Funny, I really doubted they would ever make bleach again. Socialism is such a bankrupt system its incredible the Venezuelans just dont raid the "palace" and kill Maduro and his henchmen.

I thought they got looted by Hugo and they said screw it, took all their marbels and went home. Last thing I saw was they couldn't get the factory to work again, very Randish..

I think thats what Clorox did in Venezuela (shrugged). They just up and left - probably having taken anything of value with them.

Indeed water has a real quality in messing up engines and electrical, could be years before they fixed it, if ever.

Hello splumb,
I am familiar with the Island and the surrounding waters. There are less than 1200 residents now and quite a few of the houses are occupied on a seasonal basis. I do not believe two ferry services could survive. The licensing, regulation, cost of the ferry and maintenance costs to enter the market would be prohibitive for someone to compete. If someone did, only one business would win out and survive or both would fold considering the amount of regular traffic. If the current owner wishes to raise his prices too much then a competitor might have a shot. Unfortunately this situation is being influenced by the power of pull. There are some deep pockets with interest on the Island and also some without the same resources that band together to twist the arms of regulators. The state is strapped for cash. The residents wouldn't approve a recent ballot proposal to increase taxes to fix the dilapidated roads because they are already heavily burdened and feel the money is never spent efficaciously. The state won't build a bridge or take over the ferry service from the owner and justly compensate him. They want to appease the Harsens island constituency who want their service on someone else's dime while the government micromanages the owners operation and makes him jump through hoops for the fees they see fit. The property owners on the Island should join together, purchase the operation and/or build a bridge at their own expense. Let the owner retire or operate as he sees fit. Instead, our State, that can't even fix the potholes or contribute to the newly planned Detroit-Windsor bridge thinks they should practice fascism ... Nothing more intrusive or inefficient than big government.
Respectfully,
O.A.

If the service is really needed, AND there were loyal customers, perhaps it could be a private subscription ferry with access only by membership in a society. Keep the per trip rate as the government mandates, but access is guaranteed by a monthly subscription fee with a card. Similar to MDVIP.com with doctors, or membership in Costco or Sams club.

Sink in such a way that its not easily fixed and put back in service ! Francisco was right in AS- "this is war and we must take sides"

Well, he could also let it "accidentally" sink. OOPS the plug came out during the night...sorry.

don'tchajustloveit when a government commission gets to decide the market-clearing rates and reinvestment strategies for businesses?

Odds are, the 'commission' wants to take over the business and run it their own (profit-losing) way.

odds are excellent that johnpe1's guess is spot on.
Place your bets, ladies and gents!

It makes a statement everyone can understand.
I like it!

He should blow it up like francisco did with his mines. Never let the state actually complete their theft if at all possible.

If it were me, I would get out of this controlled business quietly. And on my last day I would either sell all my assets and move out of the country, but if that was forbidden I would do a "francisco" and blow up the boat and all the assets they wanted to take, and escape out of the country and never come back

Point for faustian bargain. And I think you may have picked out the main theme from the tangle of elements. (Knowing what the 'story' is helps me a lot in figuring out what to do next.) Perhaps you should be the reporter for the account of this incident.

Jan

Sounds like Directive 10-289 to me.

Quite possibly the level of investment required to enter the business initially made making it a manopoly essential to success. The state probably didnt want to raise the money themselves so sought soneone to do it initially. A faustian bargin was then made. So you do have a good point. However I lay a dollar to a donught that the state has changed the requirements and regulations that the vendor faces over the years and has caused the job to be unprofitable for him..

Now that, I can believe. I bet Bill and Hillary could have gotten a million donation out of this one...

What if the situation can only support one ferry? That doesn't make it a monopoly, just a situation where only one business can survive. I did not see enough informations such as traffic numbers, number of affected people etc. Just a bunch of claims and counter claims. But I did see reference to dictates from the state that "Champion can't do this or that". It's his business. It would be like ordering Greyhound to service Podunk, Michigan, Pop 6 because they have to. Tanstaffle......

Under the Carriers by Water Act, Champion's is a regulated entity under the jurisdiction of the commission.

Being regulated doesn't mean the idiots can dictate how or what he does with his business. If the state wants to have a ferry, they cannot tell a private company they cannot do anything, take on debt or even up and fold.

More moronic government dictates to individuals thet "you have to..." Guess what Michigan: I don't think so. What if the dude falls over dead? Are you going to forbid that too? Moronic imbeciles.
If they want a state regulated ferry, go buy a boat and start one, don't steal someone else's.

If he were to give an appropriate bribe, ah, strike that, I meant political contribution, to the right people, then the government would allow his monopoly to be profitable. Apparently, he didn't. A monopoly is not a guarantee of profitability. If you are slave of a cheap master, I doubt that it would be a profitable experience.

It may become a bankruptcy. When one loses the ability to set a price (or in this case even sell at all) one's goods or services, it is time to shrug.

just supposin' -- and now, they're at loggerheads
over a rate increase which *he* has initiated ...
go figure!!! -- j
.

Cynic.

Jan
(or "Realist"...)

Sounds more like an impending bankruptcy to me.