How can Dublin Bus justify their misuse of taxpayers' money by
spending it on community support programmes when they are not a
charity, not an NGO, nor a private or public company which has mandate
for such expenditures?
As a regular Dublin Bus user, I was quite offended when I saw
advertisements about this initiative on double-deckers which I use to
commute around the city. For those readers who do not use public
transport (yet still fund it through their taxes) have a look at:
http://www.dublinbus.ie/home/community_support.asp
I view this as a collosal, indecent and illegitimate flushing of
public money down the toilet. It is perfectly fine for private and
public companies to use some of their profits to support community
programmes. Strong arguments can be made for the added value which
shareholders of private and public companies gain from corporate
social responsibility (especially in the long-run).
However, Dublin Bus doesn't have any profits and it doesn't need to
invest in social responsibility. It is a monopoly entity, protected by
the cowardice which is symptomatic of our dithering nanny state
governance. What benefit could shareholders receive from investments
in social responsibility when the Dublin Bus service is the only
option for public-bus transport?
In short, Dublin Bus do not have a mandate for this activity, nor does
it make any straegic sense. The final straw was the 5 per cent rise in
Dublin Bus fares at the start of the new year
(http://busrage.com/news28.html). This rise in fares is twice the rate
of Irish inflation and simply beggars belief. What is the extra
revenue being spent on? Community support programmes?
I demand, as an indirect shareholder/stakeholder in Dublin Bus, that
they stop wasting my money. And I also demand, as a reluctant customer
of Dublin Bus, that they stop charging me extra to subsidise
unnecessary investment in social responsibility initiatives. Its true
that Dublin Bus have a lacklustre public image, but what matter when
there is no alternative for commuters such as myself?
If I ever become Transport minister, I will not hesitate in opening up
the bus-lanes to private operators. In fact, I would also be quite
willing to invest my savings in a private bus-operator. As I'm on the
subject about the ways in which I prefer to spend my money, I would
like to offer the following caveat to the unions at Dublin Bus: I
would rather pay your social-welfare support than your wages from
Dublin Bus. I hear that Willie Walsh has experience in making a
success of low-cost transport. Why don't you ask him to set up a
bus-company and send in your CV?
BUSRAGE Discussions » Deregulation
Community Support Programmes (In the Context of Price Increases)
(4 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Oooh we are upset did we miss the bus then?Posted 3 years ago #
-
Yes...that is quite a rant over absolutely nothing.
Didn't yoiu read in the news that DB has made a surplus for two years running? If you want to complain, then you have to go right to the top—those indomitable ministers on Sráid Chill Dara.
PS. Don't wish for privatisation too quickly, unless you want the quality of both the bus' condition and the bus' time-keeping to plummet lower than DB's current status quo.Posted 3 years ago # -
People like this guy probably think that the Gardai should'nt stop him for blasting through a red light past the Luas because "he pays there wages"... Get a life, DB like any other semi-state take an active part in the community...unlike Mr.Ryan.
[posted by: Xp]Posted 3 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.