[Paleopsych] Gaming the power grid

[Steve]

15 PG&E executives sat on the commission
that created the "deregulation" scheme.

One of the things we saw was that about
$4 billion in profits were upstreamed to a
separate holding company, and then PG&E 
then declared bankruptcy.

Deregulation and privatization have generally
been disasters for consumers, even though
we were supposed to be the main beneficiaries.

Phone deregulation has  made dealing with
phones complex and tiresome, whereas it was 
simple and easy in the past, with better sound
quality.

Deregulation of the airlines led to insane
competition and bankruptcy.

Deregulation of electric power and workmen's
compensation insurance in California led
to gouging.

Repeal of Glass-Steagall was quickly followed 
by major crimes in the stock market.

Shifting the medical care system from a non-profit
to profit-oriented basis has led to the crisis we
are now experiencing.  Increases in medical
costs have everything to do with monopoly
power and very little to do with actual increases
in costs.

Steve Hovland
www.stevehovland.net