[roenxi]

> As I said PG&E makes a really great case for municipal power.

So if a power pole is owned by the government it suddenly becomes non-flammable? That isn't based on the laws of physics.

There is a strategy that makes countries fantastically wealthy: only do things that are profitable. Running the energy grid for no profits is not a path to broad-based success, it only results in taxpayers paying for things that have no marginal value. If it makes sense with electricity then there is no logical reason not to try the same strategy with gasoline, food and shelter. At some point the damage goes critical and Venezuela happens.

Also, buybacks aren't primarily a form of executive compensation; I'm no expert but they look like a work-around for double-tax issues in the American income tax law. A buyback is a method of transferring money -> stock holders and in this context is basically just a dividend.

I've no idea what is going on in California, obviously, but strategies like 'nationalise it!', 'stop the capitalists raising prices!' and 'Stop people profiting from their investments!' are just classic arguments that hurt everyone in the long term. Literally caused societies to collapse in extreme cases.

[anoncake]

> If it makes sense with electricity then there is no logical reason not to try the same strategy with gasoline, food and shelter.

Those aren't natural monopolies.