other grioups were impatient and clearly ill-prepared
The Ranger invited my group to check through ahead of the other groups before she went to lunch. Our young Crew Leader presented all our documents in order without assistance from me or our Guide. He was polite and appreciative and smiled a lot. She was gracious. We completed the check through just at her lunch break.
Out of the blue this young teenager asked, "Do you accept souvenirs?" The Ranger replied, "Things of small monetary value, yes, but not money." He dipped into his haversack and pulled out a commemorative tour patch we had had made for the trip. She smiled, thanked him and suggested a special side trip on the itinerary to see a pictograph we had not known about, taking five or so minutes out of her lunch. After all the thanks I caught her eye, gave her a nod and a mouthed Thank You and she whispered, "Nice kids. Have fun."
Interestingly, one of the groups that was bumped complained rather vociferously as we left. I wonder how long they waited.
Now, a part of me is irritated that a Park Ranger used her power to make the other group wait - but the larger part of me knows my kids had a better trip - and that Crew Leader had a tiny life lesson - because government worked that time.
And that's why I won't buy a K-S1
Last edited by monochrome; 08-27-2014 at 07:36 AM.