The CTA has been one of the most beneficial systems to people in the US. Everyone uses the bus or train to go where they want at an economical price. As time passes there are new regulations the government has been imposing on the CTA. Recently in the news we have seen many people protesting and arguing with the changes that have occurred with the CTA. Would Marx agree with the fact that we are paying for better service or just for the fuel the CTA consumes?
As of February 7, 2010, there has been a cut of express busses and the regular busses are running less frequently. This change has caused many of us frustration. They have been increasing the CTA fare at a steady pace, but now they have completely deleted some transportation that everyone needs.
Victoria Kaczmarek, from Lane Tech High school, writes in the Chicago Tribune about how the CTA should provide better “quality service”. She believes that she should not be paying for being late to her school because of the bus. I myself was a student at Lane Tech and yes the school has a strict policy when you’re late. Every minute counts and if the bus takes long or doesn’t come on the time expected you would be late which causes some teachers to lower your grade depending on how many times you are tardy. This on the other hand is not the governments fault, but the government should consider that for some people in Chicago this is the only method of transportation available for them and with this weather it is bad for our health. Jerome C. Malon argues that some of us complain of how much we are paying. He says that we pay just the right amount because even the most “fuel-efficient” car will spend $2.75 on gas from O’Hare airport to 95th street.
Here we are debating on how much we pay and what we get in return but that is why many of the CTA drivers protest to get higher income as well they feel like their labor is not getting paid. According to Marx this is how it is supposed to be. The drivers should only be paid for the hours driven not for the service. Marx would argue that we are paying for the time. If you go walking to wherever we go we will pay more because we are sacrificing time. “Labor is our life activity” according to Marx and if we have to wake up earlier or wait longer that’s just what we are supposed to do. Same with the drivers, they may get a raise but they will never get paid for their labor.
Marx would view the knew changes as a good thing because since many of us have no other choice but to ride the CTA, there would be in increase in production yet there would be less wages being paid.
URL http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-vp-0215letters-20100210,0,5423330.story
The funny thing with the CTA is they are always trying to justify why they need to increase fares. The upgrade to Red & Brown Lines El station was need but it could have been done years ago! The Blue Line has been notoriously slow going to O'Hare due to worn down tracks but the CTA just ignored it until the fire/derailment accident in 2006. Now it's faster but, some of the stations still needs to be repaired, too! Just like most Chicagoans, I'm not pleased with the last cutbacks and slower service but, since I'm from Philadelphia, I feel that most of you are spoiled over the transit fares. Chicago was one of the cheapest places to use public transportation until 2006. New Yorkers has been paying $2.25 for years! It does not excuse for the CTA for lack of quality service for our town!
ReplyDeleteAlthough Marx may believe that we should wait in today's day and age it is not only impractical, but ludicrous. People have priorities and responsibilities and time is our most valuable asset which I believe can not be wasted. These slowdowns do not benefit any of the parties involved.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to Cary - I think the difficulty with these heightened prices is that people in different places just get used to certain things. I think the most problematic thing is that people continue to pay higher prices, but have received a diminishing product. I would not mind paying the extra money if I was getting a superior service, however, I am now paying for a more inconvenient and less clean service.