BF2S Forums New Political Promise - Free Electricity & Free gas!

Turquoise wrote:

Pug wrote:

Ok, not really happening...but seriously, what if?  Would your behavior change?  What would happen to all of the electric & oil companies?  Would the companies continue to try to be cutting edge or would they waste away on the government dime?

And lastly - apply the above to what's really happening - free healthcare.

Ok, nevermind...  should've read the whole thing...  lol

Healthcare is different.  We've proven how badly corporations (mainly insurance companies) have run healthcare here.  It's time for a change.

As for electricity, we already have local governments that subsidize monopolies on electrical service.  We also subsidize oil exploration through tax breaks.

Not quite agreeing with you there.

Government run = better?

Oil exploration = bad?

Oil exploration given better tax breaks then what industry?

Electricity monopolies?  They broke up things about 10 years ago via anti-trust (at least in Texas).

The specific focus I'm leading on about is why aren't we looking beyond healthcare?

Pug wrote:

Not quite agreeing with you there.

Government run = better?

Government run = better than letting insurance companies run things

Pug wrote:

Oil exploration = bad?

Oil exploration given better tax breaks then what industry?

This is a fair point.  We give far too many tax breaks to corporations across the board.  This usually results in crushing small businesses.

Pug wrote:

Electricity monopolies?  They broke up things about 10 years ago via anti-trust (at least in Texas).

The specific focus I'm leading on about is why aren't we looking beyond healthcare?

Electricity monopolies are still quite powerful in NC, and companies like TXU practically have a monopoly over certain areas of Texas.

Anyway, the reason why healthcare is often targeted for socialization is because of how ruthless insurance companies, lawyers, and pharmaceutical companies have been.  All of their greed leads to higher costs for employers and individuals.  We need more regulation to fix this situation, and socialization seems to be the only way out at this point.

Gas needs to be pricey, even more pricy really.  We need to rely on it much less to make it alst a little longer, to find an alternative when it runs out.

Too bad that oil companies don't give a shit about that.  They could use that money to figure out what to do when it's all gone, but why waste money on that when you can live the fucking high high HIGH life?

As for making electricity free.  Makes a little more sense.  Too bad people think that Nuclear Power plants spew radiation into the air, and blow up every few days.  Nuclear waste is an issue, but it isnt that much different than other toxic waste, and big corperations don't mind dumping that shit right in the ocean.

SenorToenails wrote:

Pug wrote:

I know this is unbelievable, but it seems that Hillary and Obama have made another political promise.  They intent to make electricity free for everyone in the United States.  Socialized electricity.

Also, I saw that Hillary and Obama have decided to reduce the cost of gas to $zero per gallon.  Yes, free gas!

Now what would you do now that you have free gas?  What will you do differently now that you have free electricity?


Ok, not really happening...but seriously, what if?  Would your behavior change?  What would happen to all of the electric & oil companies?  Would the companies continue to try to be cutting edge or would they waste away on the government dime?

And lastly - apply the above to what's really happening - free healthcare.

Included in the cost of my rent is free heat and hot water. 

Does that mean I am incredibly inefficient because I pay the same amount no matter how much I use?  You bet your ass.  I am betting that a lot of people would become really wasteful and it would ultimately be a waste of resources.  People care more when they have to foot the bill directly.

this is true. However, what about tax breaks for those who consume less, or invest in energy-saving technology ?

The idea that certain "goods" would be considered as necessary for keeping a basic standard of living is not that far-fetched, if you think about it. Things like running water, electricity, or food, for example. Or national health care. A lot of people in Africa or China don't have that. And we continue to criticize their governments for not providing these things, don't we ?

The idea that it is in the national interest to provide these goods to all of the population at affordable cost sounds reasonable, if you ask me.
Why would you want to leave that to greedy corporations ?

It could be included in the taxes, for example, in some shape or form.

Public transport is another area where I would appreciate that, personally. But that's just me.

Just look at the amount of money the US has invested into the military, and military actions overseas lately. Think of all the good that could have been done with that money domestically. Health Care, Education, the Environment, Research of alternative energy ressources, Border Security, the list goes on and on.

The question is, what is really considered vital to national interests on the long run. What are americans going to benefit more from ?
It's a strategic decision, really. And it has nothing to do with socialism.

Because in the long run,  commodities like energy are going to get so expensive, that quite a lot of families will no longer be able to afford them.
And what do you do then ?