logoalt Hacker News

sschuellerlast Monday at 10:27 AM2 repliesview on HN

Kind of proof that privatizing public infrastructure does not work without very tight regulations.

The profits and benefits in infrastructure go towards a state and are long term. A private company cannot increase their stock price on a 100 year goal and a countries GDP growth.


Replies

throwawayqqq11last Monday at 12:03 PM

Yep. "Socialist lure" is a very US american perspective and far off the real past of most EU nations. The same budget hawks that drive tax cuts and are hollowing out public institutions were directing the privatization of the Deutschebahn. Thats why its not a single company but over 250 of them, for all the naturally competing segments of that gigantic infrastructure. You know, for maximum free-market efficiency, but somehow, blame is still not privatized.

Id like to know the US position on why socialism is failing their infrastructure, like power grinds.

show 2 replies
luckylionyesterday at 8:35 PM

Germany's public transport is really not privatized though. The Deutsche Bahn AG is structured as company, but is entirely owned by the federal government. There's very, very little public transportation (e.g. private buses between major cities) that is not owned and operated by the government.

What privatization are you talking about?

show 1 reply