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Do roads turn a profit? They're pretty important. What about the military?

chrisco255 6y ago
In Florida we have a turnpike run by a state owned corporation. It's very profitable. As for the military, it would be profitable if we could charge for services, ethically. However, I would argue that it pays dividends in a different ways and you know it. Edit reply: the post office is less useful in 2020 than it ever has been in its existence. It used to be an absolutely critical piece of infrastructure as people relied on mail for bills, communication, magazine subscriptions, etc. Now over 90% of mail is junk advertisements. People consume digital media, pay bills electronically, communicate electronically, sign documents electronically, etc. There is less and less demand for the parcel business. I'm not arguing that we should shut it down, but the prices should go up and the USPS should be able to set prices without an act of Congress and it should be able to vary postage based on distance traveled. My argument about the Florida corp running the turnpike is that it's entirely possible to run a state owned enterprise in a profitable way. The Florida turnpike is one of the best maintained with the best amenities of any road I've ever traveled on, including excellent beautiful rest areas and Tesla superchargers at every stop. Congestion is quickly delt with rapid construction of new lanes. The surfaces are kept smooth and free of potholes.
- afterburner 6y ago
  > However, I would argue that it pays dividends in a different ways and you know it. Kinda like roads and the post office huh?
- wheresmycraisin 6y ago
  Wow, a single turnpike? Time to privatize interstate travel.
jariel 6y ago
Because both roads and the military are unsuitable for privatisation. Roads represent a key problem with access, and of course, he military requires a level of commitment and responsibility far beyond what would be appropriate in the private market. Mail delivery does not have such structural limitations as you can see literally from the existence of UPS and Fedex. The question remains: 1) Why is USPS consistently bankrupt? 2) If we didn't have the USPS today, would the government create one?
- untog 6y ago
  > Mail delivery does not have such structural limitations as you can see literally from the existence of UPS and Fedex. Incorrect. UPS and FedEx do not deliver everywhere. If it is not profitable for them to do so (e.g. in rural areas), they do not deliver and instead give the package to USPS. This is the public service part. > Why is USPS consistently bankrupt? Google “USPS pension obligations”.
- afterburner 6y ago
  > Why is USPS consistently bankrupt Republican many years ago passed a law that forced the USPS to allocate budget for many many decades of pension payments in advance, something no one else is forced to do. It was a deliberate act of sabotage by Republicans in the Bush years.
  - sukilot 6y ago
    Republicans and Democrats passed that law unanimously
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
jovial_cavalier 6y ago
When Jeff Bezos starts out competing the interstate with his private roads, then you can make that argument. The fact is that roads serve their market well, and if the USPS did the same they would not be being out competed by 10 different private entities at once. I don't care if it's not their fault or that their hands are tied by regulations. The mere fact that they are in trouble is evidence that they aren't serving their purpose in their current form.
- xenophonf 6y ago
  Please note that private highways actually exist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_highways_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_highways_in_the_United...
  - jovial_cavalier 6y ago
    And they aren't out-competing publicly held roads. This shows that the roads are serving their purpose adequately.

In Florida we have a turnpike run by a state owned corporation. It's very profitable. As for the military, it would be profitable if we could charge for services, ethically. However, I would argue that it pays dividends in a different ways and you know it. Edit reply: the post office is less useful in 2020 than it ever has been in its existence. It used to be an absolutely critical piece of infrastructure as people relied on mail for bills, communication, magazine subscriptions, etc. Now over 90% of mail is junk advertisements. People consume digital media, pay bills electronically, communicate electronically, sign documents electronically, etc. There is less and less demand for the parcel business. I'm not arguing that we should shut it down, but the prices should go up and the USPS should be able to set prices without an act of Congress and it should be able to vary postage based on distance traveled. My argument about the Florida corp running the turnpike is that it's entirely possible to run a state owned enterprise in a profitable way. The Florida turnpike is one of the best maintained with the best amenities of any road I've ever traveled on, including excellent beautiful rest areas and Tesla superchargers at every stop. Congestion is quickly delt with rapid construction of new lanes. The surfaces are kept smooth and free of potholes.

afterburner 6y ago
> However, I would argue that it pays dividends in a different ways and you know it. Kinda like roads and the post office huh?
wheresmycraisin 6y ago
Wow, a single turnpike? Time to privatize interstate travel.

jariel 6y ago

Because both roads and the military are unsuitable for privatisation. Roads represent a key problem with access, and of course, he military requires a level of commitment and responsibility far beyond what would be appropriate in the private market. Mail delivery does not have such structural limitations as you can see literally from the existence of UPS and Fedex. The question remains: 1) Why is USPS consistently bankrupt? 2) If we didn't have the USPS today, would the government create one?

untog 6y ago
> Mail delivery does not have such structural limitations as you can see literally from the existence of UPS and Fedex. Incorrect. UPS and FedEx do not deliver everywhere. If it is not profitable for them to do so (e.g. in rural areas), they do not deliver and instead give the package to USPS. This is the public service part. > Why is USPS consistently bankrupt? Google “USPS pension obligations”.
afterburner 6y ago
> Why is USPS consistently bankrupt Republican many years ago passed a law that forced the USPS to allocate budget for many many decades of pension payments in advance, something no one else is forced to do. It was a deliberate act of sabotage by Republicans in the Bush years.
- sukilot 6y ago
  Republicans and Democrats passed that law unanimously
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

jovial_cavalier 6y ago

When Jeff Bezos starts out competing the interstate with his private roads, then you can make that argument. The fact is that roads serve their market well, and if the USPS did the same they would not be being out competed by 10 different private entities at once. I don't care if it's not their fault or that their hands are tied by regulations. The mere fact that they are in trouble is evidence that they aren't serving their purpose in their current form.

xenophonf 6y ago
Please note that private highways actually exist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_highways_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_highways_in_the_United...
- jovial_cavalier 6y ago
  And they aren't out-competing publicly held roads. This shows that the roads are serving their purpose adequately.