tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post5531413865969418148..comments2024-03-27T05:18:53.795-07:00Comments on The Weaver of Grass: What do you think?The Weaver of Grasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-78816351235083502412011-02-18T09:12:34.467-08:002011-02-18T09:12:34.467-08:00Very wonderful images!!!Very wonderful images!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02223487134268047035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-6917819958684741862011-02-18T07:27:04.143-08:002011-02-18T07:27:04.143-08:00Interesting comments. This is going to take some...Interesting comments. This is going to take some sorting out and I have a busy weekend, so it will have to wait until next week - but thank you for contributing to the debate.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-84574192960100040122011-02-18T03:04:21.468-08:002011-02-18T03:04:21.468-08:00I've been thinking about this question, too - ...I've been thinking about this question, too - not because it affects me personally, for it doesn't, we have not applied for bus passes - but because it seems to me to put the whole issue of the big society to the test. In it, I suppose, we - the community - ought to be organising lifts for those who have lost out on their free rides.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-9830118426183663162011-02-18T01:32:07.469-08:002011-02-18T01:32:07.469-08:00And, while I'm at it, why not make public tran...And, while I'm at it, why not make public transport free at the point of delivery for everyone? (And opticians and dentists while we're at it).Orange Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17290773770403058838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-25165284902719621522011-02-18T01:23:41.929-08:002011-02-18T01:23:41.929-08:00It's not just the OAPs losing their free trans...It's not just the OAPs losing their free transport - think of the 160,000+ local authority jobs that are going - all the people with morgages, car loans and families who are going to lose more than everything because of this government. Its not about trees, library books and bus passes - its about people and their livelihoods. It's bad enough losing a bus pass - but the bloke who drove the bus might lose his house.<br /><br />If its the fault of all those OAPs (and bus drivers) for selling all those sub prime morgages and awarding themselves outragous million pound bad weather bonuses, then scrap the bus services and the bus passes. I don't think it is. The rich got us into this mess - and they can afford to get us out of it, and still be rich. So I don't see why the ordinary people of this country should have to do without anything. In fact its time they stuck up for themselves, took to the streets and demanded not only an end to the cuts but better working conditions, public transport, healthcare, etc.Orange Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17290773770403058838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-67423937788180762852011-02-17T21:22:39.858-08:002011-02-17T21:22:39.858-08:00Usually when the government steps back from servic...Usually when the government steps back from services, private enterprise fills the void, not only more efficiently, but more cost effectively, as well. Jobs are created, competition is fostered and consumers benefit from greater choice and better service from employees whose job security hinges on their willingness to do their jobs well and pleasantly. I am a huge fan of capitalism, as a rising tide lifts all boats.Golden Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590087189810939432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-63305317307467405612011-02-17T13:39:02.121-08:002011-02-17T13:39:02.121-08:00Like your bus pass problem here is just one proble...Like your bus pass problem here is just one problem my family had to deal with....<br /><br />My Mother who worked and paid taxes and Social Security all of her life was denied health care when even living at at poverty level she made one hundred dollars a year too much to get full Medi-Care but if an Mexican citizen living illegally in Arizona just happens to be in Tucson when she has her baby... she gets free health care, food stamps, aid to dependent children plus citizenship for the baby. And my Mother had to pay to see a doctor even with some Medi Care benefits ? ? ?<br />Plus the children of illegal parents can apply to go to University for free in California and New Mexico. I wonder how the children of legalized parents feel about not getting the same break. This shows that we in America reward law breakers and we who follow the laws get to pay the bills.<br /><br />I think an accounting of where our tax money goes and what programs are being truly used is important. <br /><br />We need to really look at where our tax dollars are going and who is benefiting.angryparsniphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236094827257446781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-79338645348682440132011-02-17T11:33:02.553-08:002011-02-17T11:33:02.553-08:00My work life always dictated that I remain firmly ...My work life always dictated that I remain firmly apolitical to the public. Now I am free to say what I think. The previous Government's transport policy was a joke albeit on occasion well intended. This Government doesn't actually care on the effect of their wide ranging cuts and will blame councils (as they always do) for cutting subsidies in areas where the public desperately need services, like councils really have a choice for the next four years. I wholly support bus passes (I'm not ready for one yet) and I wholly support the provision of a rural bus service. If the bus companies (here in East Yorkshire and Hull) were more discriminating and stopped putting buses on every ten minutes in the city and urban areas, the