There is probably no more basic government service than clean water. There is probably no government service that we are so unwilling to pay more for.
The City of Duluth is considering selling its gas and water utilities. If these are privatized, won't we have to pay even more for them and have even less control over them?
If you want a good look at the complexity of providing clean water efficiently, safely, and at low cost, see "As inspections Dwindled, Water Main Breaks Rose", Washington Post, 2009-05-15.
An agency is deemed inefficient and cuts staff. An agency says it needs more money to provide services and finally gets it. It can't use up all the money because it cut staff.
We have political bickering, either over favoring certain constituents or over ideology.
We have uncontrolled growth outstripping infra-structure.
And on and on it goes.
My idea of heaven on earth is for people to support the idea of good government and make criticisms based on facts, not ideology. I guess I'm condemned to hell on earth.
