Downtrodden America and communist police states, is Victoria Australia hot on your tail?

Below is a story about Victoria's public transport system going terribly wrong, so wrong it's taking us back into the dark ages.

Guns, on the spot fines, or both?

Has the Minister for Transport Mr Mulder gone stark raving mad?

Is he on drugs or just high from the big fat 'hush hush' cheque in his back pocket for his compliance in helping to rake in revenue for Metro Transport at the expense of common sense or human values?

Remember the assault on poor Michael Liu in November 2013 by Public Transport Inspectors. Read story... Maybe if they had a gun then, Michael may have been shot, possibly dead. But maybe that will be ok you say because he allegedly evaded a $2.20 fare.

Who knows, in time we as parents may send our kids off to school one morning and then get a notification later in the day because your child allegedly didn't have the right fare, paper work or concession, or absconded for some reason and was shot, maybe killed.

The family's upset, headlines everywhere, but that doesn't quite cut it or bring your child back from the grave. But it's alright, the ticket inspectors were just doing their job. They will be pardoned after a brief break and then back to work and maybe even a promotion for doing such a great job in protecting the company's assets... right?

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

Either of these proposals are ludicrous at best and criminal at worst. Transport Inspectors have already earnt their 'thug' stripes and don't need to be given any more power to cause harm to the Australian people. It's completely absurd and a step back into the dark ages.

The minister is a moron to even entertain such a notion and so are the the people for allowing such an antiquated political structure to exist. What the people require are representatives of the people to run the state and country, not corporations or the few with power, money and special interests.

What the people require are Social Incentive & Investment Schemes (SIIS) throughout Australia where transport systems, Public Infrastructure, Utilities and Services are held in Trust by the people for the people with decisions made on the best interests of the people. Wow, it sounds like this is the role people thought politicians were supposed to play. But no, you would be wrong about politicians being there solely for the common good of the people.

Certainly, politicians are allowed to make a few trivial social issues here and there on their own, but on the whole, their master is not the people but the paychecks and Christmas bonuses that are handed down from their corporate owners above and special interest groups for doing a good job - wink, wink.

But unfortunately, politicians are simply managers of a company, what we know as the State of Victoria or Australia or as our 'Government' where our public servants should be working in the capacity of serving the best interests and common good of the people, before any select few.

But seriously, one must question why such common sense schemes like (SIIS) have never been implemented, and will never be as long as the political and corporate structures remain in their present form. For when their is ownership, interest and involvement, the proper levels of efficiency, advancement and peace of mind are enjoyed by the community as a whole.

Simply, there needs to be more positive creativity in our public service where more focus is on better ways to make a brilliant world class system for everyone — where we all love it and are proud of it minimising vandalism and abuse.

For example, why don't we strive for a public transport that is FREE or where a token of any amount can be used and redeemable towards shares and dividends in the SIIS or credit towards other goods and services. SIIS is not on the stock market, nor are there ticket inspectors but people giving good service to the passengers. These are but just a couple of thoughts of many that can bring wonder and brilliance enhancing the lives of our people and our humanity.

C'mon Mr Mulder get some smart and creative members of the community behind this, possibly engage some of our unemployed creative thinkers, like me, to build something extraordinary and you may just even win re-election, sleep peacefully at night with integrity in tact knowing you have done good and have your family genuinely proud of you!

People and life must be respected...

---

Herald Sun story below: 8 April 2014
Transport Minister says ticket inspectors won’t get guns if plan for them to carry cash goes ahead
By Aleks Devic and Samantha Landy

TICKET inspectors will “certainly” not be permitted to carry guns should a plan for them to carry cash from on-the-spot fines be approved, Transport Minister Terry Mulder says.

The Herald Sun revealed today that some authorised officers want guns and capsicum spray for protection amid a bitter war over the new “cash-cops” that could lead to the city’s public transport system grinding to a halt.

Shoud ticket inspectors be allowed to carry guns? Have your say below.

The government is remaining firm on its scheme that will allow fare evaders to pay a cheaper on-the-spot fine of $75 by cash or credit or debit card, rather than the full $212 infringement.

Mr Mulder said the vast majority of people would use credit or debit cards to pay the on-the-spot fines, so inspectors would only be carrying a small amount of cash.

“The amount of cash they would be carrying would be absolute minimal,” he told 3AW this morning.

“The whole amount of cash carried would have to be totally and completely audited, and they would hand it over as soon as they get to a premium station, or wherever they’re heading.

“Certainly I can assure you of this, authorised officers will not be carrying guns. It’s not on.”

Mr Mulder said officers also travelled in groups to ensure their safety.

But Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the State Government was “treating our members with contempt” with the cash-cops plan by forcing them to potentially carry hundreds of dollars while on duty.

Ms Grigorovitch said ticket inspectors doled out as many as 10 fines a day to fare evaders, meaning they could be holding up to $750 by the end of a shift if $75 on-the-spot fines are implemented.

She said the union and its members supported on-the-spot fines, but wanted money to be collected only via card payment as it was safer for inspectors and more practical for those paying the fines — a proposal rejected by the government.

“They want to proceed with cash,” she said.

“They want to put our (authorised officers) in harm’s way.

“We believe it is unacceptable to expect them to walk around on trains and trams with wads of cash in their pockets.”

Ms Grigorovitch said the push for ticket inspectors to carry guns had not come from the union.

A senior transport source told the Herald Sun that union members had already started plotting how they would derail the system unless the cash option was removed.

Ms Grigorovitch said illegal industrial action was not sanctioned by the union.

PTV spokesman Adrian Darwent said further consultation would be held with the union.


Sources:
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/transport-minister-says-ticket-inspectors-wont-get-guns-if-plan-for-them-to-carry-cash-goes-ahead/story-fni0fit3-1226877148082
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/vic-ticket-inspectors-wont-carry-guns/story-fn3dxiwe-1226877526474

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