Those things are natural monopolies, so the choice isn’t monopoly vs free-market it’s profit-driven-monopoly vs public-good-driven-monopoly.
Unlike what’s said by the mindless pseudo-Economics bollocks a lot of prople have been indoctrinated with, the upsides for consumers of a Free Market only exist in the subset of markets were there are natural conditions for high levels of competition - which is most definitelly not gas provision to households - and even in those there are still systemic problems such as negative externalities that require some level of regulation.
Yes. Services like gas and water are natural monopolies - it doesn’t make sense to roll out two or three separate lots of distribution pipes, so you always just have one service available to you. The best option is to have them as government owned services.
Quite simple actually. The supplier knows how much water it puts in the pipes, and consumers have meters that measure how much water they take out of the pipes.
Water is water… It doesn’t matter if you’re not getting the exact same water molecules put in by your supplier.
Think of it like this… You have a jug of water. The supplier puts in a glass of water, and you (the consumer) take out one glass of water. The quantity of water in the jug stays the same, but you pay the supplier for how much water you took out.
Nothing says punk more than enabling for profit corporations to hold sole ownership of the utilities that we need to continue living in a bare minimum standard of living. /s
Good point but I would say it’s hard to monopolize solar power since it’s easy to just buy your own panels.
Wheras it’s not feasible to buld your own power plant.
I never said that. Small scale power is always the way to go! Be it small hydro or solar panels!
It’s very different to have small localized power and distribution networks than controlling a whole country’s power and then giving that whole network to a private company to manage.
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Those things are natural monopolies, so the choice isn’t monopoly vs free-market it’s profit-driven-monopoly vs public-good-driven-monopoly.
Unlike what’s said by the mindless pseudo-Economics bollocks a lot of prople have been indoctrinated with, the upsides for consumers of a Free Market only exist in the subset of markets were there are natural conditions for high levels of competition - which is most definitelly not gas provision to households - and even in those there are still systemic problems such as negative externalities that require some level of regulation.
Yes. Services like gas and water are natural monopolies - it doesn’t make sense to roll out two or three separate lots of distribution pipes, so you always just have one service available to you. The best option is to have them as government owned services.
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How do you send different supplier’s water down the same pipes while making sure customers get the supplier they’re paying for’s water?
Quite simple actually. The supplier knows how much water it puts in the pipes, and consumers have meters that measure how much water they take out of the pipes.
Water is water… It doesn’t matter if you’re not getting the exact same water molecules put in by your supplier.
Think of it like this… You have a jug of water. The supplier puts in a glass of water, and you (the consumer) take out one glass of water. The quantity of water in the jug stays the same, but you pay the supplier for how much water you took out.
It works the same way with electricity.
Um… I’m perfectly OK with a “monopoly” for my fire fighting services. Why would I feel differently for my utilities services?
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Nothing says punk more than enabling for profit corporations to hold sole ownership of the utilities that we need to continue living in a bare minimum standard of living. /s
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We’re talking about basic utilities though. Do you think the average person can start or run such a business? I’m honestly interested in the answer.
Solar power, yes definitely. Is power not a basic utility?
Good point but I would say it’s hard to monopolize solar power since it’s easy to just buy your own panels. Wheras it’s not feasible to buld your own power plant.
Wasn’t that the point though? You’re arguing that small scale power doesn’t exist when it clearly does.
I never said that. Small scale power is always the way to go! Be it small hydro or solar panels!
It’s very different to have small localized power and distribution networks than controlling a whole country’s power and then giving that whole network to a private company to manage.
I apologize. I misread your comment!