Re: Wonderful, Customer-Responsive GSR

["Barry" <one@microsoft.com>]

Roy Wilke wrote in message <34c542a1.130938563@news.powerup.com.au>...
>On Wed, 21 Jan 1998 08:07:18 +1000, "Barry" <one@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>Roy Wilke wrote in message <34c4b114.93766312@news.powerup.com.au>...
>>>On Mon, 19 Jan 1998 10:12:04 +1000, "Barry" <one@microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Roy Wilke wrote in message <34c29212.25122969@news.powerup.com.au>...
>>>>>On Mon, 19 Jan 1998 08:29:19 +1000, "Barry" <one@microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Maurie Daly wrote in message ...
>>>>>>>In article <34C11179.41C6@sleeper.apana.org.au> Matthew Geier
>>>>>><matthew@sleeper.apana.org.au> writes:
>>>>>>>>From: Matthew Geier <matthew@sleeper.apana.org.au>
>>>>>>>>Subject: Re: Wonderful, Customer-Responsive GSR
>>>>>>>>Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 09:15:53 -1100
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>(snip)
>>>
>>>(more snip)
>>>
>(yet more snip)
>
>>My point is that airlines make profits, airport owners make profits, I
know
>>both of these as facts. The airlines would say that they pay for the full
>>cost of navigation aids and air traffic control - that I don't know but
htey
>>certainly make a significant contribution. Air fares are not much more
than
>>rail and sometimes are less. People want to travel by air - people are
paid
>>to travel by train (free pensioner concessions). What is a public service?
>
>>BC
>
>Airlines pay for the full cost of navaids? At the risk of wandering
>even further off topic, have you ever heard of something called
>General Aviation?  I'd say that they bear the lion's share of air nav
>charges, yet are prevented or dissuaded from using the major
>facilities under the current system.
>
>Whatever the transport mode, people are the most difficult of cargoes
>to carry. Unlike coal or cattle, people expect to be seated
>comfortably, be entertained and fed while en route.
>
>It would be far more profitable to airlines, shipping companies, bus
>companies and railways if we would willingly accept being transported
>in cattle crates.
>
>But I think the Germans gave that mode of transport a pretty bad
>reputation during the 1940s.
>
>What is a public service? Something which we all agree to provide for
>public benefit. Most of us are able to afford to travel by air, or
>drive, long distances. But some of us (like pensioners, for example)
>cannot. Are you arguing that pensioners shouldn't be permitted to
>travel?
>
>
>
If we are going to pay for people's travel we should not distort the
situation by only allowing them to use only one mode of transport. The
pensioner voucher should be available for any mode.

BC