O.T. I'm no fan of the Jones Act. In the cruise ship industry it's cost a lot of Americans jobs. No cruise ship can stop at two American ports because of it and that has cost a lot of shore side tourism jobs. It's a classic case where a special interest gets their way at the expense of the larger society. But since its a big deal to the special interest and the larger society is oblivious of its existence and doesn't directly feel its cost, it continues on.
BTW, are you familiar with the fact that there is no price competition in transatlantic ocean shipping rates? Price competition is actually illegal. Under a 1930's depression era international treaty designed to keep shipping lines from competing on price and going under, its actually illegal to undercut a competitor on price. There is a very complicated international system of fixed prices set up. For example, if you wanted to ship steel pipe from Baltimore to London, evey shipping line would charge the same rate, must charge the same rate by law. Years ago I wrote software for a German shipping line out of Hamburg that dealt with this complex system. it all depends of which category the cargo would fit in, there were hundreds of categories with a different rates, It was all set up so that almost no shipper could lose money. Again a case where the special interest, the shipping lines and the maritime unions, prosper at the expense of the general public that pays more for everything shipped. It very important to the the special interest and the general public is not aware of its existence and doesn't sharply feel or see the cost. So the system never gets changed. |
