Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (107061)	7/31/2005 12:51:37 PM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

The privatization of water is an issue that is already extremely important in South America. Indigenous peoples are literally rioting in the streets about it. We just haven't heard about it here because we don't get much news from South America for some reason. I believe the statistic I heard is that by 2025 one third of the world's water will be privatized. This causes huge problems in areas that are not as affluent as the United States. Poor people already often do not have enough money to buy food. They cannot also afford to pay high rates for water. You ridicule my idea of "evil corporations", but it is not entirely accurate. Some corporations are not evil. Some produce high quality goods and services that people need, at fair prices (without enslaving children in Africa, or running sweatshops, or depriving employees of health benefits). On the other hand, I believe that water is a social good, a necessity of life, a basic human right like oxygen, and should be managed in that way, and run by governmental agencies, and should be available to everyone. As it is privatized, that does not happen. I cannot think of too many things more evil than corporations making profits by taking over water supplies that, after all, come from the earth's bounty. Water is not a product these companies created. Why should they profit so that poor children die? Do you not think it is evil to deprive the poor of water? Or is that just a fine thing to do in your world view? I am always shocked and amazed that the right is so smug and condescending about the more compassionate views of liberals, when I honestly think the conservatives should often be deeply ashamed of their own value systems. Regarding water in America, Colorado has encouraged development deliberately. So has the rest of the Southwest. There is not enough water there to sustain all those lives. The desert should never have been developed as a population center. In fact, no housing should be built anywhere in America if the land cannot sustain life there in terms of the water table, etc. I'm not sure what to do about it. Slowing the progress of global warming by taking leadership on the issue instead of bowing out of Kyoto because, as Bush said, it would have hurt our economy, would have been one nice thing to do. Areas near the equator like the American Southwest are going to be getting very toasty really soon. I think Bush's statement really reveals why America is becoming so repulsive in the eyes of the rest of the world. We create emissions far out of proportion to our population, and should take some responsibility in the matter, but having harmed others, we are still only concerned about our our own economy. How selfish can we get?