Michael Lipson
Nice update. I especially appreciated because I couldn’t
attend Tuesday night’s VNC meeting.
Denise Fast
Love your “trashy” comments.
Shawn Stern
Note: Ref statement by Reta Moser under Comments regarding new trash hauling system.
“Have just never seen anything the government has done that couldn’t have been done better by private enterprise. Get concerned when government takes over anything. And adding unions to government doesn’t help.”
Really? How about Medicare? Social Security? The post office and the metro to name a few? It’s always easy to complain about the “government” not doing things well, but my experience is that private health insurance in this country is all about making money, not helping people. I’m from Canada where EVERYONE is covered, not only those that can “pay” for insurance. The money to pay for health insurance in Canada and most other industrialized countries is taken from your paycheck, just like Medicare and Social Security. I’m not old enough to collect either, but from everyone I’ve ever talked to these systems work quite well. I’ve used the post office for my business for over 35 years and it is way better and less costly than any private companies (UPS and FedEx for example) that I’ve ever used. And the new expo line of the metro is great and the final leg of it is being built quickly and efficiently from everything I can see. It’s always easy to jump on that bandwagon blaming the “government” for every problem that exists and, while there are always inherent problems with any large bureaucracy, to blame every problem on the “government” and every solution on private industry is just simplistic and false. Unions have their problems like any “industry” that has grown too large and not adjusted and adapted to changing times, but again, to paint all unions with a broad stroke of being nothing but a problem instead of a solution is not only unfair it’s just not true.
You’re “newsletter” is increasingly becoming the “voice” of a small disgruntled group of Venice dwellers that seem to have only started to notice the “problems” in our community over the last 10 years or so. Gentrification has been happening in this part of town since the early 90’s. Venice has long been the most mixed, diverse beach community in the entire state but it is inevitable as the population of L.A. has mushroomed our neighborhood would change. I’ve lived in Venice as a renter, home owner and landlord since 1987. Yes, it’s changed and continues to change. Some of it is good, lot’s not so good, but that is not just the fault of government. It’s easy to scapegoat the “powers that be” but the reality is that change is happening and unless people stand up and say no, “government” will always take the path of least resistance.
Heather Kahler
Since knock-knock, am putting in my ADT security system.
Robert Aronson
In Triangle Update, you say:
“Have just never seen anything the government has done that couldn’t have been done better by private enterprise. Get concerned when government takes over anything. And adding unions to government doesn’t help.”
This is exactly the rubbish spouted by the Tea Party and Libertarians, whose aim is to defund government by lowering taxes, and then belittle the ability of underfunded government to respond to the needs of its citizens, then privatize government functions to crony companies who rip off the public and do not pay their non-union workers a living wage or retirement benefits. Remember Haliburton? Their billion dollar no-bid contracts replaced traditional Department of Defense functions. You know the result: astounding levels of theft and incompetence, at a higher cost to the public. This is the dirty little secret, and the frequent result, from private enterprise contracting to perform government services.
Contrary to your statement, government provides dozens of functions that private enterprise would never perform. Public schools, libraries, public safety, public roads and highways, environmental enforcement, student loans, centers for disease control, public transportation, social services, defense, postal service, trash collection, earthquake and flood insurance, electricity, water, Medicare, and disaster assistance, to name a few.
You gotta love how those small-government types have their hands out for government disaster relief after hurricanes, tornadoes, and mudslides.
Can you identify one library that’s been built, maintained, and staffed by a private company?
When a baby is born with serious health problems and the parents don’t have health insurance or hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care, do you think you can rely on private enterprise to step in and help? Is it your position that the baby should be left to die?
You are advocating for for-profit companies to take over government functions. Another name for this is the race to the bottom. An example is for-profit prisons replacing public prisons. Read about it sometime: inhumane treatment, and more expensive!
If private enterprise can provide a service for less money, you can bet that the difference is because the private company provides no benefits, no sick days, no vacation days, and no retirement benefits. Maybe you think this is a good trade-off, but it actually costs us more in the long run.
Do you know what percentage of Wal-Mart workers are so poorly paid that they are on public assistance? (the public subsidy has been calculated at about $400,000 per store) Try comparing that to the number of union workers on public assistance (probably none).
The function of government is to provide a safe environment and an opportunity for everyone to reach their full potential and contribute the most to society that they possibly can. Sometimes referred to as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” When our country was flourishing economically in the 1950’s, tax rates were above 70%, many jobs existed where one working spouse brought home enough money to support a family, buy a house, and save for college. Union jobs were over 25% of the workforce. Now, most big companies and high net worth individuals pay no taxes at all. None.
Wages have not increased in decades (adjusted for inflation), both spouses are working, taxes are at their lowest levels in decades, public schools and roads are underfunded, union jobs are in decline, and economic inequality is at the highest point since just before the Depression.
