mmmmmmm 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) A lot of really interesting observations on this topic, which have highlighted the complexities of the private / government involvement in what is in the case of NI water a nationally important resource.
You can do without the trains and buses running when the managerial system collapses with money running out. But with water it is an essential of life, an almost 'right' that the people have this fuel of life in a clean and running condition in a first rate country in the 21st century.
As stated by some bottom line profit is an essential element in a healthy organization, not just to reward those who invest in it, but critically to invest in the best people talent and the infrastructure of the system; in this case the water distribution system. Socialist beliefs in the past in the UK and elsewhere have created large state monoplies, operating for the good of the people, not profit. An admirable aim and theory perhaps, but, sorry to the socialists on here, it just does not work in most cases.
Without that healthy private competition and investment, with profits, the system is neglected, it is controlled by politicians who know little about the industry they control. British Rail as just one example was run almost into the ground by incompetents who knew nothing about railways, who would not invest in it as required, but used it for political means. The result was a decrepit, backward, under funded, railway with the skilled core of the business of old, the staff, gone, that would have suited a third world country.
The NI water fiasco is yet another example of politicians thinking they can run a business, only investing what they think is right. Look at the result. Think also of past socialist government involvement in the British Steel, Coal, and Car industries; they became a national, very expensive, embarrassment along with the rest of the country until the great days of Thatcher of course!! 8-) 8-)
