tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post8910370222135081137..comments2024-03-11T12:46:28.806-04:00Comments on You. Me. Ride This Crazy Train - Adventures and Observations on The GO: Metrolinx (GO Transit) does the right thing and responds to D.H.'s email, doesn't send a boilerplate replyC.J. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325979176373626807noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-24763740595915368272013-12-12T15:55:05.628-05:002013-12-12T15:55:05.628-05:00I never put forward an economic argument nor do I ...I never put forward an economic argument nor do I care to as I am not an economist and do not play one on TV.<br /><br />The fact of the matter is that the Scarberians apparently wanted and got a subway despite your objections. Yours, mine and any other individual opinion means very little by itself. <br /><br />Your hard truth is anothers falsehood or whatever so until the system changes, you'll have to accept what you get unless you lead the charge against it.<br /><br />BTW you already do subsidize each and every ride on each and every transit system in the province though yours (and my) taxes. Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-23732043561899001682013-12-12T10:28:35.776-05:002013-12-12T10:28:35.776-05:00I live in Scarborough. I object to it.
Please ke...I live in Scarborough. I object to it.<br /><br />Please keep in mind that the government pocketbook (at any level) is not infinite and is sourced from your pocket book. Well we can go into debt, but would you really lend against your children's future for your own benefit?<br /><br />There are a multitude of projects vying for government funding. We can't be single-minded and self-interested when picking how money is spent as a city, province or country. Scarborough does not need a subway: that is the hard truth. The ridership just isn't there to support it even if it was built now, and ridership magically doubled. We, as tax payers, will be subsidising each an every ride during it's operation. It makes no economic sense.<br /><br />The RT is currently crowded as there are not enough trains to serve the passengers frequently enough. Trains haven't been manufactured in a while. The RT was the original boondoggle in Scarborough, why are we repeating history by installing a lexus that serves a subset of the stops currently serviced?<br /><br />Subways are nice, so are Lexuses, but they're expensive and a luxury we can't afford. Roads are wide in Scarborough, often times with an unused centre median, that's ripe for surface transit: of the right-of-way kind. The roads in Scarborough were in fact DESIGNED to accommodate surface transit: Ellesmere and Markham road for example. <br /><br />Please, please give me a sound economic argument why a subway in Scarborough makes sense. I haven't seen one yet. I've seen a multitude to the contrary.DHhttp://www.phdcomics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-28734991417586095552013-12-12T08:32:31.099-05:002013-12-12T08:32:31.099-05:00Maybe the Scarborough folks didn't take to the...Maybe the Scarborough folks didn't take to the streets to protest because they wanted the subway? That's also a possibility.<br /><br />Just because you say it's a waste of money DH doesn't mean it's true that everyone (or at least a majority) of people will agree with your opinion.<br /><br />Good on you for getting a reply though. Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-3127189187468031742013-12-11T18:56:04.061-05:002013-12-11T18:56:04.061-05:00Wow. Shocked they replied. And it's a reasonab...Wow. Shocked they replied. And it's a reasonable reply too. Go Transit. Is that you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-82659017009223277872013-12-11T12:07:00.707-05:002013-12-11T12:07:00.707-05:00Thank you D.H. for speaking up, and CJ. I agree mo...Thank you D.H. for speaking up, and CJ. I agree more of us need to do this, this is the only way to be heard. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-13419984957904046502013-12-11T09:52:30.536-05:002013-12-11T09:52:30.536-05:00I agree 100% (notice I didn't go higher than 1...I agree 100% (notice I didn't go higher than 100, as that's not humanly possible).<br /><br />Bashing out my emails, with grammar errors and all (you try writing a cohesive email while your wife, kids, work vie for your attention) took WAY longer than I had ever expected.<br /><br />It's easy to sent a rant, and it will give you instant satisfaction, but not a whole long of traction nor actual change.<br /><br />It's another whole ball-o-wax, effort wise, to put forth a sound argument. One that will actually elicit a response. One where you are forced to think, gee, I wonder how I would have handled the situation. Or what do I know of how OTHER transit systems and how they function during my worldly travels. What do I know of OTHER companies that have world-class customer service, ones I actually enjoy doing business with and will go out of my way to do business with. <br /><br />In the non-government run agency world, we vote with our wallets. Ultimately choosing where we'll spend our money, this spurs competition, customer service, and all that good stuff. Government agencies don't need to do this they serve a niche market, and more often then not are only profitable due to government backing and piggybacking on government funded development. Since I cannot vote with my wallet, I'm going to damn well make sure they know how irate they make their customers. That takes time, effort and energy.<br /><br />Good on you CJ. I applaud the time you're taking out of your OWN personal life to bear the torch for the rest of us for FREE. You are a transit advocate, I only wish the rest of us were.<br /><br />There's a fundamental truth in politics. The squeaky wheel gets the grease: see Scarborough for the latest proof. How many of you Torontontians actually TOOK the time to oppose this absurd waste of taxpayer dollars. YOUR taxpayer dollars? I sure as hell didn't, because I thought no idiot in their right mind would make such a bumbling mistake: and I regret it each and every day (even the day I actually rode the RT).<br /><br />Logic, my friends, plays very little in politics, make noise, make your opinion heard. That is what makes Democracy work. You sitting on the sidelines and complaining to your friends does NOTHING to change things, other than piss off your friends with your whining.DHhttp://www.phdcomics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-42065818675205476332013-12-11T09:47:44.570-05:002013-12-11T09:47:44.570-05:00Is that a John Hughes clap?Is that a John Hughes clap?C.J. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03325979176373626807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-63243608071719812002013-12-11T09:30:54.952-05:002013-12-11T09:30:54.952-05:00*Slow clap**Slow clap*MATTnoreply@blogger.com