Thursday, June 24, 2021

Common Dreams — ‘Bipartisan’ Infrastructure Plan is a Privatization-Promoting Disaster

In response, Food & Water Watch Public Water for All Director Mary Grant released the following statement:
“This White House-approved infrastructure deal is a disaster in the making. It promotes privatization and so-called ‘public-private partnerships’ instead of making public investments in publicly-owned infrastructure. Communities across the country have been ripped off by public-private schemes that enrich corporations and Wall Street investors and leave the rest of us to pick up the tab.

“Privatization is nothing more than an outrageously expensive way to borrow funds, with the ultimate bill paid back by households and local businesses in the form of higher rates. The White House identifies privatization as a means to finance infrastructure investment is disappointing and outrageous. Communities need real support, not privatization scams.

“The most sensible infrastructure solution is to provide robust public funding for publicly-owned projects, which would discourage price-gouging by corporate interests, protect public control over these precious assets, and save everyone money. The most comprehensive funding solution on the table is the WATER Act (HR1352, S916), which would provide $35 billion a year to fully fund the state revolving funds and other programs at the level that is needed.

“This package does not provide adequate funding to rebuild and repair our country’s infrastructure, nor does it do nearly enough to combat the climate crisis. Lawmakers can and must press for a better deal.”…

See also

The Political Economy of Development
Privatisation as Ideology
Nick Johnson

Also

Corporate Dems are doing their best to lose control in the midterms.

Common Dreams
Progressives Alarmed by Privatization Dub Infrastructure Deal a 'Disaster in the Making'Jessica Corbett, staff writer

5 comments:

Matt Franko said...

They’re probably going to “leverage our equity”…more Trump-lite

Peter Pan said...

Like Joe said, nothing will fundamentally change.

Matt Franko said...

The public-private infrastructure is always in better condition than the public….

Many of these lanes parallel each other… you have a PPP toll road right next to a public road … public road is all full of potholes and trash… PPP road right next to it smooth as glass and spotless…

lastgreek said...

For two years, the Republicans with the orange turd at the helm had control of both the House and Senate. At the start of each and every week said orange turd would announce to the press that this week will be "infrastructure week." It turned out that "infrastructure week", those first two years and the ensuing two, was more elusive than the Loch Ness monster.

So, I guess, something is better than nothing. Like obamacare being better, if be it so marginally, than what you guys had before.

Matt Franko said...

Dems torpedoed the MAGA agenda just like GOP is now torpedoing the Dem agenda...

Its divided govt...

You commies dont have to deal with this feature of representative govt...