Comments on: ICE workers preparing for “indefinite strike” in 2014

By: tica chica

tica chica — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:47:00 +0000

ICEs monopoly may be distasteful and its customer service a joke but instead of striking to protect the status quo, why don’t the rank and file realize they are cutting off their noses to spite themselves? The execs will continue to do less for more pay, ride around in new vehicles and take paid holidays to watch soccer games.

By: Yeims

Yeims — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:21:00 +0000

Monopolies, especially government monopolies, are just about the worst way to go there is. They are ALWAYS inefficient to the extreme, and extremely costly to the clients. That’s why they are against the law in many countries having greater wisdom in these matters than Costa Rica.

By: Gene Warneke

Gene Warneke — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 00:24:00 +0000

You do describe contemporary capitalistic practices quite well. However, as mhogan commented, you have also pretty much described ICE as it now exists. So, are there any choices available.

By: mhogan

mhogan — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 23:40:00 +0000

From your comments, sounds like you’re describing Costa Rica’s monopoly with ICE and the country’s socialistic leanings as opposed to other countries who don’t (although they are harder and harder to find). Better to compare Panama with Venezuela vis-a-vis monopolistic practices and see where that argument takes you. Seems like you feel the latter is preferable and where CR is headed. Jeez, some commentators sure like “to carry water” for the status quo. Better to consider CR (and other countries) escalating electricity costs on economic impacts of green romanticism.

By: Derryl Hermanutz

Derryl Hermanutz — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:23:00 +0000

The promise of privatization is more efficient service and lower product prices. The reality is first the private corporation buys the infrastructure for a fraction of what it cost to build it. Then they lay off all the service workers and replace them with an answering machine so you will never again be able to talk to a human being. This is done in the interest of holding down costs. But instead of reducing the price they charge for their cost-reduced services, they keep prices the same and use all the cost savings to jack up executive salaries and bonuses. Management, of course, need annual increases in salaries and bonuses, so the company squeezes its workers by refusing to raise their salaries and wages. Pretty soon the workers who provide electricity can’t afford to buy electricity for their own houses, because management is taking all the income from the business. Then, God forbid the private company ever needs to invest in maintaining or adding to the infrastructure, the costs are all added to everybody’s electricity bill, just like in the supposed bad old public monopoly days. We’ve seen this promise of privatization many times, and it always turns out the same. Same or higher consumer prices, crumbling infrastructure, zero customer service, unhappy workers, and fat managers sucking up all the money. What’s not to like about privatizing public services?

By: mhogan

mhogan — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:20:00 +0000

But efficiency, too, “undermines Costa Rican society” does it not?

By: Joe1047

Joe1047 — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:47:00 +0000

Maybe instead of striking they should just step it up and provide a better, more efficient service?