SR comes a step nearer, outsourcing city duties Options

[Faraday]

Washington also has state-owned liquor stores.

Although we almost changed that this year.

[Draco18s]

Ah, ok. One of the last few then. Point remains: selling a profitable business does not save the (former) business owner money.

[CanRay]

Ontario own the liquor stores AND beer stores!

[Omenowl]

Firefighting used to be private in the 1800s. That was until a building burned because two rival firefighting companies came and started fighting with each other on who would put out the blaze.

My problem is that when a monopoly is given to a single private organization you get poor quality and high prices so it is best to have that as a governmental function. Once you have multiple companies that compete for business then it is best to privatize the service.

What I would have liked to see if SR 2072 use 2 police forces. When you call for an emergency you can pick either Lonestar or Knight-Errant. Centralized database and the citizenry would determine who is best for their needs.

[CanRay]

When I was working on the idea of a "Shadows of Winnipeg" write-up, I was having the concept of the police forces split into three companies. NYPD, Inc. being in charge of first response and patrol. RCMP Ltd. having the contract for Detective and Investigative work. And Knight Errant holding the contract for Riot and SWAT.

The situation had been set up like that due to Lone Star's infamous prejudice rearing it's ugly head and having them beat a Goblinized child of a city representative so that he was partially crippled...

But, like a lot of projects I had at that time... It fell apart.

[CanadianWolverin...]

But you kept the notes I hope Canray, that sounds like it was well on its way to becoming a fun place to run the shadows.

I know I am keeping my notes on what running the shadows of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and Haida Gwaii (formerly known as The Queen Charlottes) must be like. I think the mainland has already been covered a bit where those areas are just blank canvases for the most part that I get to put just about whatever I want into. Victoria being just a stones throw from Seattle makes for some fun times as well.

[CanRay]

My notes are my head. I have most of the mental picture I had no problem.

You know what, I'll see about making a new post rather than derail this one.

[hobgoblin]

Reminds me that Pennsylvania is talking about selling the state owned liquor stores* and have the following expectations:
1) State makes money
2) Employees make more money, none of them lose jobs
3) Liquor prices don't rise

#1 is only true if you look at the short term. In the long term the state loses the yearly revenue from the stores.

Most only really care about the short term these days, planning 5+ years forward is a lost art. It is all NOW NOW NOW and ME ME ME...

[CanRay]

Oh have you got that right, Hobgoblin! The things they're doing to even long-term investments like mining are... Staggering.

[Sixgun_Sage]

Problem is, hobgoblin, that Pennsylvania is losing tax revenue because their citizens don't want to pay the jacked up prices, I've got relatives there, they actually head out of state to make booze runs and still come out ahead, which says something comsidering gas prices.

[Sixgun_Sage]

Triple.....

[Sixgun_Sage]

....post.

[Draco18s]

Most only really care about the short term these days, planning 5+ years forward is a lost art. It is all NOW NOW NOW and ME ME ME...

So true. The "five year budget" cycle isn't.

[Draco18s]

So true. The "five year budget" cycle isn't.

Problem is, hobgoblin, that Pennsylvania is losing tax revenue because their citizens don't want to pay the jacked up prices, I've got relatives there, they actually head out of state to make booze runs and still come out ahead, which says something comsidering gas prices.

What that says is that PA should run the liquor stores like a business. That is, the profit goes to the state, rather than putting a tax ON TOP OF the sale price and the profit vanishing into the ether.
('Cause I can tell you, liquor prices are unlikely to go down if the state privatizes the stores)

[Sixgun_Sage]

If a company sees how much business it is losing to out of state stores? My brother in law takes fragging orders to fill when he goes on the monthly booze run. I'm sure if he counted how much change he is keeping he'd actually come out ahead.

[CanRay]

As I come from Moonshine Country, I should point out the profitability of...

Ah, better not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[hobgoblin]

Problem is, hobgoblin, that Pennsylvania is losing tax revenue because their citizens don't want to pay the jacked up prices, I've got relatives there, they actually head out of state to make booze runs and still come out ahead, which says something comsidering gas prices.

Sounds like the border trade between norway and sweden, where people will organize bus trips to max out their taxfree quota on alcohol, tobacco and other products.

[CanRay]

Or Canadians hitting the US when the Canadian Dollar is strong enough.

[Sixgun_Sage]

Something like that, Hobgoblin, and don't bring up 'shiners CanRay, got some in my family tree. Don't even need to shake it, they fall out all on their own...

[CanRay]

Let's just say I cried when one person I know had the ancestral family still went "Ka-BOOM!". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Or, so I heard, like, third-handed so I can't be used in a court of law. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Sixgun_Sage]

I have more than 1 family recipe that has nothing to do with plates and silverware.

[CanRay]

But some copper line, I bet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Sixgun_Sage]

You would bet correctly, got recipes for proper 'shine, mead, wine, and even grog.

[CanRay]

Hard to get the red dye for proper Grog. The type that eats through tankards. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Sengir]

My problem is that when a monopoly is given to a single private organization you get poor quality and high prices so it is best to have that as a governmental function.

Yeah, that's usually the problem: Stuff gets privatized by taking a huge state apparatus and changing nothing but its legal form. So you get all the fun a monopoly, just with less governmental accountability.


And copper lines are not strictly necessary, just easier to shape than stainless steel...or so I've heard from anonymous third-party sources (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)