In our system, the thing is not what something might be worth, but what people are willing to pay for it, and if with clenched teeth.
Here in Germany, all the privatized companies do what they want.
Raise of 10 percent ? No problem - energy was just a 15 percent raise.
If you do not consume so much energy or water, they just raise the basic price, the price you pay without consuming anything, just the baseline fee that you are connected to the system at all.
In german automotive repair facilities one hour meanwhile costs about 100 Euros plus VAT, sometimes more. No one can tell me that whatever they do there, is really worth THAT price.
Sad thing is some have not the knowledge, or get too old to do it themselves any longer. Then, instantly, the 'take what you can' rule applies.
Another nice thing is the mayor of a bigger town recently privatized the water systems, to pay back debts (he himself caused) and so in a way sold the table silver.
Miraculously, he was found sitting in the directorate of the company the facilites were sold to, one year later.
If all that goes on there will be social unrest, and soon. And, with a reason.
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