Privatisation good for business? Sure is!

[crinkles]

Privatisation is being pushed down our throat and being sold as increasing competition and therefore good for consumers. Yeah right. here is the last three increases in electricity rates for me:

2011: 19%
2012: 23%
2013: 10%

But the government statisticians tell us inflation is 2 to 3%. So where are all the price falls that balances out the 20% p.a. increases?

 

[MolaKule]

Not quite clear here.

How much of your tax money (before privitisation) was being used to subsidize the power system costs?

 

[Shannow]

None...

 

[Clevy]

Ontario and Alberta have privatized insurance. Sask has government insurance. I never paid less than 2000 a year in Ontario,I've never paid more than 600 a year in sask,so I agree. Privatization costs more to the consumer,in my 21 years driving paying insurance.

 

[dailydriver]

But, but, your a "commie" if you do not FULLY/200% believe in/support/agree with, this 'principle'.

 

[Danno]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Privatisation is being pushed down our throat and being sold as increasing competition and therefore good for consumers. Yeah right. here is the last three increases in electricity rates for me:

2011: 19%
2012: 23%
2013: 10%

But the government statisticians tell us inflation is 2 to 3%. So where are all the price falls that balances out the 20% p.a. increases?


Nothing top do with the carbon taxes instituted by your socialist government - right?

 

[Danno]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Ontario and Alberta have privatized insurance. Sask has government insurance. I never paid less than 2000 a year in Ontario,I've never paid more than 600 a year in sask,so I agree. Privatization costs more to the consumer,in my 21 years driving paying insurance.


Ummm..when there is nothing to hit, sure your insurance should be low....j/k

I live in Northern Ontario, and I pay no more than $700 per year. Apples to apples comparisons would be good.

 

[salv]

My cost per kw hr have doubled in the past year through through NYSEG, a private power company. The excuse is that they buy power at market pricing. Market pricing has no concrete basis. It is whatever people are willing to pay for a product. There is no such thing as "fair market pricing" in commodities. It is never fair to the consumer.
When one company owns all the lines, there is no genuine competition, because there is a "delivery charge" paid to the lines' owners. Not to mention, the power companies along with telecommunications companies pass their taxes on to their customers. "If you want our product, pay our taxes, or elect people that will eliminate our taxes."
Electricity is a necessity in the modern world and should be provided at minimal to no charge.
Making essentials a for profit venture is at best inhumane.

 

[THE_TROTS]

Privatization = Deregulation = Oligopolies and Monopolies = Higher costs for consumers while fat shareholders get richer

 

[THE_TROTS]

Originally Posted By: salv

Making essentials a for profit venture is at best inhumane.



You know you will be called a socialist for that, right? Nothing is more American than going into debt the rest of your life to pay a medical bill because health care is viewed as a privilege, not a right.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Certain things should be public and certain things should be private. Maybe electricity is one thing that shouldn't be public? Who knows.

I'm not entirely sure how it works, but here in NY, we have the right to choose between different energy companies. You can negotiate, etc with them. Granted, most of them (Ambit energy comes to mind) are ponzi schemes that only serve the first few people that get in!

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Ontario and Alberta have privatized insurance. Sask has government insurance. I never paid less than 2000 a year in Ontario,I've never paid more than 600 a year in sask,so I agree. Privatization costs more to the consumer,in my 21 years driving paying insurance.


SHHHH!!! You keep that Socialist attitude North of the border! We have no time to be open minded about economic systems!

 

[Pablo]

As usual, and I am no exception, people are rooting for "their side". Last time I checked most utilities in the USA are some type of public/private co-op. If someone convinced you guys a monopoly is better, then you lose. Heck look how bad the Gov is at things they monopolize mostly because they don't care about efficiency of actions, nor take value (added or subtracted) into consideration. On the other hand, a private monopoly (read not true competition) having a single stranglehold on a commodity certainly cannot be good for the consumer, but it's the kind of gravy train that may be good for the interest or share holder. If they can properly control the business and still raise rates at a whim, then BONANZA!

