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I have long supported the privatization and commiditization of water. It should be sold on the basis of supply and demand with markets, futures, and so forth.

I have long supported the privatization and commiditization of water. It should be sold on the basis of supply and demand with markets, futures, and so forth. Don't like almond farms, bottled water companies pumping millions of gallons for the price of a $200 permit, and golf courses watering their courses during a drought? Then you should too.

xkcd1963 4y ago
Why?
- missedthecue 4y ago
  So that water supply becomes a workable business model, increasing supply, and so that uneconomic water usage is discouraged. Such as almond farming in Southern California during the summer
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Apparently so those water hoarding companies have to pay the full rate, instead of some subsidized rate. I.e. stop privatizing profits with socializing the costs
UncleEntity 4y ago
One thing you can absolutely guarantee when it comes to a necessity of life commodity, a black swan event will occur and people will die because they are priced out of the market. Imagine, if you will, when the Texas grid went all wonky and those people who choose to buy power at open market rates had to prepay for their $13,000 kw/hr electricity because the power company had a limit on how much credit they will give you. Now imagine a drought where there is a disruption in the water supply because a pump burned out due to record setting high temperatures. I’m no cheerleader for big government but if people insist on having one there are valid activities that they should engage in to protect the citizens from getting bitch slapped by the invisible hand of the market. This being one of them considering how capital intensive it is to provide a reliable water supply.
- missedthecue 4y ago
  Black swan events can cause shortages no matter if it's a state controlled supply situation or decentralized market.
polio 4y ago
What if water were public for individual consumers but private for corporations?

xkcd1963 4y ago

Why?

missedthecue 4y ago
So that water supply becomes a workable business model, increasing supply, and so that uneconomic water usage is discouraged. Such as almond farming in Southern California during the summer
paulryanrogers 4y ago
Apparently so those water hoarding companies have to pay the full rate, instead of some subsidized rate. I.e. stop privatizing profits with socializing the costs

UncleEntity 4y ago

One thing you can absolutely guarantee when it comes to a necessity of life commodity, a black swan event will occur and people will die because they are priced out of the market. Imagine, if you will, when the Texas grid went all wonky and those people who choose to buy power at open market rates had to prepay for their $13,000 kw/hr electricity because the power company had a limit on how much credit they will give you. Now imagine a drought where there is a disruption in the water supply because a pump burned out due to record setting high temperatures. I’m no cheerleader for big government but if people insist on having one there are valid activities that they should engage in to protect the citizens from getting bitch slapped by the invisible hand of the market. This being one of them considering how capital intensive it is to provide a reliable water supply.

missedthecue 4y ago
Black swan events can cause shortages no matter if it's a state controlled supply situation or decentralized market.

polio 4y ago

What if water were public for individual consumers but private for corporations?