Question: how’s that trickle-down economics workin’ for ya? Do you feel like our country has been moving in the right direction since the Reagan tax cuts and the Bush tax cuts? Or does it feel like you’re being pissed on and it’s tricklin’ down? Tax cuts have ruined our country, decimated important government functions, and have not had the economic benefit promised by the very few voodoo economists that espouse them. If you took even a moment to look at the empirical evidence, you would not spout such anti-government rubbish.
Regarding Bret of YoVenice …
Mariana Aguilar
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words about Bret.
Elizabeth Wright
This was a great tribute. Really beautifully done.
Helen Stotler
Aw, I am in tears. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you.
Marilyn Roland
Nice tribute, given as an expression of esteem.
Nancy Feinberg
That was beautiful! I am so sorry for your (and Venice’s) loss. I did not know him that well. But, he was always happy to be helpful to me and be a gentleman too. I am touched deeply by his passing. May this be a reminder to us all to love each other while we have the chance.
Amy Alkon
Wow – moving writing. Sad. I was grateful for YoVenice. And just so you know, I’m grateful every time I get one of your newsletters.
Louis Leal
That was a really great piece. So sorry for your loss and all of ours.
Toni Reilly
Your letter to Cowboy was so beautiful. It made me cry. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Larna and Brian Hartnack
I’m not sure if you were aware, but Bret was a close friend of mine and Brian’s. The post you wrote is so touching and captured his essence and the tone he would have taken himself. Thank you for sharing it with everyone. He will be sorely missed.
Rick Garvey
Really nice piece…
Such sad news. Yo! was the reason I first got involved in local issues, I couldn’t stand all the haters going after the homeless and finally signed up to speak up in February 2010 and I think I’ve posted about 500 times over the years and have really enjoyed (most) of the discussions…
Although I never met Bret in person, we corresponded many times and I always thought he was a really cool guy, and a great moderator on that page.
He will be missed for sure…
Carolyn Rios
That was poignant.
Scott Kramarich
Nice. Thanks.
Randall Sears
I’m sorry to hear about Bret Haller. I always enjoyed his “YoVenice” website, even though I never met the man.
There’s nothing wrong, with passing on, on a beautiful spring day. It is a symbol of rebirth.
Inger Hartvig
I know how sad it is to lose a special friend.
I am sorry.
Jean Wood
That’s such a sweet story.
Alexandra Jamison
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of this lovely cowboy. Your tribute was lovely and I’m sure it would have made him smile.
676
Comments–11 April 2014
Michael Lipson
Nice update. I especially appreciated because I couldn’t
attend Tuesday night’s VNC meeting.
Denise Fast
Love your “trashy” comments.
Shawn Stern
Note: Ref statement by Reta Moser under Comments regarding new trash hauling system.
“Have just never seen anything the government has done that couldn’t have been done better by private enterprise. Get concerned when government takes over anything. And adding unions to government doesn’t help.”
Really? How about Medicare? Social Security? The post office and the metro to name a few? It’s always easy to complain about the “government” not doing things well, but my experience is that private health insurance in this country is all about making money, not helping people. I’m from Canada where EVERYONE is covered, not only those that can “pay” for insurance. The money to pay for health insurance in Canada and most other industrialized countries is taken from your paycheck, just like Medicare and Social Security. I’m not old enough to collect either, but from everyone I’ve ever talked to these systems work quite well. I’ve used the post office for my business for over 35 years and it is way better and less costly than any private companies (UPS and FedEx for example) that I’ve ever used. And the new expo line of the metro is great and the final leg of it is being built quickly and efficiently from everything I can see. It’s always easy to jump on that bandwagon blaming the “government” for every problem that exists and, while there are always inherent problems with any large bureaucracy, to blame every problem on the “government” and every solution on private industry is just simplistic and false. Unions have their problems like any “industry” that has grown too large and not adjusted and adapted to changing times, but again, to paint all unions with a broad stroke of being nothing but a problem instead of a solution is not only unfair it’s just not true.
You’re “newsletter” is increasingly becoming the “voice” of a small disgruntled group of Venice dwellers that seem to have only started to notice the “problems” in our community over the last 10 years or so. Gentrification has been happening in this part of town since the early 90’s. Venice has long been the most mixed, diverse beach community in the entire state but it is inevitable as the population of L.A. has mushroomed our neighborhood would change. I’ve lived in Venice as a renter, home owner and landlord since 1987. Yes, it’s changed and continues to change. Some of it is good, lot’s not so good, but that is not just the fault of government. It’s easy to scapegoat the “powers that be” but the reality is that change is happening and unless people stand up and say no, “government” will always take the path of least resistance.
Heather Kahler
Since knock-knock, am putting in my ADT security system.
Robert Aronson
In Triangle Update, you say:
“Have just never seen anything the government has done that couldn’t have been done better by private enterprise. Get concerned when government takes over anything. And adding unions to government doesn’t help.”
