DRIVER Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 'Prime time' However, he suggested that by launching fares for pensioners, it would encourage them not to use the buses at that time allowing a reduction in services. "The plans are born from the need to deal with 'exceptionally difficult financial circumstances," he said. "Taking one bus out of circulation would save £250,000," he said. MQ is a walking PR disaster. I'm trying to work out what he's saying here. So he wants to encourage them not to use them during 'prime time' allowing for a reduction in services, but surely the prime time services are the ones that are needed? What buses does he want to 'take out of circulation'? The man is a total idiot, Have they not just taken delivery of some new bus's, maybe they have got the final demand for payment and are a bit short to py the bill . if he knocked on my door asking for votes i would fall over crying with laughter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice of Reason Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 The thin edge of the wedge. This on an Island where there are over 200 solicitors (advocates) who are in the main turning their noses up at legal aid because it doesn't pay them enough (£150 per hour). That may well be my twisted slant on things but does it make it any less relevant? The Island is awash, awash, awash with money. It's just that the greedy bastards who we entrust to distribute the wealth are, well, greedy bastards. It's a fucken fact. Well it's not a fact actually. Have you any evidence that advocates are "turning their noses up at legal aid" - I'd like to see such evidence. Personal tax allowances higher than the UK, 10% for the lower band after that,18% thereafter. Beats the UK (and most others) in terms of in terms of tax take on those on lower incomes. Yes your views are a twisted slant of things, and as such are less relevant. You are making emotive statements with no basis in fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemonday Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Personal tax allowances higher than the UK, 10% for the lower band after that,18% thereafter. Beats the UK (and most others) in terms of in terms of tax take on those on lower incomes. Balanced out I would suggest - for those on lower incomes by the far higher local prices for food, utilities, in fact all the basics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazir Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 OK revolutionary idea. But let be buses be free for all! Many's the time I've been on a half full bus and been the only one one who has paid a fare. It would prove our green credentials. OK obviously revenue is going to be lost, but how much? I'd like to see the figures. THis was costed when Peter Karran suggested free travel on the buses. It would cost a lot. A better idea would be to privatise the buses and get the politicians out of the system. Any contract could specify the mimimum number of jourenys on each route etc Government shouldn't be running The Gaiety Theatre and entertainment complex Villa Marina either. They should be setting the policy not booking the acts. Then it would work as well as the Steam Packet and FlyMaybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazir Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 The thin edge of the wedge. This on an Island where there are over 200 solicitors (advocates) who are in the main turning their noses up at legal aid because it doesn't pay them enough (£150 per hour). That may well be my twisted slant on things but does it make it any less relevant? The Island is awash, awash, awash with money. It's just that the greedy bastards who we entrust to distribute the wealth are, well, greedy bastards. It's a fucken fact. Well it's not a fact actually. Have you any evidence that advocates are "turning their noses up at legal aid" - I'd like to see such evidence. Personal tax allowances higher than the UK, 10% for the lower band after that,18% thereafter. Beats the UK (and most others) in terms of in terms of tax take on those on lower incomes. Yes your views are a twisted slant of things, and as such are less relevant. You are making emotive statements with no basis in fact. I find myself agreeing with Voice of Reason here. %age says that there are 200 advocates. That may be true. In fact I suspect there are a good deal more lawyers than that. He seems annoyed that they generally don't do legal aid. However, I would suspect that most of them aren't able to. Not wanting to stand up for the legal profession too much here but the majority will specialise in say conyenancing, taxation or trust law etc (us being a tax haven and all) which is not the kind of things that the poverty striken plebs (no offence meant) would need legal aid for. Also, I have met several lawyers who do do legal aid and suspect that the position for the average poverty-striken pleb (no offence intended) is, if anything, slightly better than in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Has Martin Quayle ever made a good decision? He ballsed up TT entertainment, has no strategy for the IOM to participate in the UK home holiday trend and now this. He should consider his position as he is a waste of space in this role, and possibly any other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triskelion Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Yet more evidence that elected officials should not be running departments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgarian Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Yet more evidence that elected officials should not be running departments. I don't know if it was Quayle's idea in this case - I suspect it was the idea of a civil servant- and anyway, Graham Cregeen is the member responsible for transport within tourism. I don't know how involved MHKs are in running departments, and i suppose it varies, but i think most of the decision making is done by civil servants. MHKs are really just representatives of a department in Tynwald, to act as spokesmen and answer questions etc. I don't think they really "run" departments, although they do have the power to make major decisions. I don't know which is worse - elected but unqualified politicians, or unelected but possibly more qualified civil servants running public services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellyup Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Moaning does a bit of good but testicular grips on politicians is the real way for the OAPs (and anyone else) to get their way. Is that right ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellyup Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 What's the rationale behind funding OAPs transport? It must be a job creation scheme in public transport, is it? And perhaps for fear that if they stay still too long they will get rusty (the buses that is, not the old people)... i'd rather see a bus full of coffin dodgers paying nothing than be stuck behind them trying to drive themselves around at 20 mph. What a delightfully quaint phrase is this a manxism? Bear in mind that one day - and that day shall come all too soon my son you too will be a coffin dodger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellyup Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 A decision Followed quickly by A reversed decision Cue Youtube Video - Don't make a decision in the Isle of Man 'Oooh Dont make a decision in the Isle of Man People will moan as soon as they can Any new ideas get flushed down the pan Oh don't make a decision in the Isle of Man' I wonder who would like to be filmed singing it? I know of a lady who might be able to help you out here..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manshimajin Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 An eerie coincidence: Martyn Quayle "The plans are born from the need to deal with 'exceptionally difficult financial circumstances - taking one bus out of circulation would save £250,000," Total cost of LegCo and HoK travel allowances £258,000. It is a shame that Tynwald members do not seem to recognise through their own behaviour and some of the extravagant decisions they have made in relation to the use of taxpayers' money that we are living in 'exceptionally difficult financial circumstances'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newsbot Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 A plan to charge pensioners in the Isle of Man for peak time bus journeys is put on hold by the government. Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...man/8181756.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanxfella Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 A plan to charge pensioners in the Isle of Man for peak time bus journeys is put on hold by the government. Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...man/8181756.stm Makes me wonder what the "other options" are as I understand the reason for the problem is that they bought the wrong new buses and they can't get anywhere near the same number of kids on them at peak after school times as they have individual rather than bench seats so they had to try to kick the grannies off them instead. It would seem unresolvable other than spending several more millions on buses more suited to the job. But then government and spending is always a win win situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manshimajin Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I don't know if it was Quayle's idea in this case - I suspect it was the idea of a civil servant- and anyway, Graham Cregeen is the member responsible for transport within tourism. I don't know how involved MHKs are in running departments, and i suppose it varies, but i think most of the decision making is done by civil servants. MHKs are really just representatives of a department in Tynwald, to act as spokesmen and answer questions etc. I don't think they really "run" departments, although they do have the power to make major decisions. I don't know which is worse - elected but unqualified politicians, or unelected but possibly more qualified civil servants running public services. You are quite right that it may not be his idea...but his/their job at a minimum is to assess the effect on the public of ideas from the Public Servants in their departments and to step in when they feel something is not in the public interest. In this case Martyn Quayle was the spokesperson - so it is he who has to take the flak. This is yet another example of PS failure cost. Spend money developing an idea and then when you see how people react spend more money on looking for an alternative. Why not test the idea out first on a few representative users and gauge their reactions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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