[pvn]

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the economists got involved ex post and declared that electrical power is a "public good," under the belief that private enterprise is not up to the job of providing the essentials of life.

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Reality check: Power companies (gas/electric/other) are PUBLIC Companies. most are listed on the NYSE or other stock exchange. Heavily regulated, but still profit producing public companies.

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I think you're confused. "Private enterprise" and "PUBLIC Comapnies" are not mutually exclusive. In the first sense, "private" = non-governmental and "public" = governmental. In the sense you're using, privately-held and publicly-held companies are both "private" (i.e. non-government-owned) enterprises.