Smiles, this topic actually got me, it was something I imagined a couple of days ago, when we were asked to discuss about government and private services. Imagine waking up in the morning, coming out of your very door and then you realize that after so many years the street in front of you now has a toll gate. Owned by a private company, they bought the road and has decided that everyone must pay to pass, walk, hawk, ride and all, and there's nothing like "on credit", I will pay tomorrow..It is strictly no money, no movement.
Well at first, it might look good, at least the roads will be more better, very well maintained and taken care of, there will be no potholes on our roads and traffic lights, street/road lights will work 24/7, unlike that of the government... But when you decide to check the fees, the fee for now having to pay to pass a road, not to talk of going to fetch water, you have to pay to walk, pay to fetch also, since all is now private owned.
And you here something like, ₦5,000 per month for unlimited access for a family of 3, ₦8,000 per month for a family of 6 and so on. And then again, you can decide to pay per day. And now if you own a car, you will pay depending on the size and what the car is been used for. I am emphasizing on roads and all because its needed to reach places, go to work, visit places, go for outings, go to stores and you have to pay for all that, if you go out with light loads, you have to pay extra fee if you are bringing in more loads. Well, it does sounds funny. Suddenly, moving around becomes a luxury, and your salary starts to look like it was meant for only one thing....road fees.
Isn't it funny, I think, for my part of the world, here in Nigeria, we just have ti accept that which the government is giving, just imagine when you are thirsty, and you decide to go out to get a bucket of water do as too cook too, you get to where you often use before and saw a banner, well printed on it is written.."Dear customer, access to clean water is now subscription based. Choose a plan", and then there are lots of options to choose from, depending on the quantity needed.
Though, I believe the water will be safe enough for whatever use, but where will those charges, dees come from, out of what salary will that be deducted, a salary that is not even enough well all that were not in place?
Till we get there before we understand that, it is way more than this, even the rich will get tired of things like this. You won't want to sweat, you will be careful in using your cloth, and that's cause of water to wash, to go to work will now be an issue. You see, under private control, everything becomes a business. Water is no longer a human right, it’s a product that just be paid for. Access to good roads and all is now a business, if you don't have money, then that's it.
If one could dig well or get a borehole of his own, what about road pass.
Private companies love profit, and to make sure people keep paying, they would ensure good roads, clean water and well-managed traffic. Everything would be top notch as long as you can afford it.
But the thing is, not everyone can, even those we thought are rich and can, they will soon get tired of it, though it will have its toll much on the average citizens, the rich will enjoy life, driving on the well tarred and maintained expressways, drinking fresh water, or have their own personally. Meanwhile, the average citizen, who is already struggling with fuel, light, rent, food and all will now have to add road and water fees to their already endless list of bills. The current divide between the rich and the poor now, will be nothing compared to the wide gap this will make.
If these needs of people become private owned, what about those in the rural areas, will the private organization do anything with them, upgrade them after buying it all, won't they think, there are less people here, there won't be enough profit, will there be any good roads talkless of water...
And come to think of it, would the police now need to pay for passing, what about ambulances, will they have to pay too. I know the rich or let's say those in power, politicians, it won't really affect them, as it would be a part of the national budget, the government will take care of that for them, but we, the citizens.
Privatization sounds nice, but in reality, it turns basic human needs into privileges for the rich, private companies might do a better job than the government in some areas but attaching a price tag to things like movement and water, then thats when the real struggle for the less privilege begins.
Corruption will still find a way to enter though. A company will buy a major road, start well, peole will have to pay small amount of money, but in few years they will increase the fees and we can't opt out... we still need to move.
The whole idea of private ownership sounds good, but some things are too essential/important to be left in the hands of profit-driven businesses. Roads and water are not luxury goods, they are necessities. If they now become exclusive only to those who can afford them, we won't be creating just inconvenience, we will be having a system where survival depends solely on wealth.