Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> Interesting ruling just got forwarded by Back Country Horseman.  Don't
> know if this is good or bad. Didn't we want them to be able to collect
> fees to help offset costs?
>
> Angie

On balance, I think it is bad.

The cost of things comes in two, basic flavors, one-to-one and spread. 
Spreading prices over a large populace to pay for anything is not the norm. 
 When you go to a professional football game, you pay a price based on the 
costs of the home team to produce all its games.  But if you don't go to 
any NFL games, you are never expected to pony up money so the folks who DO 
go can get in for less.  Most pricing is one-to-one.

OTOH, the costs paid for by auto insurance companies range all over the lot 
and it is a total crap shoot whether or not YOUR accident will be a 
relatively cheap fix or a back breaker or if you will even GET in an 
accident.  Therefore the premium you pay for your insurance is based on the 
total payouts by your insurance company, not what it might cost YOU if you 
get in an accident.

The basic idea is that unless there is something that is absolutely 
necessary and so horribly expensive that the small number of people who 
need it can't possibly afford it, you charge what the service or product 
costs to produce, plus mark up for profit.  The USFS maintains parking lots 
and trails for those who wish to visit and enjoy our National Parks and 
Forests.  While it may seem counter intuitive to charge people to just go 
for a walk in the woods, the bottom line it that there ARE costs associated 
with that activity, small though they be, and if the USFS can't charge the 
people who park in their lots, picnic at their tables and walk on the 
trails they maintain, then all the people who don't ever go to a National 
Park will have to pick up the tab, through taxes.  In other words, it's 
like you paying an NFL tax so people who like football can go to the games 
for free.


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