Although politicians sometimes make off-the-cuff statements that they later describe as being taken out of context, etc., Democratic State Committee member Frank T. Brzozowski has no such excuse related to his letter " Milk it, don't kill it " (March 15 and TribLIVE.com) describing the Liquor Control Board and Turnpike Commission as "cash cows" that therefore should continue to be state-run.
Perhaps a few follow-up questions to Mr. Brzozowski are in order.
Doesn't the term "cash cow" imply that prices are artificially high⢠Isn't it the taxpayers' cash that the state is raking in?
If private entities ran such cash cows, wouldn't Mr. Brzozowski and other Democrats be screaming about corporate greed⢠Is government more efficient than private entities in managing the profits of a cash cow?
If the LCB and Turnpike Commission are so lucrative, wouldn't they command a huge price if the rights were sold⢠Unless, of course, the rights were to be less lucrative in a free marketplace when subjected to real-world price competition among consumers who are given a choice?
Brzozowski also boasts that the LCB and Turnpike Commission "do not draw taxpayers' revenue from the state's budget." He therefore seems oblivious to the fact that Pennsylvania residents are nevertheless funding these cash cows, and that the taxpayers' direct funding of a cash cow is no different from their funding it indirectly via the state budget.
Wake up, Pennsylvania.
John Ishnetti
Scott
