Goverment run vs Privately run services.

Gibberish · Dec 16, 2009

With the last hit to the Health care reform and many vocally against government run services I was wondering what other services should the government not be providing and should be left to the private industry to create and provide to citizens?

You can add more services in your response but the one's in the poll are services that I see as the same category as health care.

Please provide a reason why for each or your top few.

Gibberish · Dec 16, 2009

I forgot to add Social Security to the list. I personally would love to not pay social security. I don't need the government creating or saving for a retirement plan for me and I don't care to pay towards others retirements because they were to fiscally inept to save/plan on their own.

Strucky · Dec 16, 2009

Oops,I voted for "emergency response" thinking it was emergency rooms...:3oops:

Gibberish · Dec 16, 2009

Strucky said:
Oops,I voted for "emergency response" thinking it was emergency rooms...:3oops:

Sorry it should have been more clear. I mean EMT's (Ambulance). Though I believe most are privately held but paid through hospitals. They may not qualify as "government run" anyway.

Strucky · Dec 16, 2009

Gibberish said:
Sorry it should have been more clear. I mean EMT's (Ambulance). Though I believe most are privately held but paid through hospitals. They may not qualify as "government run" anyway.

:lol: Then I take back my Oops.

Manc Skipper · Dec 16, 2009

Not to make a partisan point but the poll is biased, since it does not allow a vote for none of the above.

samsmart · Dec 16, 2009

Gibberish said:
With the last hit to the Health care reform and many vocally against government run services I was wondering what other services should the government not be providing and should be left to the private industry to create and provide to citizens?

You can add more services in your response but the one's in the poll are services that I see as the same category as health care.

Please provide a reason why for each or your top few.

I didn't vote for any of those because I think those are all basic essential services that government needs to provide. Now, I don't mind private schools, private security, or private health care. But I don't think that the government shouldn't provide those services just to let only private services provide them.

Gibberish · Dec 16, 2009

Manc Skipper said:
Not to make a partisan point but the poll is biased, since it does not allow a vote for none of the above.

It's because what you think the government should be part of isn't the point of this poll. It's what the government should NOT be a part of.

I find it interesting that people are against government providing health care but have no problem with the government providing safety, education, and transportation.

Dav · Dec 16, 2009

I think that many of those things should be a mix of private and public responsibility, rather than all or nothing.

WI Crippler · Dec 16, 2009

Using the term "government run" is kind of a catch all or misleading. In some of these cases I am in favor of government running these services, but only on a local or state level. I really wouldn't support any of these issues on a federal level, except maybe social security, and I am even torn on that. Anyway, I went ahead voted for privately held services to be provided in the area of healthcare and transportation, but thats really because I strongly oppose them at a federal level moreso than the other options. I have no problem with states or cities providing those services to their people.

The basis of government run services is the relationship we want to have with our governmnet. I don't want the budget for my cities/states emergency response, education, transportation, etc... to be determined by 500+ members of Congress that have no interest or intimate knowledge of the population they would be affecting. Pelosi/Boxer out of California should have no sway over my kids education in NC.

EpicDude86 · Dec 16, 2009

With regards to my vote for Education and Transportation:

Private education works, often on par or better than Public education systems, but it should by no means be exclusive. Everyone deserves at least a enough education to be a productive citizen.

Transportation is another one split for me, Public Transit within cities or largely traveled routes should be 50/50, just for the sake of those who want to either travel cheap or those who want to travel fast/fancy. Larger scale transportation like planes, some train lines, long distance busing, etc. should be private because these industries are, most importantly, not necessities or rights (You don't have the right to affordable interstate travel :lol

and secondly it's one less large industry that the government would have to create a bureaucracy for.

Cilogy · Dec 16, 2009

Gibberish said:
With the last hit to the Health care reform and many vocally against government run services I was wondering what other services should the government not be providing and should be left to the private industry to create and provide to citizens?

None of the above, which is why getting rid of the public option for health care is bullsh*t.

Kandahar · Dec 16, 2009

Police

Absolutely not. There is no way the private sector can do this without undermining the government's authority.

Firefighters

No. It would be economically inefficient, morally repulsive, and dangerous to "innocent" people for fires to be allowed to spread if someone didn't pay their bill to the firefighting corporation.

Emergency Response

No. Same reason as firefighting.

Health Care

This should be publicly funded, at least for people who can't afford it. As for who actually RUNS health care...I think it should be a mix of public, private, and non-profit institutions.

Unemployment

Not sure what you mean...unemployment insurance? I think the most economically efficient thing to do would be for the government to provide unemployment insurance. The length and amount you'd receive would depend on your wealth and previous income, and the status of the overall economy.

Welfare

This is kind of broad. Nearly all of these other things could be lumped under the "welfare" heading. How are you distinguishing this from unemployment insurance specifically?

Education (Public schooling)

My thoughts on education are similar to my thoughts on health care. The government should fund it, but there should be a mix of public/private/nonprofit institutions that actually RUN it. I'd like to see the United States move toward a voucher system.

Transportation (Trains, buses, etc.)

Definitely should be government-run. The private sector just cannot do this efficiently. At all.

EpicDude86 · Dec 16, 2009

Kandahar said:
Absolutely not. There is no way the private sector can do this without undermining the government's authority.

Agree'd, except maybe some private security firms? Not all of them are evil.

Kandahar said:
No. It would be economically inefficient, morally repulsive, and dangerous to "innocent" people for fires to be allowed to spread if someone didn't pay their bill to the firefighting corporation.

Agree'd. This would scare the **** out of me.

Kandahar said:
No. Same reason as firefighting.

