Senate's Own Restaurant Lost $2 million

[KG4JYD]

U.S. Senate Can't Even Run a Restaurant

The U.S. Senate constantly set rules for the American economy, and tells Americans in excruciating detail precisely how to conduct their economic affairs.

Yet the Senate's all-powerful central planners can't even run... their own restaurant.

For over 40 years the Senate's government-run restaurant and affiliated cafeterias and coffee shops have lost stunning amounts of money: about $2 million this year alone, reports the Washington Post.

Furthermore, the food and the service are lousy -- "noticeably subpar," according to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). It's so bad, in fact, that many Senate staffers prefer to trek over to the tastier House restaurant -- which, not coincidentally, has been run by private contractors since the 1980s.

Now these fed-up senators have decided to... privatize the Senate food service.

In a late-night voice vote -- yes, you can bet some of them were embarrassed -- the Senate voted to contract out its restaurant to the same company that handles the U.S. House food services.

Unlike the money-pit Senate bureaucracy, the private company running the House restaurant makes a nice profit -- while offering better food, more choices, and better service.

The company expects to do the same for the Senate -- earning a profit within three years while paying nearly a million dollars in annual commissions to the Senate.

There you have it: a virtual side-by-side demonstration of the superiority of the market to the government.

Let's hope U.S. senators remember this lesson in the months ahead, as this same Senate -- which has now admitted it can't even successfully operate a restaurant -- debates running America's $2 trillion health care system.

(Source: Washington Post:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/08/AR2008060801765.html
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[N4VGB]

But they'll give us a healthcare program that we can afford! :rolleyes::D

[N2RJ]

But they'll give us a healthcare program that we can afford! :rolleyes::D

Uh, but if you're a senator, you have remarkable healthcare.

[N2RJ]

There you have it: a virtual side-by-side demonstration of the superiority of the market to the government.


Want to compare the market to the Government? Compare FedEx, UPS and DHL to the US postal service.

One of them I've never had a problem with. The other three have constantly screwed up.

Guess which one didn't screw up!

[N4VGB]

Uh, but if you're a senator, you have remarkable healthcare.

My Dad had remarkable healthcare as a Korean War Vet. Your point? :confused::rolleyes:

[N4VGB]

Want to compare the market to the Government? Compare FedEx, UPS and DHL to the US postal service.

One of them I've never had a problem with. The other three have constantly screwed up.

Guess which one didn't screw up!

And I fired all 3 of your favorites because of constant screwups. :rolleyes:

UPS only for 6 years of business with not a single dollar lost! :D

[N2RJ]

My Dad had remarkable healthcare as a Korean War Vet. Your point? :confused::rolleyes:

Who provided that healthcare?

[N2RJ]

And I fired all 3 of your favorites because of constant screwups. :rolleyes:

UPS only for 6 years of business with not a single dollar lost! :D

UPS delivered a $5000 antenna to my neighbor's house, even though my house number was written on a reflective sign right in front of my house.

UPS has also delivered several packages to me that looked like they were squashed to fit in the truck, or possibly used as footballs in the superbowl.

I've had more issues with UPS than I care to remember.

Never had an issue with the postal service, ever.

Not to mention that UPS is miles away and the post office is right in town.

[N4VGB]

Who provided that healthcare?

You and I, just like we do for our Congress critters. :)

[N2RJ]

You and I, just like we do for our Congress critters. :)

So why should only they get the best healthcare available?

[KB9BVN]

I ship over 150 small packages a year all over the world. I would never think of using anyone other than the United States Postal Service. In almost 7 years of service they have never lost a package, or delivered one destroyed.

As for congress. Jail them all. Every single one of them.

[N4VGB]

UPS delivered a $5000 antenna to my neighbor's house, even though my house number was written on a reflective sign right in front of my house.

UPS has also delivered several packages to me that looked like they were squashed to fit in the truck, or possibly used as footballs in the superbowl.

I've had more issues with UPS than I care to remember.

Never had an issue with the postal service, ever.

Not to mention that UPS is miles away and the post office is right in town.

FB OM but I've gotten more PayPal refunds on ebay purchases from lost and damaged FedEx and USPS than you've ever made ebay deals.

In my business, where I ship more than you've ever dreamed, both the USPS and FedEx were fired early on, way too much loss and damge, insurance was a joke with them. FedEx will leave your packages just about anywhere in your general area also.

"Signature for Delivery" means it will only be left at the address indicated on the shipping label with UPS, but FedEx will still deliver your package and accept signature form anyone in the general area.

I've had no problem in receiving packages sent by DHL to me but they aren't terribly fast.

Proper packaging to withstand the automated systems used at terminals, signature required for delivery and insurance is the key.

[N4VGB]

So why should only they get the best healthcare available?

I can stand the huge increase in taxes, how about you? :rolleyes:

[KG4JYD]

But they'll give us a healthcare program that we can afford! :rolleyes::DYeah - I don't want the same people who botched Katrina and Iraq to run my hospitals, and healthcare system. After all they can't even run their own restaurant.

[KD6NIG]

$2 million? And the food is shoddy?

What, was the pasta a bit cold? The shrimp overcooked? The cocktails shaken, not stirred?

Maybe if they put a realistic limit on the cost of meals there they would be better off. Most people I know, even my Dad who had a union job, got $20 for lunch and $25 for dinner if he had to work OT exceeding 12 hours.

Guess that isn't good enough for our "representatives."

[WB8MKV]

Did you know that Fed Exprex is going to merge with UPs...yep, its going to be called "Fedup"

[K7ELP]

Want to compare the market to the Government? Compare FedEx, UPS and DHL to the US postal service.

One of them I've never had a problem with. The other three have constantly screwed up.

Guess which one didn't screw up!
I know the USPS stands for U.S. Postal Service, but their website is usps.com, so is it really a government agency or a private company?

[KG4JYD]

I know the USPS stands for U.S. Postal Service, but their website is usps.com, so is it really a government agency or a private company?It's a governmental granted monopoly.

[N2RJ]

I know the USPS stands for U.S. Postal Service, but their website is usps.com, so is it really a government agency or a private company?

39 U.S.C. § 201:
There is established, as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, the United States Postal Service.

So it's still a Government agency, just operates more like a private company.

[k4kyv]

The USPS used to routinely destroy "parcel post". That's one of the reasons why UPS and its clones gained prominence in the mid-60's. But in recent years, UPS, Fedex and others seem to go out of their way to destroy the contents of the parcels they charge through the nose to transport. Their attitude now seems to be that their job is to move a box from point A to point B and nothing more, and the condition of the contents is irrelevant and not their business. But if they destroy the merchandise in the process, what use is their "service"? In recent years, the USPS has greatly improved, and rarely do they destroy the contents of a parcel. The only problem I have with them is their size and weight limit.

Up until the late 60's, the best way to ship something, especially if it was large and/or heavy, was by Railway Express, aka REA Express. They were fast, inexpensive, and rarely damaged merchandise. But in the late 60's they became exorbitantly expensive, as the railway system in this country was being trashed. Not long after their astronomical price rises, they went out of business altogether.

I used to have good luck shipping stuff by Greyhound bus. I'm not sure if they still offer parcel service or not.

I have about got to the point of not having anything shipped in either direction from here if USPS won't take it and I can't have it transported personally.

[N5NPO]

Uh, but if you're a senator, you have remarkable healthcare.

I am not a US senator...
Will the mostly Lawyer run Senate give us (non senators) well run, efficient free healthcare?
SURE THEY WILL!!!! :D