vast majority of which are are virtually empty, and moved to smaller more economical buses, they could afford, with appropriate if reduced subsidies, to support rural communities that could otherwise leave families and individuals stranded and isolated.Rarelesserspottedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15865928245970626612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-61031800007449339032011-02-17T11:28:50.034-08:002011-02-17T11:28:50.034-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rarelesserspottedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15865928245970626612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-57325320262146796082011-02-17T10:56:32.937-08:002011-02-17T10:56:32.937-08:00Nothing is free. If the bus pass is free and the ...Nothing is free. If the bus pass is free and the bus company is getting a subsidy from the local council then don't forget that somebody is paying and that somebody is us. When that council tax charge keeps going up and up and you start to worry about how you are going to afford it. That's where your money goes. Get real. Hi everybody.Rachel Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053924416805878169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-39871371826576916742011-02-17T09:16:48.068-08:002011-02-17T09:16:48.068-08:00I also feel I cannot weigh in as I live in the US,...I also feel I cannot weigh in as I live in the US, in a city with almost no real public transporation. Our current battle over here in this regard is about health care. I am probably in the minority of your US readers as I like my private health care and wish we were spending the time, energy and money on education reform instead.jeanette from everton terracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02025486213973874174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-72078179315895554042011-02-17T08:59:28.442-08:002011-02-17T08:59:28.442-08:00Well there's an article on this very subject t...Well there's an article on this very subject today in the Times and it set me thinking about this as well. I could afford the fare, but I know some who can't. So if I pay and she doesn't, does that not mean that she puts herself into a different catagory ,if you know what I mean. And as you say then are we back in "them and us" as your parents and mine were always wary of.Perhaps if those who can, just quietly pay, then the whole thing will sort itself out. I do think that the days of expecting something for nothing are long gone, if they were ever really valid anyway.Gerry Snapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269492251928362799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-51161603824531454622011-02-17T08:36:33.402-08:002011-02-17T08:36:33.402-08:00I side with The Solitary Walker philosophically, a...I side with The Solitary Walker philosophically, and Steven practically speaking.<br /><br />It can be done...providing services to those who need them in a reasonable, cost-effective way. <br /><br />As an American living in this age of entrenched politics, I ask myself constantly, "Why must it be one way or another? Why can't we educated, creative, entreprenurial civilizations fine the way to do both?"Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937847762010497687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-36322413622405983612011-02-17T08:34:21.934-08:002011-02-17T08:34:21.934-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937847762010497687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-56719701141593293322011-02-17T07:16:42.747-08:002011-02-17T07:16:42.747-08:00I'm not really qualified to offer an opinion (...I'm not really qualified to offer an opinion (I sort of feel like NanU & Heather, but since I'm in the U.S. I don't count), but I would like to say that I think raising the age might be a good thing. Well, again, I don't know about retirement there. Here we mostly don't retire until we're in our mid to late 60s (& if we retire earlier it's usually because we can afford to). I wonder if raising the age to 65 would have any economic impact?The Bughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07509037206264761261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-12391228004312425162011-02-17T07:10:09.077-08:002011-02-17T07:10:09.077-08:00There are many freebies that come at age 65 here b...There are many freebies that come at age 65 here but which will disappear as the Baby Boomers reach that age. Free ferry travel on weekdays is one that I'd like!<br />Means testing isn't the answer. Somehow subsidies should be linked to income tax filing - rebates could be given to those who have an income below a certain amount and no rebate to others. Everyone could pay their way, with no stigma.Pondsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407539138546412482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-85955973301792468512011-02-17T06:07:09.800-08:002011-02-17T06:07:09.800-08:00I'm with The Solitary Walker on this. There ar...I'm with The Solitary Walker on this. There are still many people with your parents' attitude - and they are the ones who slip through the net when things are means tested. Rather than worry about people receiving what they don't need (how many people actually donate their winter fuel allowance to charity for older people?), how about sparing a thought for the millions saved in unclaimed benefits - which also means the people not getting benefits to which they are entitled and which they need? <br />Once you have means testing you have people on the borderline who are not deemed eligible.<br />Means testing actually increases the cost of benefits to the taxpayer because it increases administrative costs (ok, and provides some jobs).