[lbo-talk] why public transportation projects in US are so expensive

[Wojtek S]

[WS:] I had a similar experience.  When you mention corruption and
kicbacks in public - private arrangements (e.g. charter schools)
people tend to accept it, but that does not mean they would question
the principle of private business ownership.  Instead they revert to
moral argument, like need to honesty, morals and what not.

One of the biggest problem, in my opinion, is that most people fail to
distinguish between government as public administration and government
as political parties.  The latter are invariable corrupt, the former
is not, but people typically conflate the two and claim that
"government" is corrupt and inefficient.  When they make a
distinction, however, their opinions tend to change.

Case in point.  After the big quake in Santa Cruz in 1989 the local
government started a shuttle service between Santa Cruz and San Jose,
due to extensive road damage.  Many people used it and liked it.
However, the shuttle replaced a very crappy private bus service
(Peerless) and owners threatened to sue.  Public hearings were held,
and the public support was overwhelmingly with the government-run
shuttle service.  In the end, the shuttle won.

The amount of brainwashing with private business mentality in the US
is truly mind boggling, however.  I am not sure how to effectively
counter it.

-- 
Wojtek

"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."