Market Watch

[Hay Dude]

The CA “High Speed” railroad and the Jersey “Off Shore Wind” projects both failed because no significant numbers of people wanted them.
They were projects to satisfy the egos and promote the virtue of self aggrandized politicians.

 

[Torvy]

^this helps to explain why a lot of well meaning officials mess up.

To make a product or service, successful business people do a plan. If they need a loan, the bank will often expect a plan. The data needs to make sense and wastage and risk need to be identified. If you don't have research showing a need for the product/service at the price you need to be profitable, the project doesn't happen.

A similar problem with public 'services' is that they don't follow basic economic principles. When usage is down in a private business, they lower prices and cut costs. When public sector services are faced with similar problems, they raise prices in order to 'make up' the difference. Of course, higher prices drive people to find alternatives. Despite years of examples, it still happens. (USPS, toll roads, public transportation, Park fees...etc.) Then they are shocked that the program is losing money.

 

[2manyrocks]

Speaking of contruction cost overuns, Jefferson County Alabama, home of Birmingham, filed the then largest municipal bankruptcy case in 2011 with around $4.1 billion in debt mostly stemmed from corruption in building a new sewer system. Bunch of officials and contractors went to federal prison.

 

[jyoutz]

YES, of course there is. However, our federal gov__ment seldom, if ever has one.

I haven’t seen one when doing home improvement projects either.

 

[two_bit_score]

I haven’t seen one when doing home improvement projects either.

Of course you wouldn't.

 

[2manyrocks]

I used to serve on a local county board. The paid administrator had to get board approval for her budget. She presented her budget one year mentioning that our particular board could sue the county for more funding under state law even if the county commission wouldn't approve it.

Comparing her proposed budget to past years, there was some fluff in there that she had guessed at not even based on any comparative analysis. We told her to scale it back which might have been her plan all along.

Got tired of hand holding and didn't sign up for the next term, but she is still the paid administrator making a pretty nice living.

 

[Fixastuff]

I work on the rural internet project and one thing I really like about it is everything I've seen put in the ground is USA made. The conduit, the mule tape, the fiber, the 12x12s, vaults and bullet peds all MADE IN USA.

It surprised me in a good way.

 

[Hay Dude]

I haven’t seen one when doing home improvement projects either.

I never did a construction project for a customer in over 25 years of construction full time and now 10 more years part time, that came in over budget, as long as the customer did not change anything.
Once I gave my word on price, that was IT.

So you can put that in your BLM folder.

 

[two_bit_score]

It's my personal belief that the administrator got the job appointment based on her relationship to a state representative. The state rep is now out of office, but the paid administrator is still there probably until she accrues so much retirement pay that there is no longer any reason for her to keep the office.

That's what most of them do.

 

[rScotty]

I think the evidence of your own words belies your denial.

You took ny words out of context to make your point. That's just cheap.

Conversations can also be discussions for each participant to learn and add something,
they don't have to devolve into arguments to be won.

rScotty