This is exactly the rubbish spouted by the Tea Party and Libertarians, whose aim is to defund government by lowering taxes, and then belittle the ability of underfunded government to respond to the needs of its citizens, then privatize government functions to crony companies who rip off the public and do not pay their non-union workers a living wage or retirement benefits. Remember Haliburton? Their billion dollar no-bid contracts replaced traditional Department of Defense functions. You know the result: astounding levels of theft and incompetence, at a higher cost to the public. This is the dirty little secret, and the frequent result, from private enterprise contracting to perform government services.
Contrary to your statement, government provides dozens of functions that private enterprise would never perform. Public schools, libraries, public safety, public roads and highways, environmental enforcement, student loans, centers for disease control, public transportation, social services, defense, postal service, trash collection, earthquake and flood insurance, electricity, water, Medicare, and disaster assistance, to name a few.
You gotta love how those small-government types have their hands out for government disaster relief after hurricanes, tornadoes, and mudslides.
Can you identify one library that’s been built, maintained, and staffed by a private company?
When a baby is born with serious health problems and the parents don’t have health insurance or hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care, do you think you can rely on private enterprise to step in and help? Is it your position that the baby should be left to die?
You are advocating for for-profit companies to take over government functions. Another name for this is the race to the bottom. An example is for-profit prisons replacing public prisons. Read about it sometime: inhumane treatment, and more expensive!
If private enterprise can provide a service for less money, you can bet that the difference is because the private company provides no benefits, no sick days, no vacation days, and no retirement benefits. Maybe you think this is a good trade-off, but it actually costs us more in the long run.
Do you know what percentage of Wal-Mart workers are so poorly paid that they are on public assistance? (the public subsidy has been calculated at about $400,000 per store) Try comparing that to the number of union workers on public assistance (probably none).
The function of government is to provide a safe environment and an opportunity for everyone to reach their full potential and contribute the most to society that they possibly can. Sometimes referred to as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” When our country was flourishing economically in the 1950’s, tax rates were above 70%, many jobs existed where one working spouse brought home enough money to support a family, buy a house, and save for college. Union jobs were over 25% of the workforce. Now, most big companies and high net worth individuals pay no taxes at all. None.
Wages have not increased in decades (adjusted for inflation), both spouses are working, taxes are at their lowest levels in decades, public schools and roads are underfunded, union jobs are in decline, and economic inequality is at the highest point since just before the Depression.
Question: how’s that trickle-down economics workin’ for ya? Do you feel like our country has been moving in the right direction since the Reagan tax cuts and the Bush tax cuts? Or does it feel like you’re being pissed on and it’s tricklin’ down? Tax cuts have ruined our country, decimated important government functions, and have not had the economic benefit promised by the very few voodoo economists that espouse them. If you took even a moment to look at the empirical evidence, you would not spout such anti-government rubbish.
Regarding Bret of YoVenice …
Mariana Aguilar
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words about Bret.
Elizabeth Wright
This was a great tribute. Really beautifully done.
Helen Stotler
Aw, I am in tears. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you.
Marilyn Roland
Nice tribute, given as an expression of esteem.
Nancy Feinberg
That was beautiful! I am so sorry for your (and Venice’s) loss. I did not know him that well. But, he was always happy to be helpful to me and be a gentleman too. I am touched deeply by his passing. May this be a reminder to us all to love each other while we have the chance.
Amy Alkon
Wow – moving writing. Sad. I was grateful for YoVenice. And just so you know, I’m grateful every time I get one of your newsletters.
Louis Leal
That was a really great piece. So sorry for your loss and all of ours.
Toni Reilly
Your letter to Cowboy was so beautiful. It made me cry. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Larna and Brian Hartnack
I’m not sure if you were aware, but Bret was a close friend of mine and Brian’s. The post you wrote is so touching and captured his essence and the tone he would have taken himself. Thank you for sharing it with everyone. He will be sorely missed.
Rick Garvey
Really nice piece…
Such sad news. Yo! was the reason I first got involved in local issues, I couldn’t stand all the haters going after the homeless and finally signed up to speak up in February 2010 and I think I’ve posted about 500 times over the years and have really enjoyed (most) of the discussions…
Although I never met Bret in person, we corresponded many times and I always thought he was a really cool guy, and a great moderator on that page.
He will be missed for sure…
Carolyn Rios
That was poignant.
Scott Kramarich
Nice. Thanks.
Randall Sears
I’m sorry to hear about Bret Haller. I always enjoyed his “YoVenice” website, even though I never met the man.
There’s nothing wrong, with passing on, on a beautiful spring day. It is a symbol of rebirth.
Inger Hartvig
I know how sad it is to lose a special friend.
I am sorry.
Jean Wood
That’s such a sweet story.
Alexandra Jamison
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of this lovely cowboy. Your tribute was lovely and I’m sure it would have made him smile.
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