Nestle CEO: Water Shouldn’t Be A Right, Organic Food Will Kill You, And Nature Sucks

[Angrboda]

I'm just spitballing off the cuff, so please don't jump down my throat if this is a bit off. Admittedly, the process and results of privatisation are not without faults and dangers. However, I think there may be valid reason for privatisation. Drinkable water worldwide is an enormously scarce resource, and resources that aren't under the dominion of markets are readily abused. Just think of the air, or for that matter, the rivers and lakes of the world where our sewage and waste is pumped, theoretically resulting in its recycling into the ecosphere. Any time you have a resource of value that is essentially free to access, you risk a tragedy of the commons and other economic/political dangers. Once you attach a market value to something, not only is there the potential for abuse and exploitation, but there is potential for controlling the use of that resource in the interests of current and future society (which is where the abuse comes in; control is a two-edged sword).

Anyway, just food for thought.