[redgolum]

And the little towns wonder why costs go up and quality goes down.

Monopolies are not good in the long term. The private companies do not have a vested interest in providing for smaller markets. Think of it, if you owned the water for Chicago and some little downstate town, which one would you spend money on to fix up and maintain?

I know that this will upset some of the anarchy libertarians, but it isn't a good idea to privatize everything.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

"The private companies do not have a vested interest in providing for smaller markets. Think of it, if you owned the water for Chicago and some little downstate town, which one would you spend money on to fix up and maintain?"

I've been in the water business for 25 years, and I do not find this statement to be true! Our small company was purchased by a very, very large water company, and they have sunk a huge bundle into upgrading the plant, the system, etc..

[Mase]

Think of it, if you owned the water for Chicago and some little downstate town, which one would you spend money on to fix up and maintain?

"On April fifth, a water-system Legislation bill passed both Houses in Illinois. This Legislation will help Champaign, Urbana, Pekin, and other Illinois towns acquire their local water systems, by the use of eminent domain, without having to go through the Illinois Commerce Commission."

Looks like dissatisfied consumers don't have to be the victims of the big, bad monopolies.