🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4ai8u1$r2e@fountain.mindlink.net>, 
    George Slade <George_Slade@mindlink.bc.ca> writes:
> 
> As for the services they can easily be delivered better, cheaper
> by private companies.  
> 

   Maybe so, maybe not. The privatization efforts the BC
government made some years ago (eg highway maintenance) don't seem
very conclusive in this respect.

> Just wait and see, I predict over the next ten years the size
> of the civil service will drop by about 75% and private companies
> will take over and do a better job.  If you don't believe me
> give me a call in ten years.
> 

   If so that will likely be due more to political dogma than anyone
making a convincing business case for privatization.

   However all of this is irrelevant to the original posters thesis.
His argument rests on presuming that the services delivered by civil
servants are of no value to the economy. One must conclude
that if said services (police, hospital care, education, ferries, etc )
were to be delivered by the private sector they would similarly be
contributing nothing to the economy, so the private sector workers
engaged in those activities would similarly not be paying any taxes.

   If you look at the original post I think it becomes clear that the
author considers only people involved in the direct fabrication of
goods to be contributors to the economy and all the rest, presumably
including computer programmers and management consultants :-), to 
simply be leeches living off the fruits of other peoples labour. It's
hardly worth debating economics with someone who so totally fails to
grasp what it's all about.

-- 
=============================================================================
Malcolm Dunnett    Malaspina University-College     Email: dunnett@mala.bc.ca
Computer Services  Nanaimo, B.C. CANADA V9R 5S5       Tel: (604)755-8738