The right wingers always love the idea of privatization. Years ago the British Conservatives broke apart the rail system that worked fine for years and replaced it with a privatized system that has consistently been inefficient. The results of this latest report should come as no surprise to anyone. Every time I travel to the UK I get sticker shock when I purchase a train ticket. Now they're looking at ways to trim costs for travelers and are asking the rail operators to be more efficient as well. Privatizing only makes it worse, so just accept the costs and understand that they are for the broad benefit of the population. Not everything has to be a cash cow.
With so many conservatives still calling for privatization around the world, remind me again why privatization is so great?
An overhaul of the fares system was the most eye-catching recommendation in a study by Sir Roy McNulty, former chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. The report into rail industry costs also outlined changes to slash the £5.2bn state subsidy, including phasing out ticket offices in small stations, removing conductors and giving train operators control of maintenance on some routes.Keep this in mind the next time you hear a Republican scream for privatization. The results in the US have hardly been different. These programs shift money to well connected friends or campaign contributors and leave taxpayers with higher costs. Before the half-wit House GOP privatizes the TSA, they need to actually prove that such a scheme would financially work. Then they can explain how privatized the TSA actually can deviate from the TSA mandated rules, which admittedly stink.
McNulty said fares in the UK were 30% higher than in France, Holland, Sweden and Switzerland, with operating costs running 40% higher than those countries. "There is a clear imperative to give both farepayers and taxpayers a better deal," McNulty said. "This industry has a serious cost deficiency issue to address. Everyone concerned must be aware that passengers are paying above the odds."
