question?

[spectrumc01]

If the electric companies are private businesses, how are government officials held responsible for the speed at which power is restored?

 

[g5000]

Electric companies are public utilities, for the most part. And they are given a monopoly.



.

 

[spectrumc01]

Does this make us socialist in part?

 

[g5000]

Does this make us socialist in part?

Ayup.

Our country's defense is also nationalized.

Not all cases of government controlling the means of production are bad.


.

 

[spectrumc01]

I still think that government getting more involved in the energy sector, stabalizing energy prices by taking speculators out of the equation, would be the way to go.

 

[longknife]

Public utilities are exempted from free market forces.

As noted, they are monopolies controlled by political appointees who determine what prices they can charge.

As we've seen in New England, government seems to have NO control over their actions.

One problem nobody seems to be addressing is WHY the electrical and other outages when things like Sandy, Katrina, or others come along.

Because the infrastructure for moving electricity from the generating stations to users DATE FROM THE 40s!!!!! Where electricity has been quickly restored, it's due to underground lines.

What will it take to improve this situation?

Take government control away. Destroy utility monopolies and open up competition.

And get rid of this "lowest bidder" mentality and replace it with "best qualified".

 

[007]

I still think that government getting more involved in the energy sector, stabalizing energy prices by taking speculators out of the equation, would be the way to go.

Really?

Name one government controlled entity that efficiently operates in the black.

(There is none, bad idea.)

 

[spectrumc01]

I still think that government getting more involved in the energy sector, stabalizing energy prices by taking speculators out of the equation, would be the way to go.

Really?

Name one government controlled entity that efficiently operates in the black.

(There is none, bad idea.)

US military

 

[longknife]

I still think that government getting more involved in the energy sector, stabalizing energy prices by taking speculators out of the equation, would be the way to go.

Really?

Name one government controlled entity that efficiently operates in the black.

(There is none, bad idea.)

US military

 

[g5000]

I still think that government getting more involved in the energy sector, stabalizing energy prices by taking speculators out of the equation, would be the way to go.

Really?

Name one government controlled entity that efficiently operates in the black.

(There is none, bad idea.)

US military

The DoD turns a profit?

.