Airlines were quite happy and made decent profits until deregulation came in in 1978. By the mid to late ’80s, with all the price cuts, no one made money, or if they did, not for long.

Most of the majors also had to replace their fleets with newer planes as the 707s and DC-8s became too old.

It wasn’t long before we started seeing some famous names either go bankrupt and fold or seek bankruptcy protection. Famous Airlines such as Pan Am, TWA, Republic, Braniff, and Canadian Pacific couldn’t last. Many of these excess planes were purchased or leased by quick start-ups offering even lower fares.

The effect was a glut of planes and seats on most routes. While many smaller cities ended up getting air service, the quality of the service was poor. Many cities ended up subsidizing their airports just for the privilege of having regularly scheduled flights.

So while deregulation reduced flying or ticket costs, much of the costs has been moved to other areas.

Certain things are difficult. Basic services like travel are very difficult. That’s why most airlines piss off their customers and lose money. If you take any 5 years in the airline industry (you pick the years, I don’t how far back you go) you will never make back their ROI. Compare that to Amtrak for revenue and customer satisfaction and you might be surprised.

It’s just right wing whining again, which I find just as annoying as left wing whining.

And our Post Office is losing money…as is Amtrak, every year…

…

the law does not require that the Postal Service make a profit — only break even. Still, the US Postal Service has averaged a profit of over $1 billion per year in each of the last five years.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/uspsabout.htm

In our area, Dial a Ride costs about $20 per passenger…which is [sic] gets in Government subsidies, and it loses money every year…

Which is a service set up to assist handicapped, elderly, and others needing transportation where public transportation is either unavailable or can not be used. The service transports people to doctor and other appointments and to do their shopping. Compared with other forms of assistance, it is efficient and cost effective. Dial-A-aide is not supposed to make money!!!

Is your taxi wheelchair accessible and would you help the passenger? Nope, gypsy hacks don’t provide any services.

Four hours in an office to get your license renewed? Ya right. Maybe if you weren’t spending so much time making new friends in the bathroom you would have been out faster.

I once spent almost six hours at a DMV outlet. That included about three hours of written testing and another three hours of practical testing for my motorcycle license. Much of that was spent waiting for others to finish as we were tested as a group. BTW, it was a private outfit that did the testing.

Eough!!! Your pronouncements are nothing more than continued bullshit. You continue to invent crap and regurgitate the bullshit your mentor, Boss Limpdick spews. May your god have mercy on your sorry ass.

#61 Thanks for making my point.

In our area, Dial a Ride costs about $20 per passenger…which is gets in Government subsidies, and it loses money every year…taxi’s average fare is under $10…and they make profits.

Fusie hasn’t been the same since he and Elmer Fudd took that ufo ride….

You do know that is a state run thing right? Can you tell me what state you live in because in all the other states it is almost the worst thing to try to deal with. Takes me an hour to tab my gas guzzling jetski.

Christians care for the sick, unlike liberals who use Government to steal from the rich, and give to themselves and the poor, Christians donate their own time and money to feed the sick and provide them with health care.

Its what we do. For the woman to call, and slander Beck as uncaring, was outrageous.

Using satire, irony, and humor, Beck made his point.

Could he have done better…perhaps, but it was live…no benefit of hindsight…

You critics couldn’t make music rubbing your hind legs together, let alone host a live show debating the controversial issues of the day…as Beck does.

It will always operate poorly…witness Amtrak, Post Office, etc…or more relevant, Medicare and Social Security, both going broke.

Amtrak is run by the Federal Government because the private railroads said they didn’t want them. The Amtrak Board fired most of the top people and replaced them with Bush sycophants who promptly screwed the pooch.

The Post Office is run as a private business and shows a profit.

And although you didn’t name it, the government run motor vehicle licensing offices are all models of efficiency, courtesy, and speed. Which is why you didn’t mention it.

Hey, my tax refund was in my bank in less than 48 hours after I filed it. Can you name one private company that quick to give back my money?

Medicare has the lowest overhead and the lowest refusal of care of any health care provider in the US.

The Republicans care more about ruining Social Security than fixing it. Even though the warnings started emanating almost 10 years ago, all the Republicans could do is continue to use it as a cash fund to finance tax cuts.

So what other programs are poorly run by the government?

What you failed to see, was Government living within its means…

Alaska takes in almost $2.00 from the Federal Government than is paid back in taxes.