Government, utilities, transportation, and lay-offs = ZERO

Maybe the recent events in the State of PA have been national news - and maybe not. But with the extent of partisan politics in this country, the sense of right and wrong and what is GOOD for the voters, those of us who actually got the politicos their jobs, well..... who cares about the voter?

Our esteemed Governor Rendell, former Mayor extraordinaire of Philadelphia, pulled a Corzine (Gov of NJ) dumb-ass move. In an attempt to get the kids of each party to set aside their own agendas and actually do some work on the overdue budget, Rendell stomped his foot and shut down what he termed "non-essential" state government services until the budget was agreed upon. So, people whose lives depend on every single day's pay were thrown out of work indefinitely while the fat cats in Harrisburg played tug of war with our lives. (Fortunately, they did reach a compromise, and our workers are back at work today, but their paychecks will be short a day's pay - major short-fall when one lives paycheck-to-paycheck. Who is going to make up the difference when the rent is due?)

One of the sticking points was a surcharge to our already overly inflated electric bills, allegedly to be used for alternative energy funding. Uh, excuse me, Governor Rendell. PECO (owned by Excelon Corporation) already charges outrageous rates for minimal usage. During the summer when people need their AC, some of them just to breathe, are hurt worst. If anything, you need to strong-arm PECO into REDUCING their rates! You should have addressed the Philadelphia-run (ineptly) gas company, known as PGW. They've admitted to having higher rates than necessary and have bragged about their right to keep them that way!

Now on to public transportation. SEPTA is the bus/train/subway service that is about as poorly managed as a mouse condo in a neighborhood of cats. Highest fares in the country, I'm told. $2 just to get on a bus, plus $0.60 for a transfer to a second bus. SEPTA deserves and needs state funding IF we are to encourage greater usage of pubic transportation and reduce usage of the SUV. SEPTA put a fare-hike in place today for weekly and monthly transpasses - from 11-20%, depending on the zone. Next month, they are eliminating transfers, so if it takes 2 buses to get to work, you will spend $4 on the trip - $8 a day for the privilege of waiting 45 minutes for a bus that is scheduled to run every 10-15 minutes. SEPTA has also decided that the $2 fare is no longer enough, and an increase is in sight. This is the company that has a strike every couple of years when contracts are up.

Governor Rendell and "esteemed" legislators: Why not address some of the real problems: Let the utility companies know that they are on notice about their rates. Let SEPTA know that you will fund them - provided they keep their fares affordable, eliminate the excess paid to upper management (private cars, etc...), and INCREASE service rather than decrease service.

You want to make money? Put some of it back into our hands. Hold utility companies and public transportation accountable. Better yet - get the municipal government out of the utility business. Allow competition for utilities AND public transportation. Guaranteed, service would get better and more quickly than one could read this blog!