Agree'd

Kandahar said:
This should be publicly funded, at least for people who can't afford it. As for who actually RUNS health care...I think it should be a mix of public, private, and non-profit institutions.

Well said.

Kandahar said:
Not sure what you mean...unemployment insurance? I think the most economically efficient thing to do would be for the government to provide unemployment insurance. The length and amount you'd receive would depend on your wealth and previous income, and the status of the overall economy.

It might serve to be a little boost to private companies to keep their employees employed if they also had to pay into an unemployment fund :lol: but also, for the most part, agree'd.

Kandahar said:
This is kind of broad. Nearly all of these other things could be lumped under the "welfare" heading. How are you distinguishing this from unemployment insurance specifically?

I'd prefer if we didn't have a Nanny State, but still aid to those who TRULY need it.

Kandahar said:
My thoughts on education are similar to my thoughts on health care. The government should fund it, but there should be a mix of public/private/nonprofit institutions that actually RUN it. I'd like to see the United States move toward a voucher system.

Agreedopotamus

Kandahar said:
Definitely should be government-run. The private sector just cannot do this efficiently. At all.

Eh...they both kind of suck at it, but take a look at my response and tell me what you think of that idea. I think it needs more private than public, but definitely not 100% private.

earthworm · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Government run vs Privately run services.

All of those listed should be government run.
This does not mean that the government does a better job.
Both have their problems.
As far as health care goes, we need a system very similar to the more advanced nations in the world. Its high time we joined them.
And if this is socialistic, then, so be it. Private health care is fine for our 20% wealthy; for most of us, its a government run program, or nothing.
Health care is now a right; it was a luxury during the olden days, but things change.

Kandahar · Dec 16, 2009

EpicDude86 said:
Eh...they both kind of suck at it, but take a look at my response and tell me what you think of that idea. I think it needs more private than public, but definitely not 100% private.

You seem to be talking more about the actual mode of transportation, whereas I was referring mainly to the infrastructure. By all means, let's keep the production/operation of buses, trains, and planes private wherever it's commercially viable. But there is simply no way the private sector has the incentive to build a sufficient network of roads, rail, airports, or metro stations.

Kushinator · Dec 16, 2009

All of the above. Although they should all be managed within the scope of government.

Cilogy · Dec 16, 2009

Goldenboy219 said:
All of the above. Although they should all be managed within the scope of government.

In that case, let's privatize the entire political system. We can't have a nation where politics are controlled by the government.

That's un-American.

EDIT: Look at this, clear proof that the government is also controlling time. Time should be privatized.

Proof of Federal Control of Time

EpicDude86 · Dec 17, 2009

Kandahar said:
You seem to be talking more about the actual mode of transportation, whereas I was referring mainly to the infrastructure. By all means, let's keep the production/operation of buses, trains, and planes private wherever it's commercially viable. But there is simply no way the private sector has the incentive to build a sufficient network of roads, rail, airports, or metro stations.

OHHH infrastructure, definitely Government. I don't want 'imminent domain' (right term?) given to any private firm...

Kal'Stang · Dec 17, 2009

Police: Are not federal run. They are state run. With some federal regulation.

Firefighters: Again, not federally run, they are state run or union or voluntary run. Again with some federal regulation.

Health care (EMT's): Again, not federally run, they are state run (where applicable). Again with some federal regulation.

Unemployment: I'm assuming that you are talking about unemployment checks? I personally think that such things should only be given out if something happens to the company that they had worked with. Like a natural disaster. Beyond that the government should stay out of it. If you are talking about it helping people get jobs...well I think that it should be done privately.

Welfare: They made the biggest mistake when this was formed. They made it to where people could live off of it indefinately. There is nothing about it that promotes getting the person back into a job. Beyond that I think about it the same as I do unemployment.

Education: I am torn on this one. On one hand I think that they should leave it up to the states in what should be taught. On the other hand I understand why they do regulate it. Before the Civil War and during Segregation taught us those reasons.

Transportation (Trains, buses, etc.): The Federal government does need to make sure that these are done right as trains and airplanes and roads (ie buses) have a major effect on environment. There is also the matter of national security were these things are concerned. 9/11 is the biggest example possible for airplane regulation and national security.

Gray_Fox_86 · Dec 17, 2009

EpicDude86 said:
secondly it's one less large industry that the government would have to create a bureaucracy for.

One of the greatest things the government enjoys is having bureaucracy. You might not like it but the people in the government do.

Gray_Fox_86 · Dec 17, 2009

I voted for everything to be run by the private sector because the government sucks and I know if I was allowed to protect myself I could better serve as my own police force than the current one.

Gibberish · Dec 17, 2009

Kal'Stang said:
Health care (EMT's): Again, not federally run, they are state run (where applicable). Again with some federal regulation.

Should Universal health care be state run? Should California have the ability to offer all citizens health care through the state government?

EpicDude86 · Dec 17, 2009

stalin_was_a_nice_being said:
I voted for everything to be run by the private sector because the government sucks and I know if I was allowed to protect myself I could better serve as my own police force than the current one.

Riiiiiight, allow citizens and private entities to do Policework.

:lol: you think you dislike the Po-Po now? Wait til they are merely governed by Government statutes and really have quotas...

Kal'Stang · Dec 18, 2009

Gibberish said:
Should Universal health care be state run? Should California have the ability to offer all citizens health care through the state government?

It should be up to the individual states if they want their own Universal Health care or not period. The federal government should stay out of it beyond making sure that bad drugs don't get let out to the public. This is of course my own personal opinion.

And if California wants to do it then that's up to them. I don't live there so I don't really care.

Goverment run vs Privately run services.

Which of the below services should be privately run?