Originally Posted by meme405 (Post 8749048)

Could it be that our taxes are this high because we pay all our civil servants and employees of government run corporations ridiculous wages regardless of how mediocre or simple of a job they do? Regardless of whether or not their branch of public service manages to produce a profit?

Originally Posted by Hondaracer (Post 8748942)

Oh no doubt, obviously dealing with the people is the biggest downside to the job

Originally Posted by 6o4__boi (Post 8749137)

I honestly think it's a top down problem. From my experience, low level civil servants will do as their told and generally try to keep things lean within their powers. I would argue and say that taxes are high because individuals at the top tend to be careless with taxpayer (TP) money and some have surprisingly little to no common sense when it comes to creating and allocating budgets.

Originally Posted by yray (Post 8749199)

our kids gonna pay for it, and their kids and their their kids :drunk:

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp (Post 8749223)

WRONG! Coz I am not having kids. Not with the way how fuck up our world is.

Originally Posted by beebob (Post 8749021)

I am all for higher wages for everyone to keep up with the ever rising living costs in Vancouver. But Translink needs to stop these bullshit cost cuts.

I remember doing a research for econ class a few years back ubc to see whether the then proposed fare increase was reasonable and justified. I found out translink was actually operating at a pretty low efficiency, and fare evasion was a common problem. Don't remember the exact numbers, but they were losing 3~6 million every year due to evasions. How they managed to implement the gates so late is beyond me, and how the gate costs 200 million dollars has me jackie-chan meme.

What translink needs to do is to stop subsiding the bike lanes and other non-public transportation shit and use that money to do whatever they wanted to do instead of enforcing these BS cost cuts. If bikers want bike lanes, then they should partially pay for it. I don't see how fully subsided bike lanes paid by public transportation users and car drivers are justified. Plus, operating costs should be much lower than the last few years, if they didn't make wage cut then, why start now. The ones should be taking a wage cut are the executives. If they are managing a business that is seeing deficits constantly, and want to start making cost reduction policies on its workers then maybe start with execs first. It may not be much. but at least they would be setting a good example.

Originally Posted by mikemhg (Post 8749287)

what the bus drivers make is none of my business, I don't understand how people can feel so entitled to be in another man's business.

Originally Posted by m4k4v4li (Post 8750046)

and what about union leaders? they are like the overly paid execs you are complaining about except their job isn't to find innovative ways to grow business efficiency and profits but rather scheme of new ways to solicit higher wages and benefits (this is essentially the measure of their job performance)

unions were created during a time where there were actually serious job hazards and no basic worker rights

in today's global economy they are largely inefficient institutions propping up artificially inflated sectors

Originally Posted by vitaminG (Post 8751324)

In this age of globalization unions are needed more than ever. Workers are a commodity to most employers and it's up to us to make sure we're treated fairly. Worker rights are being eroded in many industries and jobs.

Originally Posted by vitaminG (Post 8748921)

theres a lot of worse jobs that pay less out there. but i dont think $30 is unreasonable at all for the work they do. id say its in line with other union driving jobs. they also have to deal with shit hours and split shifts, not to mention some of the people who take the bus.