this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
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[–] Streetlights@lemmy.world 87 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Stop privatising infrastructure you maniacs.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 15 points 5 months ago (7 children)

Stop? Do you think it's continuing? They already are private ☺️.

What you should be saying is: Ask the government to raise billions to buy out private companies that own and operate the vital infrastructure of our country you maniacs!

Not being funny, but this is what you're calling for (nothing wrong with that) but what are you going to not fund whilst you spend money on this. Even Labour has pretty much said this isn't going to happen for this very reason.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 28 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Fine them a billion pounds per kilo of sewage dumped, then seize all their assets when they refuse to pay their debt.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 9 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

That's actually not a bad idea. Although I would imagine passing regulation like this would be difficult, even with a change in government. 😔

[–] humorlessrepost@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (5 children)

Why should they assume nationalising them means paying them?

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

How else is the government going to nationalise the assets?

[–] ephemeral_gibbon@aussie.zone 6 points 5 months ago

Fining the shit out of them for their many many environmental breaches. Then when they're bankrupt, re-nationalise them for cheap.

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[–] LordOfLocksley@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

Nah, just get the government to send in the army to seize the assets and infrastructure. At this point in time, these companies are the enemy of the people, and what else is the army for, then to protect its people from enemies

[–] catch22@startrek.website 11 points 5 months ago

So essentially, what happened is billions (probably 100's at this point) of public money have been handed to private individuals and everyone is left in the shit, literally.

[–] Streetlights@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

They already are private ☺️.

Except for viewers in Scotland.

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[–] spacedogroy@feddit.uk 51 points 5 months ago (11 children)

Nationalise the lot of them. They had their chance.

[–] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 4 points 5 months ago

Their chance to do what...? This was always about handing them a gravy train.

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[–] Zip2@feddit.uk 35 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Ofwat should only allow this on the provision that executives bonuses are removed, shareholders don’t receive any dividends for the next decade and the current heads of the water companies have to be dragged through a river every week.

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 22 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I've previously advocated for the the first 1000L of any sewage runoff to be directed through executive's houses.

[–] Zip2@feddit.uk 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Now that is a nice idea, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that just forces them into their holiday homes abroad.

Isn’t there a church somewhere that still has a ducking stool? I’ve had an idea. Wonder if they’ll rent it out.

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

If they leave the country, we can assign a man with a portable bucket of sewage.
We will have no issues finding such a man: Most of Thames Water's customers would pay for the privilege.

[–] Zip2@feddit.uk 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

As one of those people, I’m very happy to volunteer. Or maybe we make it compulsory like jury duty.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 months ago

I currently live in Scotland, but I could do with a vacation to follow a rich cunt round with a bucket of sewage

[–] thr0w4w4y2@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago

problem is then that shareholders will pull their money and invest elsewhere leaving the taxpayer to pick up the pieces. clever privatisations always leave the public purse to bail out any losses 😒

the solution: don’t privatise in the first place. it’s like selling all your shit at a pawn shop

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 29 points 5 months ago

Water companies have been heavily criticised for widespread leaks and the amount of sewage being discharged, which critics have blamed on under-investment in the country's infrastructure.

...

Southern Water is owned by Australian firm Macquarie which has faced fierce criticism for the period when it was Thames Water’s biggest shareholder.

In five of the 10 years it owned Thames, the company paid out more in dividends than it made in profits, while debt rose from £2.5bn to over £10bn in the same period.

"Mum, I need money to repair my bike."

"We gave you money to repair your bike."

"Oh I spent it on sweets for me and my mates."

[–] steeznson@lemmy.world 28 points 5 months ago (1 children)

If it was a real private market they'd let the firm fail and the investors would take a haircut. Then either someone who could turn a profit while running a decent/affordable service would take over; or the govt would.

We're stuck in the worst of both worlds where it's a privatised monopoly which is unable to fail.

[–] curiousaur@reddthat.com 4 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Exactly correct. We need to let them all fail.

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[–] HexesofVexes@lemmy.world 20 points 5 months ago

Here's a fun thought - push a law through demanding a minimal level of service with forced nationalisation at the cost of the shareholders if it isn't met (government pays share price, but proceeds go towards settling company debt first rather than being paid out to shareholders).

Give them a way to fail that doesn't hurt the people who rely on the services, and punish running up unsustainable debt in one joyous law.

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Water firms can get in the fucking sea.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 17 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hasn't enough toxic waste been dumped in there already?

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 10 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Maybe they would enjoy experiencing it first hand.

[–] sirico@feddit.uk 11 points 5 months ago

Privatise profit socialise loss

[–] rayquetzalcoatl@lemmy.world 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ah good, so my bill will rise and then my landlord will up the rents to cover whatever water shit she has to pay too. Brill. Love this Cuntry.

[–] OrlandoDoom@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] echodot@feddit.uk 4 points 5 months ago

I have a house and for some reason they still make me pay water bills. Madness.

Also now the poor quality décor is my fault. I'm not into it.

[–] Delascas@feddit.uk 8 points 5 months ago

Meanwhile, here in Scotland - where the water supply has always been publicly owned - Scottish Water announced it had received permission for an 8.8% annual increase.

Source: https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/About-Us/News-and-Views/2024/02/Water-and-Waste-Water-Charges-2024-and-2025

[–] FuckyWucky@hexbear.net 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Cucked fucking country. All the executives deserve firing squad.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago (3 children)
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[–] applepie@kbin.social 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Up next the air and the Sun... peasant you gonna pay for fucking shitting here soon too... per each use 😜

Final stage: you pay some money changer for the right to sleep with your wife!

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago

Up next the air and the Sun…

Don't give them ideas!

[–] Norgur@fedia.io 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Just out of curiosity: the article states finite amounts to pay each year. Do you Brits pay one sub or do you pay for consumption (eg per Liter)?

[–] icerunner_origin@startrek.website 7 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Both. Some households, usually in older buildings, pay 'water rates' based on the size of their property. Others, including all newly built homes, have water meters which report usage back to the company. We pay for supply of clean water as well as transportation and processing of surface water run-off and sewage.

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[–] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago

How do you go bankrupt selling a life essential that falls out of the sky for free?

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Ask and ye shall receive...a Hard Stare.

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