OTOH using such things to rally for socialism and all it's nasty controls and inefficiencies and intrusions in all aspects of purchased goods/services will not lead better choices at lower costs either. Competition in most all things is better, and using something such as electric power or even health care to a consumer - is there really true free market? I have NO choice. Either I buy electric power from Puget Sound Energy or no one.

http://pse.com/aboutpse/CorporateInfo/Pages/PSE-Primer.aspx

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: THE_TROTS
Privatization = Deregulation = Oligopolies and Monopolies = Higher costs for consumers while fat shareholders get richer


What's astounding is that so many sheep will actually NOT lobby for, OR vote for those that will do what is in THEIR own interest, but instead will watch FAUX News and argue the interests of the super rich and powerful at their own expense.

That is stupid.

If we put all the private insurance companies out of business in the US and started an independent statutory body with a single payer system for health insurance costs for medical care would PLUMMET, but what do we have now? The gov't is forcing private citizens to BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE..LOL

Who runs America? big business.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Ontario and Alberta have privatized insurance. Sask has government insurance. I never paid less than 2000 a year in Ontario,I've never paid more than 600 a year in sask,so I agree. Privatization costs more to the consumer,in my 21 years driving paying insurance.


I pay about $620 a year in Southern Ontario, but I have a perfect driving record and drive old cars...

The private sector is more efficient than government in most cases. There are some exceptions that really don't lend themselves well to private ventures...National defense, education, fire departments.

Power generation should be an area that the private sector would deliver at lower cost than public.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Danno
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Ontario and Alberta have privatized insurance. Sask has government insurance. I never paid less than 2000 a year in Ontario,I've never paid more than 600 a year in sask,so I agree. Privatization costs more to the consumer,in my 21 years driving paying insurance.


Ummm..when there is nothing to hit, sure your insurance should be low....j/k

I live in Northern Ontario, and I pay no more than $700 per year. Apples to apples comparisons would be good.


Apples to apples eh.
I drove a 1994 ford f-150 4x4. No speeding tickets,no accidents ever in ontario insurance,just me on the insurance in wasaga beach and my insurance was 2000 a year.
That same year I moved back to Saskatoon and bought a 99 silverado 4x4. 750 a year insurance.
When I was 17 I had an 83 cutlass supreme. My insurance was 3500 a year. I was in Saskatoon or 6 months with that same car 8 months later and my insurance was 550 a year.
My 2000 mustang is 850 a year,my fox is 550 a year.
In Saskatchewan they insure the vehicle,so everyone with that same vehicle pays the same for insurance,Ontario is different albeit slightly. Insurance premiums are based in the age group of the owner,their driving record and the vehicle. Here in sask is just the vehicle.
If you are a brutal driver you get points associated to any tickets or infractions and you pay per point,50 bucks iirc(perhaps 25 per point ). Your licence costs 25 per year to renew,or 100 for 5 years. You gotta pay off any points or licence gets suspended,as well as tickets.
I like the sask version of insurance much better. And its only a 575 fie for no insurance here,not 5000 to start.
Your plate renewal is your insurance here. If the plates are valid the car is insured. Simple. Unlike Ontario where your plates can be valid even if insurance is expired.

 

[mechanicx]

About the only thing privatization seeks to reduce is wages and benefits, not to pass on savings but to increase profit.

 

[rshaw125]

What's missing is competition. Here in NC the government enforces monopolies in Electricity and healthcare. Limiting supply.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: THE_TROTS
Privatization = Deregulation = Oligopolies and Monopolies = Higher costs for consumers while fat shareholders get richer


What's astounding is that so many sheep will actually NOT lobby for, OR vote for those that will do what is in THEIR own interest, but instead will watch FAUX News and argue the interests of the super rich and powerful at their own expense.

That is stupid.



Yes, I have NEVER understood the above either!

I'm guessing it is a case of supporting right wing 'principles' over even their OWN life itself??

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
About the only thing privatization seeks to reduce is wages and benefits, not to pass on savings but to increase profit.


Yes, when companies MUST answer to shareholders, profit is the ONLY thing that matters, even over citizens' lives.

Most of the time all of these companies get together anyway and decide amongst themselves what their bottom line prices will be to consumers (ESPECIALLY in the areas of health and auto insurance), thus TOTALLY negating that old cliched standby of the right, "competition lowers consumer prices".

The 'gummint', much as it is HATED by those of a certain ilk, and despite all of the negative, socialist name calling trash talk, does NOT have to answer to greedy shareholders what so ever.