<br />Personally, I have a bus pass which I don't use because the bus times are not convenient and it is not valid in England (I'm in Wales). so I can get into Bristol free to visit my children but the cost of crossing the city by bus is more than my petrol costs and the Severn bridge toll. daft.Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08338964992539885016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-28080254639429509882011-02-17T05:44:35.648-08:002011-02-17T05:44:35.648-08:00I'm going to have to put ditto marks under the...I'm going to have to put ditto marks under the comments of Robert, The Solitary Walker. I, too, am comfortable with being called a "socialist" if that is appropriate for people who believe that education, health care, an economic safety net, and public transportation should be available to all citizens, especially in advanced, highly prosperous nations like the UK and the USA.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03959953035812596907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-40764834797333905352011-02-17T03:54:43.120-08:002011-02-17T03:54:43.120-08:00weaver raise the taxes on gasoline powered vehicle...weaver raise the taxes on gasoline powered vehicles and divert the funds to support public transit and human-powered, or alternate energy fueled vehicles. stevenstevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132104804524716898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-22796017123019200122011-02-17T03:05:24.319-08:002011-02-17T03:05:24.319-08:00I'd just be glad to have a bus service that wa...I'd just be glad to have a bus service that was any use. <br /><br />It takes an hour and a half to get to my place of work from home if I catch the bus (19 miles). And the times they run mean that, in order to use the bus for work, I have to leave the house at around 6.50am and get back around 7.15 pm. And that's with flexi-time. <br /><br />I had to turn down a job last year because it was fixed 9 - 5 so I'd have missed the 5.25 (it wasn't in the city centre and I'd not have had chance to get out of the office and get to the bus station). The next one isn't till 6.25 so I'd have got home just after 8pm. <br /><br />So I drive.MorningAJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719744167307369768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-88605259862234507402011-02-17T02:48:18.038-08:002011-02-17T02:48:18.038-08:00Hi Good post.
Regards
Dinesh ChandraHi Good post.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Dinesh ChandraDinesh chandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258082864099940181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-86976745367028599262011-02-17T02:21:30.119-08:002011-02-17T02:21:30.119-08:00I don't think means testing is the right appro...I don't think means testing is the right approach at all. Apart from the loss of dignity, where would it all end? Wouldn't it signify an end to the free, humanitarian, democratic social services that Britain has been so proud of since setting up the Welfare State? My own opinion is that healthcare, schooling, public libraries and, yes, even rural bus services (for the over 60s) should be free for everyone. (Call me an old socialist, anyone, if you wish!) Despite all the economic problems, we are still one of the richest countries in the world. If we can afford to send troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, we can afford to help our older people and to keep rural communities alive. Perhaps those who are well-off, and really want to contribute, can choose to give up their bus pass and pay the full fare voluntarily?The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-63966089499237002962011-02-17T02:06:32.972-08:002011-02-17T02:06:32.972-08:00Who was that Mayfair Lady aristocrat that said, &q...Who was that Mayfair Lady aristocrat that said, "Anyone seen riding on public transport after the age of 30 may be considered a failure in life" ?<br /><br />'First Bus' dominate the private bus companies around here (the M.D. lives in the Royal Crescent), and they are a bunch of b*******s anyway, who cut services for elderly people if they make no money despite local government subsidies, and they've been doing that for years. There is a 'Community Bus Service' started up, but I don't know how it is funded.<br /><br />All the wealthy over 60s I know apply for a bus-pass anyway, just because they can, and even though they own cars.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-17046218885215486492011-02-17T01:34:05.417-08:002011-02-17T01:34:05.417-08:00I think it is fair to means test, as long as the m...I think it is fair to means test, as long as the means by which the tests are applied is fair. <br /><br />I do not think it is fair that people who can afford to pay fares get public transport free. I think such privileges ought to be preserved for those who cannot afford them, but who are also beyond affording them, such as the significantly aged and the chronically unemployed. <br /><br />Thanks, Pat for raising this issue, much in need of thought.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04015624747225433940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-47460988039192095252011-02-17T01:33:02.912-08:002011-02-17T01:33:02.912-08:00I have a bus pass but seldom use it and would be h...I have a bus pass but seldom use it and would be happy to pay for my bus fares. I don't really need one, yet receive it. We could also manage quite well without the winter fuel payment. How to give help where needed without any loss of dignity is the problem. For years governments have been handing out free help wholesale, whether the recipients needed it or not, which must be a contributing fact to the current state of affairs. It is also too easy for some to abuse our benefits system, further draining our coffers and probably making it more difficult for some in real need to get the help they deserve.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.com