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by wernercd 3102 days ago
Because, by and large, I don't trust people?

I love my country and for the most part trust the Government... but on the same token - you'd have to be blind not to see how inefficient they are compared to private organizations (IE: Post Office compared to FedEx. Private Hospitals compared to the VA.)

You'd also have to be blind to not see blatant growth and abuses of privileges. The ACA growing government meddling in healthcare. Snowden - and similar - releases showing abuses. Daily revelations about different groups abusing their privileges.

"Arguments like this" continue to be made because examples are PLENTIFUL of how inefficient, self serving and abusive large organizations get. The same can be said of Unions - which are great in some aspects... horrible in others.
3 comments
mikeash 3102 days ago
The Post Office will send a letter to the other side of the country for 49 cents. How much would that cost from FedEx? They’re pretty competitive for packages too.
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brohoolio 3102 days ago
Post office has a slightly different mission than fedex. The post office connects the entire country. Which means you’ll have losses in remote places. But the country as a whole benefits from having that infrastructure in place to be able to send a letter to everyone.

In terms of private hospitals you’ve obviously never had to pay a bill from them. They engineer the system to maximize profits, which is different than getting people out the door as efficiently as possible.

Large institutions like the post office / va have problems. I’d argue large companies often have similar problems. But the distinction between what problems these orgs are solving and what private companies are solving is a very important distinction.

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yardie 3102 days ago
I see someone has swallowed the right wing propaganda hook, line, and sinker. The VA treats vets in all sorts of conditions. Rich, homeless, retired, and recently discharged. Btw, all the bad news you hear from the VA, like Walter Reed, that comes from the privately contracted section of the hosipital. You know the guys who have a financial incentive to deliver the shittiest service contractual allowed.
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